Lesson 4 Vocab/Study Guide Flashcards
an early city that was like a small, independently country with its own laws and government
city-state
arranged in a difficult way
complex
to build; usually some kind of structure, such as a house
constructed
a strong disagreement
dispute
one of the two largest rivers in the Southwest Asia that flow from the mountains in Turkey to the Persian Gulf
Euphrates River
a means of supplying land with water
irrigation
a substance that lies between or above other things
layer
a wall of earth built to prevent a river from flooding its banks
levee
to keep something in good condition by making a necessary repairs
maintaining
a resource that can be used to make something else
material
in ancient times, the geographic area located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Mesopotamia
fine particles of rock
silt
an area in southern Mesopotamia, where cities first appeared
Sumer
one of the two largest rivers in Southwest Asia that flow from the mountains in Turkey to the Persian Gulf
Tigris River
The environment of Sumer was ______
low and flat with little rain
The name of Mesopotamia comes from its location, which was between two ________.
rivers
What development caused food shortages in the Zagros foothills?
the population increased
What solution did people in the Zagros foothills find to fix the problem of food shortages?
They moved south to the plains
Name the two factors that made farming difficult in the area of Sumer.
Lack of rainfall or too much rainfall
Why did the rivers flood in the spring?
Rain and melted snow
What was the chief purpose of dams and reservoirs?
To store water supply
If you were in ancient Sumer, you might see a levee beside a river. Why was the levee built?
To prevent rivers from flooding
Why was silt a problem for the people of Sumer?
It clogged the canals
Why did the villages of Sumer depend on each other?
Cooperated to keep the water system working
Using natural resources found in the environment, Sumerians built strong walls with ____.
Mud bricks
The people of Sumer constructed moats to ______.
To protect cities from attacks
