Podcast
Questions and Answers
Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means 'between the __________.'
Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means 'between the __________.'
rivers
The __________ River and Euphrates River are the two main rivers defining Mesopotamia.
The __________ River and Euphrates River are the two main rivers defining Mesopotamia.
Tigris
Mesopotamia had around __________ independent city states, including Ur and Babylon.
Mesopotamia had around __________ independent city states, including Ur and Babylon.
12
The __________ are a series of monumental structures that were significant in the architecture of Mesopotamian societies.
The __________ are a series of monumental structures that were significant in the architecture of Mesopotamian societies.
Signup and view all the answers
In Mesopotamian society, women had the right to own __________.
In Mesopotamian society, women had the right to own __________.
Signup and view all the answers
Natural levees in Mesopotamia were created by the build-up of __________ from flooding.
Natural levees in Mesopotamia were created by the build-up of __________ from flooding.
Signup and view all the answers
Most kings in Mesopotamia were believed to be __________ by the gods.
Most kings in Mesopotamia were believed to be __________ by the gods.
Signup and view all the answers
Slaves in Mesopotamia often had the privilege to hold __________ and participate in business.
Slaves in Mesopotamia often had the privilege to hold __________ and participate in business.
Signup and view all the answers
The Code of 282 laws was inscribed on a stone pillar placed in the public ______.
The Code of 282 laws was inscribed on a stone pillar placed in the public ______.
Signup and view all the answers
The Assyrian Empire was characterized by a rule based on ______ as kings built a permanent army.
The Assyrian Empire was characterized by a rule based on ______ as kings built a permanent army.
Signup and view all the answers
The first known form of writing developed in Mesopotamia is called ______.
The first known form of writing developed in Mesopotamia is called ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Gilgamesh is considered the first known work of great ______ in history.
Gilgamesh is considered the first known work of great ______ in history.
Signup and view all the answers
The city of ______ was excavated from 1922 to 1934 and is famed as the home of the patriarch Abraham.
The city of ______ was excavated from 1922 to 1934 and is famed as the home of the patriarch Abraham.
Signup and view all the answers
In Hammurabi's Code, punishments were designed to fit the ______.
In Hammurabi's Code, punishments were designed to fit the ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Scribes in ancient Mesopotamia served as priests, record keepers, and ______.
Scribes in ancient Mesopotamia served as priests, record keepers, and ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Cuneiform spread to ______ and Egypt, facilitating the exchange of ideas among cultures.
Cuneiform spread to ______ and Egypt, facilitating the exchange of ideas among cultures.
Signup and view all the answers
The Great Death Pit contained the bodies of 6 guards and 68 ______.
The Great Death Pit contained the bodies of 6 guards and 68 ______.
Signup and view all the answers
The Assyrian Empire collapsed by the late ______ century BCE.
The Assyrian Empire collapsed by the late ______ century BCE.
Signup and view all the answers
Mesopotamia was known for a polytheistic religion consisting of over ______ gods and demigods.
Mesopotamia was known for a polytheistic religion consisting of over ______ gods and demigods.
Signup and view all the answers
Kings believed to have been created by ______, which enhanced their authority.
Kings believed to have been created by ______, which enhanced their authority.
Signup and view all the answers
Each Mesopotamian city was ruled by a different ______.
Each Mesopotamian city was ruled by a different ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Ziggurats were large temples dedicated to the god of the ______.
Ziggurats were large temples dedicated to the god of the ______.
Signup and view all the answers
The Temple on top of the ziggurat served as the god’s ______.
The Temple on top of the ziggurat served as the god’s ______.
Signup and view all the answers
In ancient Mesopotamia, the Sumerians developed a writing system called ______.
In ancient Mesopotamia, the Sumerians developed a writing system called ______.
Signup and view all the answers
The major crops grown by the Sumerians were barley, dates, and ______.
The major crops grown by the Sumerians were barley, dates, and ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Sargon the Great was the leader of the ______ who unified lower Mesopotamia.
Sargon the Great was the leader of the ______ who unified lower Mesopotamia.
Signup and view all the answers
Hammurabi's law code is known as one of the most comprehensive law codes from the ______ world.
Hammurabi's law code is known as one of the most comprehensive law codes from the ______ world.
Signup and view all the answers
Babylonians used grain as a medium of exchange, which eventually led to the emergence of currency known as ______.
Babylonians used grain as a medium of exchange, which eventually led to the emergence of currency known as ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Prominent Mesopotamian gods included Enlil, Ishtar, An, Enki, and ______.
Prominent Mesopotamian gods included Enlil, Ishtar, An, Enki, and ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Ziggurats were built in a stacked platform design due to the threat of ______.
Ziggurats were built in a stacked platform design due to the threat of ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Mesopotamia is located in the region known as the ______ Crescent.
Mesopotamia is located in the region known as the ______ Crescent.
Signup and view all the answers
The Sumerians' innovations included the invention of the ______.
The Sumerians' innovations included the invention of the ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Mesopotamia: The Cradle of Civilization
- Mesopotamia means "between the rivers" in Greek, specifically the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (present-day Iraq).
- This civilization lasted approximately 3000 years.
- Early settlers in the region established permanent settlements.
- Mesopotamians were the first to irrigate fields, develop a writing system, mathematics, the wheel, and metalworking.
