Sumer Section 1 Flashcards
A system that supplies dry land with water through ditches pipes or streams
Irrigation
An amount that has been left over after a need has been met
Surplus
A city that governs itself and its surrounding territory
City state
A belief in more than one God
Polytheism
A pyramid shaped structure with a temple at the top
Ziggurat
Writing developed by the Sumerians that used wedge shaped marks in soft clay
Cuneiform
A person who copies or writes out documents often a document keeper
Scribe
A long poem that records the deeds of a legendary or real hero
Epic
Moving or lying in the same direction and the same distance apart
Parallel
How were many civilizations alike??
People formed social classes, made more and better goods, set up governments to pass laws, defend their land, and carry out large building projects, they also set up a system of values and beliefs
Where did Mesopotamia begin?
Southern Iraq in between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
How did the lives of the first settlers change when they moved to Mesopotamia??
Hunters and herders before, farmers after
How did the two rivers and irrigation technology make it possible for the Mesopotamian civilization to arise?
The two rivers and irrigation allowed greater food production so people could do other things besides farming developed the goods technology, trade&skills gave rise to civilization
Why were sumers cities cut off from each other??
Mudflats, porches of scorching desert
City states protected themselves with a ______ _____
Large wall
