Review Sheet
Mesopotamia
VOCABULARY TERMS
For each of the following terms, put the word on one side of a notecard, and the definition on the other.
*Neolithic Revolution: THE TRANSITION FROM HUNTING-GATHERING TO AGRICULTURE
*Irrigation: A SSYTEM OF CONTROLLING WATER TO AID IN FARMING.
*Domestication: RAISING ANIMALS AND PLANTS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
*Mesopotamia: MEANING “LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS”, THE REGION BETWEEN THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS IN
MODERN-DAY IRAQ
*City-states: A CITY AND ITS SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE
*Sumer: A COLLECTION OF CITY STATES FOUND IN SOUTHERN MESOPOTAMIA
*Polytheism: THE BELIEF IN MANY GODS
*Cuneiform: THE FIRST WRITING—A COLLECTION OF WEDGE SHAPED SYMBOLS USED IN SUMER
*Scribes: PROFESSIONAL WRITERS; IT TOOK MANY YEARS OF STUDY TO BECOME ONE
*Ziggurats: LARGE PYRAMID-SHAPED TEMPLES IN SUMER
Empire: MANY DIFFERENT LANDS UNDER ONE RULER
Hammurabi’s Code: A COLLECTION OF 282 LAWS THAT COVERED ALL AREAS OF LIFE, THEY WERE WRITTEN DOWN AND
SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM
EMPI RES
For each of the following empires, make a notecard with the name of the empire on one side, and the following info on the
back:
Empir e
Pri mary
Lea der/s
Wh en
Rul ed
Wh er e rul ed ?
Ho w s ho w el emen ts of an empi re?
Akk adian
Em pire
SAR GO N
23342279 B C
MOS T O F
FERT ILE
CRE SC E NT
 MIL ITAR Y PO WE R— US E B O WS
A ND ARR O WS
 O NE EM PER OR W H O T OO K
O VER BY FOR CE
Babyl oni an
Em pire
HA MM UR ABI
1792 B C1750 B C
Assyri an
Em pire
Chalde an
Em pire
NE BU C HA DNE ZZAR
ALL O F
MES OP OTAMIA




HA D TAX ES
GRE AT W AR LEA DER
HA D A D VA NCE D G O VER NM E NT
CLE AR LA W S
900 B C612 B C
FERT I CLE
CRE SC E NT,
EG YPT, ASI A
MI NOR
 VER Y STR O NG ARM Y W IT H IRO N
WE APO NS A ND C HA RIO TS
 LOO TE D A ND B UR NED CROP S
 KILLE D A NYO NE W H O R ESI STE D
 HEA VY TAX ES
 LO CAL L EA DERS KE PT C O NTR OL
605550 B C
FERT ILE
CRE SE NT,
PH OE NI C IA,
ISRAE L
 HA D GR EAT A C HIE VEM E NTS
 C HAR GE D H EA VY T AXE S
 SH O WE D T H EIR WEA LTH —
HA NGI NG GAR DE NS
Ho w d o es i t s how d ifficul ties of a n
emp ire?
I NVA DERS WE AKE NED T HE
EMPI RE A FTER SA RG O N’S DEAT H
I NVA DERS WE AKE NED T HE
EMPI RE A FTER HA MM URA BI’S
DEA TH
I NSTAB IL ITY AB O UT W H O W ILL
LEA D
I NVA DE D B Y C H AL DEA NS
HA D TO P UT D O W N
REBELL IO NS I N JER US ALE M
EVE NT UAL LY I NVA DE D B Y
A NOT HER E MPIR E
QUESTIONS
For each of the following questions, put the question on one side of the notecard, and the answer on the other.
• *How did the Neolithic Revolution lead to cities?
WITH THE USE OF AGRIGULTURE, THE FOOD SUPPLY INCREASED. THIS LED TO HIGHER POPULATION, JOB SPECIALIZATION AND THE
NEED FOR ORGANIZATION AND COOPERATION.
• What are the five elements of civilization (be sure to define each as well)?
STEADY FOOD SUPPLY
ORGANIZED GOVERNMENT
ADVANCED CULTURE
SOCIAL LEVELS
DIVISION OF LABOR (JOB SPECIALIZATION)
• *Compare the social structure of Sumer with the social structure of the United States today (in your opinion). What is
different, what is the same? What does that show about our values compared to the Sumerians?
DIFFERENT
RELIGIOUS FIGURES ON TOP IN SUMER
U.S. HAS ENTERTAINMENT FIGURES
SUMER HAS KING AND FAMILY AT TOP
SLAVES IN SUMER
SAME
GOVERNMENT TOWARD TOP
MERCHANTS, CRAFTSMAN IN MIDDLE CLASS
• *What are the key contributions of the Sumerians? Which one was most important, in your opinion?
WHEEL, MEDICINE, CLOCK, WRITING, PLOW, MAKEUP, WRITTEN LAWS, ETC.
•
What are the key characteristics of an empire?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Constantly expands territory by force
Very advanced and powerful military
One all-powerful leader
Advanced government with levels of power
Need for many resources to fund armies, etc.
Uses taxes, looting and trade to get resources.
Uses intimidation and coercion.
•
Why is it difficult to maintain an empire? How do the struggles of the Empires we learned illustrate these difficulties?
•
•
•
Has to deal with rebellion.
o Israel rebelled against Chaldeans
Has to deal with invasion
o Babylonians invaded by Hittites, Assyrians defeated by Chaldeans
One leader means lots of instability
o Bablyonian empire decline after Hammurabi dies
•
Do you think Hammurabi’s Code is fair? Give 2 reasons for your opinion.
•
What was the key contribution of the Phoenicians?
YES
JUSTICE—EYE FOR AN EYE
HELPS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
HURT BY OTHERS
THE ALPHABET
NO
HARSH PUNISHMENTS
DIFFERENT PUNISHMENTS FOR
DIFFERENT CLASSES
GEOGRAPHY
(You do not nee d to make a card for thi s section)
For each of the following, make sure you can label each of these on a map. You can use the map that is attached to practice.
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia
Sumer
Mediterranean Sea
Persian Gulf