Geographic Conditions
- Mesopotamia has a hot and dry climate with little rainfall.
- Frequent windstorms create muddy river valleys during winter.
- Springtime experiences catastrophic flooding of the rivers.
- The soil is arid with few minerals.
- Stone and timber resources are scarce.
Natural Levees
- Natural levees are embankments of silt and sediment built up over thousands of years due to flooding.
- These levees create high, safe flood plains.
- Levees facilitated easy irrigation and canal construction.
- The surrounding swamps provided food for people (fish, waterfowl, reeds for building materials).
Government
- Mesopotamia was a collection of independent city-states.
- Examples of city-states include Ur, Uruk, Babylon, and Akkad.
- Constant warfare over water rights, land, and power was common between these city-states.
- Kingship was seen as divinely ordained, with kings often considered chosen by gods or being the sons of gods.
- Famous kings include Gilgamesh, Sargon, Hammurabi, and Nebuchadnezzar.
Society
- Sumerian society was divided into four categories:
- Nobles: King and family, chief priests, and high-ranking officials.
- Clients: Freemen dependent on the nobility.
- Commoners: Free citizens.
- Slaves: Prisoners of war, foreigners, and criminals.
- Women had rights, could own property, and could divorce.
- Slavery was a common practice, but slaves possessed some privileges (holding property, participation in business, marrying free citizens, and buying their freedom).
Religion
- The Mesopotamians worshipped a polytheistic religion with over 3600 gods and demigods.
- Gods were worshipped at huge temples called ziggurats.
- Gods were believed to have lived on mountaintops and controlled specific aspects of life.
- Kings and priests acted as interpreters of the gods' wishes (through examining the liver/lungs).
- Prominent Mesopotamian gods included Enlil, Ishtar, An, Enki, and Shamash.
Ziggurats
- Ziggurats are large temples dedicated to the city's patron god.
- Constructed from layers of mud bricks, they have a pyramid-like shape.
- Ziggurats evolved as stacks of platforms of decreasing size.
- Ziggurats were places of offerings and served as the gods' homes.
History of Mesopotamia
- Various civilizations lived in Mesopotamia, creating independent city-states over centuries.
- Important civilizations include Sumer (3500-2000 BCE), Akkad (2340-2180 BCE), Babylonia (1830-1500 BCE and 650-500 BCE), and Assyria (1100-612 BCE).
- These regions were unified and conquered multiple times.
Sumerians
- Sumerians created a complex social, economic, and intellectual structure.
- They irrigated fields, cultivated barley, dates, and sesame, and developed irrigation systems (canals, dikes, dams).
- They invented cuneiform writing and the wheel.
- Population growth resulted from increased food production.
- Sumerians developed a trade system with bartering.
Akkadians
- Sargon the Great unified lower Mesopotamia, establishing the Akkadian capital at Akkad.
- The Akkadian dynasty was short-lived, conquered by invaders.
- The Akkadians spread Mesopotamian culture.
Babylonians
- Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in 1830 BCE.
- Central location enabled control over trade.
- Important ruler, Hammurabi, developed a comprehensive law code.
- This code was divinely inspired, designed to fit the crimes, emphasizing individual responsibility.
Code of Hammurabi
- Hammurabi's Code is a comprehensive set of laws.
- The code covered societal laws and punishments.
- It's among the first known legal codes and established principles like "an eye for an eye."
Assyrians
- Assyria emerged as a dominant force in the 10th century BCE.
- Assyria's city of Assur became a key trading and political center.
- The Assyrians conquered lands, forcing them to pay taxes in the form of food, animals, metals or timber.
- The Assyrians were known for their massive army of professional soldiers, which helped them dominate.
- They were the first to have a permanent army of 200,000 men.
Development of Writing
- Writing's development in Mesopotamia involved three stages:
- Pictograms (picture to show meaning),
- Ideograms (signs to represent ideas/words),
- Phonetics (signs to represent sounds).
- Sumerians used wet clay tablets inscribed with reed points and then dried in the sun.
- Cuneiform writing was a critical development for transmitting information about laws and trade.
Gilgamesh
- Gilgamesh is an ancient epic poem from Mesopotamia.
- It's one of the earliest known works of literature.
- It contains a story about a king and parallels the Biblical story of Noah and the flood.
- It explores themes of creation, human existence, and mortality.
Royal Tombs of Ur
- Excavations (1922-1934) uncovered the royal tombs of the Sumerian city of Ur.
- The tombs contained extravagant jewelry, precious materials (gold, silver), and other art objects.
- The discovery illuminated aspects of Sumerian cultures.
Interesting Facts
- Mesopotamians used a base-60 mathematical system.
- This system is still used in modern degrees, minutes, and seconds.
- Mesopotamians developed a lunar calendar.
Who Was The Best?
- Comparisons across Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria highlight their different strengths.
Legacies of Mesopotamia
- Mesopotamian innovations profoundly influenced later civilizations.
- Key legacies include codified laws, ziggurats, cuneiform writing, irrigation techniques, metallurgy, trade, transportation (wheel), mathematics, and a flourishing agricultural-based lifestyle.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the fascinating history of Mesopotamia, the region that birthed many innovations and ended about 3000 years ago. Learn about its geographical features, climate conditions, and the significance of natural levees in supporting agriculture. This quiz will test your knowledge of this ancient civilization's achievements and environment.
