Bronze Age and Road Building Quiz

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Why were the Sumerian communities called city-states?

Because they were small villages with no sovereignty.

Because they were located in the region of Mesopotamia.

Because each city was centered around its own temple, which worshipped a particular god or goddess. (correct)

Because they were part of a large empire ruled by a single king.

What was the primary reason for the settlement of Sumerian city-states around the Tigris and Euphrates?

To avoid conflicts with neighboring city-states.

To establish trade routes with other civilizations.

To seek protection from natural disasters.

To take advantage of the fertile soil deposited by the rivers' nutrient-dense silt. (correct)

Which ancient civilizations were included in the region of Mesopotamia?

Egypt and Greece

Sumerians and Akkadians (correct)

Chinese and Indians

Romans and Persians

What role did the Tigris and Euphrates rivers play in the development of Sumerian city-states?

They deposited nutrient-dense silt, making the surrounding soil fertile for agriculture. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Sumerian city-states in terms of their sovereignty?

Each city was an independent and sovereign nation with variations in political, economic, religious, and cultural aspects. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the temples in Sumerian city-states?

They were the center of religious activities and worshiped specific deities. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the Code of Hammurabi?

To establish laws for business contracts and family disputes (B) Signup and view all the answers

What led to the construction of the walls in Jericho?

The need to protect stored food from raiders (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why were rivers and seas significant for ancient empires?

They allowed for quick transportation and supply of armies (B) Signup and view all the answers

What were the drawbacks of sea travel for ancient empires?

Risks associated with sea voyages and changing weather conditions (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major challenge in constructing roads during ancient times?

Laborious process involving manual labor and primitive tools (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why did settled agriculture lead to the construction of walls around cities like Jericho?

To store food and protect it from raiders (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of structure did kings or priests rule from in Sumerian city-states?

Ziggurats (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which god is associated with the city-state of Eridu?

Enki (A) Signup and view all the answers

Where were the Sumerian city-states located geographically?

Alluvial plain of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (B) Signup and view all the answers

What were the homes of the Sumerians made of?

Mud and brick (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Sumerian city-states?

They left behind a written language (i.e., cuneiform) (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the position of power in Sumerian city-states held by?

Ensi or governing priest, or by a lugal or king (D) Signup and view all the answers

What metal came on the scene around 3000 BC, that was harder and stronger than copper or tin alone?

Bronze (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of roads paved with bronze age technology?

They connected cities and resources (B) Signup and view all the answers

What made a bronze chisel a splendid tool in ancient times?

It allowed for greater precision in crafts (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the introduction of horses during the Bronze Age?

To provide transportation for heavy bronze armor (C) Signup and view all the answers

Who led the powerful households in Mesopotamia, mirroring the divine households of their pantheons?

Kings (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main contribution of Hammurabi, a Mesopotamian king, to his empire?

Creation of a vision of an ideal ruler (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Sumerian language in later times?

To be used only for ceremonial purposes (D) Signup and view all the answers

How were city-states in Mesopotamia founded according to their beliefs?

By different gods in the pantheon (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did Mesopotamian kings primarily ascend to the throne?

By demonstrating military prowess and proving the gods favored them (A) Signup and view all the answers

What were the responsibilities of Mesopotamian priests concerning the temple cult?

Maintaining the temple's cleanliness and ritual purity, serving the gods and goddesses, and interpreting divine will (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significant role of scribes in ancient Mesopotamian culture?

Recording economic transactions and writing about the exploits of rulers (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of Mesopotamian religion?

Polytheistic with many gods and goddesses forming a pantheon (C) Signup and view all the answers

Who was favored as the supreme deity by the Babylonian kings later in Mesopotamian history?

Marduk (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which empire introduced the Akkadian language, which is closely related to Aramaic and Arabic?

Akkadian Empire (A) Signup and view all the answers

Who was the most well-remembered king of the Babylonians, known for writing the first code of laws?

Hammurabi (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did the Assyrians introduce as their own dialect of Akkadian that became the most popular language in the region?

Aramaic (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the Babylonian myth in which Marduk offers to destroy Tiamat, a goddess of chaos?

'Enuma Elish' (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which empire was responsible for uniting dozens of city-states and had Sargon of Akkad as their greatest king?

Akkadian Empire (D) Signup and view all the answers

What language did most people in Mesopotamia speak before the Akkadians introduced their language?

Sumerian (B) Signup and view all the answers

'Anu' was known as the fatherly sky god in which civilization?

Sumerian (C) Signup and view all the answers

'Enki' was associated with controlling the waters and fertility in which ancient civilization?