Monday Prove It: Innovation
My Score:
UNSAT
______ / 6 points
0-2
points
APPROACHING
BASIC
BASIC
MASTERY
ADVANCED
2.5 points
3-4 points
5 points
6 points
1. What two inventions were created in Mesopotamia?
a. The wheel and social structure
b. The arch and the wheel
c. The arch and culture
d. The wheel and pyramids
2. Which invention most helped farmers harvest crops?
a. Cuneiform
b. The Plow
c. The arch
d. Ziggurats
3. Sumerians invented something that made it possible for their armies to use chariots. What was
it?
a. Harnesses
b. Swords
c. Wheels
d. Horseshoes
4. Mesopotamians also invented the lyre. What was this invention used for?
a. Building sturdy bridges
b. Music
c. Writing
d. Transporting crops
5. Later civilizations created study bridges that transported heavy goods. Which Mesopotamian
invention made this possible?
a. Lyre
b. Cuneiform
c. Plow
d. Arch
6. What do you believe was the more important invention: the wheel or cuneiform? Explain why. Write
3 sentences.
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Monday History Homework
Directions: Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. You must
restate the question if you want to get mastery.
1. What were the two intellectual achievements that were created in Mesopotamia?
Why are they important to today?
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2. Explain the culture of Mesopotamia. Use your notes. What musical instrument was
created in Mesopotamia? How did culture develop?
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3. What were Ziggurats? Why were they built? Why did many Ziggurats have staircases
next to them?
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4. Explain the social structure in Mesopotamia. Who was at the top? Who was at the
bottom?
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5.
Why did Hammurabi write his laws down? Were his laws fair? Explain,
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Multiple choice – Remember to EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER!
1)
Hammurabi was mostly known for
A. His postal service
B. His military strength
C. His code of laws
D. His system of roads
Explain:
2) Ancient Sumerians invented irrigation systems and plows. What did these two inventions help
provide?
A. A system of government
B. A partner to trade with
C. A steady supply of food
D. An honor for the gods
Explain:
3) The Sumerians invented something that made it possible for the armies to use chariots. What
was it?
A. Harnesses
B. Swords
C. Wheels
D. Horseshoes
Explain:
DIRECTIONS: Identify each of the following words. Explain what each of these words mean.
Agriculture _____________________________________________________________
Mesopotamia ___________________________________________________________
Cuneiform ______________________________________________________________
Ziggurat ________________________________________________________________
Irrigation ________________________________________________________________
The wheel _______________________________________________________________
Hammurabi’s Code _______________________________________________________
Monday: Innovations
What do all of these pictures have in common? ____________________
INVENTION #1: _____________________________
All civilizations create new forms of technology, or practical tools and inventions. The Sumerians
made several technological advances. The most important advance was the wheel. The earliest
example of the wheel dates back to 3500 B.C.E. At this time, Sumerian pottery makers used
wheels as a surface for shaping clay into pots. After a while, Sumerians found out that if they
flipped the wheel on its side, it could be rolled forward. They used this discovery to create
wheeled carts for farmers and chariots for the army. It is hard to imagine a more powerful
invention than the wheel. Before the wheel, people had to drag their goods. Often, they got
stuck in mud, and they could not move very far.
Summarize:
INVENTION #2: _________________________
Another invention the Sumerians made was the arch. Sumerians arches
were upside down U or V shaped structured that were built above
doorways. To build arches, the Sumerians stacked bricks made of clay
and straw so that they rose in steps from the walls until they met in the
center. Arches added strength and beauty to Sumerian buildings. The
arch shape is often used for bridges because it can hold a lot of
weight and is very strong. They became a common feature of temple
entrances and rich homes. Some historians say the arch is the
Sumerians greatest building achievement.
Summarize:
INVENTION #3: ____________________
The lyre was a musical instrument much like a harp. As people settled down and had more time to relax
culture developed and the lyre was created. This invention shows us ancient Mesopotamians had art and
culture.
Summarize:
Seen here are ancient bridges. These bridges
were used to transport water to people in cities.
Heavy water
would pass over
the bridge to
get to the city.
These bridges
still stand today
almost 3,000
years later.
The chariot was a tool used by the Mesopotamian
army. The army was very successful against their
enemies. The chariot allowed soldiers to attack enemies
while being pulled by a horse.
What Mesopotamian innovation was
necessary to invent this object?
What Mesopotamian innovation was
necessary to invent this object?
How did this object make life easier and
better for early civilizations?
How did this object make life easier and
better for early civilizations?
The plow changed the way Mesopotamians
farmed. Before the plow domesticated animals
would pull the plow. Once the plow was on
wheels it rolled more easily.
Seen here is a Mesopotamian painting of a man taking
crops to be traded. He is using a cart pulled by a
horse or a donkey. Before the cart, crops would have
to be dragged from one place to another. The cart
allowed crops to be brought from the farms to the city
more easily.
What Mesopotamian innovation was
necessary to invent this object?
What Mesopotamian innovation was
necessary to invent this object?
How did this object make life easier and
better for early civilizations?
How did this object make life easier and
better for early civilizations?
WORK INDEPENDENTLY
DIRECTIONS: Choose from one of the four Mesopotamian inventions in the box
below. Write a paragraph explaining why the invention you chose is THE MOST
IMPORTANT INVENTION from Mesopotamia.
WHEEL
ARCH
LYRE
CUNEIFORM
Your paragraph should have at least 5 sentences and include the following points:
 Topic sentence: The most important Mesopotamian innovations was the __.
 2 ways Mesopotamians used the invention
 2 ways we use the invention today
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