Mesopotamia Flashcards
Ziggurat
Massive pyramid shaped structure - served as a temple and a fortress
Polytheism
Belief in many gods
Over 3,000 gods and goddesses with human-like characteristics, used to explain natural phenomena
Dynasty
Ruler passes reign to heir
Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent, between Tigris & Euphrates rivers
Cuneiform
First writing system
Cultural Diffusion
Spread of culture through trade
Silt
Rich soil from rivers - makes Fertile Crescent fertile
Hammurabi
King of Babylonian Empire - Hammurabi’s Code
Bazaar
Open air market where trade was conducted
Commodity Money
Barley, then silver
Because. . .
Irrigation
Solution to unpredictable flooding
City-State
Form of government, independent of each other
Fertile Crescent
Fertile land & fresh water
Challenge -
Unpredictable flooding
Solution -
Dug irrigation ditches
Challenge -
No natural barriers
Solution -
Built city walls out of mud bricks
Challenge -
Lack of natural resources (wood, stone, metal)
Solution -
Trade
Achievements
Ziggurat, wheel, water clock, checkers, plow, sail boat, medicine, math, sewage system, written language, musical instruments
Priests
Closest to the gods = Most political power
2,000 BC
Babylonians overtake Sumerians
Jobs
Fisherman, metalworker, mason, farmer, potter, scribe
60 shekels =
1 mina or 1 lb of silver
1 talent =
60 lbs of silver or 60 minas
Social structure - top to bottom
Priests King/gov't Soldiers & Scribes Working Class Slaves
Scribes
Go to school for 12 years
Sons of wealthy families only! (No women, no slaves)
