Ancient Mesopotamia Assessment

Ancient Mesopotamia Assessment

• Mesopotamia's Significance: Often called the "Cradle of Civilization" due to historical importance.

• Defining Rivers: The Tigris and Euphrates rivers defined the boundaries of ancient Mesopotamia.

• Hammurabi's Code: Its purpose was to establish law and order, not record religious beliefs, track trade routes, or list military conquests.

• Mesopotamian Writing System: Developed cuneiform, not hieroglyphics, Sanskrit or alphabets.

• Powerful Social Group: Rulers and priests held the most power in Mesopotamian society, not merchants, farmers, or artisans.

• Key Economic Activity: Agriculture was the primary economic activity, not mining, fishing or hunting.

• Mesopotamian Trade Method: Primarily used bartering, not gold coins, paper money or silver pieces.

• Transportation Revolution: The invention of the wheel revolutionized transportation.

• Government Type: Mesopotamian cities operated as city-states, not democracies, republics or empires.

• Religion's Role: Religion played a crucial, not minor, role in daily life in Mesopotamian society.

• Lowest Social Class: Slaves were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, not farmers, artisans or laborers.

• Important Crop: Barley was a significant crop, not rice, corn, or potatoes.

• Number of Hammurabi's Laws: Hammurabi's Code included 282 laws, not 182, 382, or 482.

• Land Fertility Factor: Regular flooding contributed to fertile land in Mesopotamia, not volcanic ash, forest coverage or mountain runoff.

• Temple Purpose: Temples served as gathering places and had essential function to societies, not markets or schools.

• Large Population Support: Food surpluses enabled larger populations to be sustained not military conquests, foreign trade or natural resources.

• Record Keeper Profession: Scribes, not merchants, priests or farmers, were responsible for maintaining trade records.

• Hammurabi's Code Principle: The principle of "an eye for an eye" (lex talionis) was a core aspect of the Hammurabi Code, not forgiveness, community service, or monetary fines.

• Priest Power Maintenance: Religious ceremonies, not military force, wealth or farming, played a critical part in maintaining priest power.

• Writing Development Purpose: Writing was primarily developed to record trade transactions, not to create stories, artwork or send messages.