SS chapter 5 (1-5) Flashcards
A society that has developed arts, sciences, government, & social structure
civilization
When did archaeologists begin finding (what?) artifacts in the Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia
tablets, pottery, and ruins of cities….mid-19th century
How have archaeologists been able to learn a lot about Sumer?
by studying artifacts
Standard of Ur
- depicts scenes of war & peace
- can tell us about daily life in ancient Sumer
- made of wood
- decorated with pieces of shell & lapis lazuli
lapis lazuli
a semiprecious blue stone
What did Sumerians invent that is still used today
- a plow
- writing
social structure
the way a civilization is organized
technology
use of tools & other inventions for practical purposes
powerful Sumerian city-states
- Ur
- Lagash (LAY-gash)
- Uruk (UH-ruhk)
what characteristics make a society into a civilization?
- stable food supply
- social structure (different social levels & jobs)
- system of government (keeps society orderly)
- religious system (sets of beliefs & forms of worships)
- art, music, literature
- technology
- developed written langauge
What 2 key things did the Sumerians invent to help them create a stable food supply
- complex irrigation system
- the plow
complex irrigation system
network of canals, dams, & reservoirs to provide their crops with regular supply of water
plow
tool used for tilling, or turning the soil to prepare it for planting
What did the farmers use before plows were invented
animal horns and pointed sticks to poke holes in the earth
first plow was made of ___ and pulled by ____?
wood….ox
person who makes money by selling goods
merchant
top level social structure
priests, landowners, government officials - most luxurious homes located in the center of the city
middle level social structure
merchants & artisans (metal workers)
farmers & fishers
metal worker used ____ to make ______
- gold, silver, tin, copper, bronze
- swords & arrowheads for the army
- tools (plows/hoes) for farmers
- luxury items (mirror/jewelry) for upper class
bottom level social structure
slaves
Sumerian City-states were ruled by ____ who were chosen by _____
kings…..g-ds
obeying the will of the g-ds
One of the Sumerians’ strongest beliefs
city-states needed ____because of what?
armies…constant fighting over land boundaries and use of water
the King’s most important job
leading the army
a person who writes and records the laws
scribe
the ____were the first people to develop _____
Sumerians….a system of written laws
