Mesopotamia - Part 2

Question 1

Define monotheism.

Answer 1

Belief in one god

Question 2

What religion did the Hebrews follow?

Answer 2

Judaism

Question 3

What is the Tanakh?

Answer 3

Stories about creation.

Studied by the Hebrews.

Question 4

What is the torah?

Answer 4

The Jewish bible.

The first five books of the Tanakh.

Question 5

What are the Ten Commandments?

Answer 5

A set of principles that

1. Provides a religious base
2. Provides a sense of morality and culture

Question 6

Who was the greatest king of Israel?

Answer 6

King Solomon

Question 7

What is King Solomon known for?

Answer 7

The story of cutting a baby in half to see who the real mother was

Question 8

Who was Moses?

Answer 8

A Hebrew prophet who was taken out of slavery.

Question 9

Who were the Hittites and Assyrians?

Answer 9

A nation of warriors

Question 10

What were some of the innovations of the Hittites and Assyrians?

Answer 10

1. Iron weapons instead of bronze
2. Chariots - wheeled, mechanized weapons of war
3. Use of calvary (horses) on open ground
4. Use of siege warfare - battering rams, siege ladders, sappers (tunnel under walls)

Question 11

What is a tribute?

Answer 11

Payment for protection to prevent being attacked

Question 12

What is Ninevah?

Answer 12

1. Capital city of Hittites and Assyrians

2. Location of the first library of the world - possessions came from conquered lands

Question 13

Who was King of the Chaldeans?

Answer 13

King Nebuchadnezzar

Question 14

What are the Hanging Gardens?

Answer 14

Garden built in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar for his queen

A step format along the palace walls, with fresh flowers and plants

Question 15

What did the Chaldeans use ziggurats for?

Answer 15

For astronomy
To predict the future
12 constellations create the zodiac

Question 16

When does the Chaldean empire fall?

Answer 16

When the Persians invade - Cyrus the Great

Question 17

What was the largest land empire in the ancient world?

Answer 17

Persia

Question 18

What area did Persia cover?

Answer 18

From the Nile River to the Indus River

Question 19

What was Cyrus the Great known for?

Answer 19

1. Created the great city of Persepolis
2. Defeated Babylon and set the Hebrews free
3. Treated conquered people with respect
   A. As long as people paid tribute of tax and soldiers
   B. People could keep their local customs and religions

Question 20

What is Darius the First (Darius the Great) known for?

Answer 20

1. Keeping the Persian empire together and strong
2. Road system - “Royal” road
3. Inspectors - spies who were to report to the king about the affairs of the kingdom
4. Same/standard weight and measure system
5. Use of coin money

Question 21

What are litters?

Answer 21

Stretchers with a vaulted covering that wealthy Persians rode in.

Question 22

Describe Persian men.

Answer 22

Persian men wore long beards and makeup on face and around eyelids

Question 23

What was the life of Persian women like?

Answer 23

They lived apart from the men.

They were not given much freedom.

Question 24

What professions did the Persians prefer?

Answer 24

Soldiers
Farmers
Shepherds

Question 25

Why did Persians not like merchants?

Answer 25

They thought they were liars and cheaters.

Question 26

Describe Zoroastrianism.

Answer 26

1. Zoroaster - priest who talked about two forces
2. Light/Goodnes - god Ahura Mazda
3. Dark/Evil - god Ahirman
4. Eternal pillar of Fire to illustrate the Light’s conquering of Darkness

Question 27

The use of fire in Zoroastrianism is seen in what other religions that are practiced today?

Answer 27

Christianity

Judaism