The Fertile Crescent Flashcards
Why did civilization develop in the Fertile Crescent?
Rivers there created very rich farmland
What happened because the cities in Sumer were separated by long stretches of desert land?
They developed into separate city-states
Why did Babylon become an important center of trade?
It was located between cities to the south and north
Why was Hammurabi’s code significant?
- laws were written down
- everyone has some justice
What did the Phoenician Alphabet make easier to do?
Learn to read and write
What was one of the major events in the history of the Israelites?
The settlement of Canaan
What were the Israelites known for that made them unique among ancient peoples?
They worshiped one god
Why did Phoenicia become a thriving and wealthy religion?
Phoenicians sold valuable wood and dyed cloth to neighboring peoples
What were the two rivers that surrounded Mesopotamia?
- Tigris River
- Euphrates River
What of its own did each Mesopotamian city-state have?
A god or goddess
Why was Babylon a crossroad of trade?
Because of its location between cities to the south and north
What was the first written set of laws?
Hammurabi’s Code
Where did writing first develop?
Mesopotamia
What was a important advantage of the Phoenician alphabet?
It was simpler than cuneiform
How did the Phoenicians help spread civilization throughout the Mediterranean area?
They controlled the supply of a valuable purple dye
What did the Babylonians and Israelites have in common?
They both lived according to a code of laws
What are the five books of the Torah and what do they mean?
- Genesis - the beginning
- Exodus - the exit of the Israelites from Egypt
- Leviticus - the laws
- Numbers - the count of people
- Deuteronomy - the Book of Law
How did the word “Hebrew” come into existence?
The word Hebrew came into existence from the phrase “ha be ru” that is an insult and means dirty shepherd or tent dweller.
What does meso mean?
Between or middle
What is the land between the rivers?
Mesopotamia
What was the worlds first empire?
Sumer