Mesopotamia Study Guide

Question 1

Agriculture

Answer 1

The business of farming, growing crops and raising animals

Question 2

Domesticate

Answer 2

To train a wild animal to be useful to humans

Question 3

Nomad

Answer 3

One who moves from place to place with no permanent home

Question 4

Trade

Answer 4

The business of buying and selling or exchanging items

Question 5

Irrigation

Answer 5

A means of supplying land with water

Question 6

Silt

Answer 6

Fine particles of rock

Question 7

City-state

Answer 7

An early city that was like a small independent country with its own laws and government

Question 8

Social Structure

Answer 8

The way a civilization is organized

Question 9

Scribe

Answer 9

A person who writes

Question 10

Merchant

Answer 10

A person who makes money by selling goods

Question 11

Artisan

Answer 11

A crafts person

Question 12

Cuneiform

Answer 12

Writing that uses wedge shaped characters

Question 13

Levee

Answer 13

As wall of earth built to prevent a river from flooding its banks

Question 14

Economy

Answer 14

The way a region of country uses resources to produce a sell or trade goods and services to meet the needs and wants of the people.

Question 15

Tribute

Answer 15

Wealth sent from one country’s ruler to another as a sign that the other is superior

Question 16

Empire

Answer 16

A large territory in which several groups of people are ruled by a single leader or government

Question 17

Capital

Answer 17

A city that is the center of government

Question 18

Monotheism

Answer 18

They believe in one god

Question 19

Polytheism

Answer 19

They believe in many gods

Question 20

What are the 2 rivers around Mesopotamia?

Answer 20

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Question 21

Why did Mesopotamia get its name?

Answer 21

It means the land between the rivers

Question 22

Explain the season weather changes in Sumer

Answer 22

It is hot and dry most of the year, except during the spring where it rains a lot

Question 23

What did the Sumerians invent?

Answer 23

The plow, complex irrigations systems, canals, dams, and reservoirs
They also invented the wheel and the Ark

Question 24

What were the 5 social classes?

Answer 24

1. Priests and Kings
2. Scribes and Government officials
3. Wealthy Merchants
4. Working Class
5. Slaves

Question 25

What was the name of Sumerian writing?

Answer 25

Cuneiform

Question 26

What empire rose to power in Mesopotamia after the Assyrian Empire?

Answer 26

The neo-Babylonian empire

Question 27

Which empire was the world’s first?

Answer 27

The Akkadians

Question 28

Who was the Akkadians ruler?

Answer 28

Sargon

Question 29

Who was known for his severe laws?

Answer 29

King Hammurabi

Question 30

How did the Akkadians get the resources they needed?

Answer 30

By collecting tribute from those they conquered

Question 31

What were the religious beliefs in Mesopotamia?

Answer 31

They believed in gods and Mande ziggurats for them

Question 32

Describe the different ways Sumerians controlled the water supply

Answer 32

They built levees, complex irrigation systems, canals, dams, and reservoirs

Question 33

What are the 7 characteristics of a civilization?

Answer 33

1. Geography
2. Religion
3. Achievements
4. Politics
5. Economics
6. Society
7. Stable food supply

Question 34

Which characteristic of a civilization must happen first?

Answer 34

Stable food supply

Question 35

List the pros and cons of Hammurabi’s code

Answer 35

Pros: equal punishment
Cons: Punishments seems scary and too harsh

Question 36

The agricultural revolution was one of the most important eras in human history. What are the three results of the agricultural revolution that changes human life forever?

Answer 36

1. People could stay in one place, no longer nomadic
2. Growing food led to surplus or extra
3. Led to increase in populations

Question 37

Why did most civilizations develop near a large supply of fresh water?

Answer 37

They needed the water to grow crops