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Questions and Answers
What is significant about cuneiform in relation to Sumerian civilization?
What is significant about cuneiform in relation to Sumerian civilization?
- It was developed only after 3000 BC.
- It was the first known system of measurement.
- It was used exclusively for religious texts.
- It was the earliest form of writing. (correct)
What function did Sumerian clay tablets originally serve?
What function did Sumerian clay tablets originally serve?
- To keep records for trade. (correct)
- To record astronomical observations.
- To document laws and stories.
- To write poetry and literature.
Which invention did the Sumerians develop around 3500 BC?
Which invention did the Sumerians develop around 3500 BC?
- The sailboat.
- The printing press.
- The first plow.
- The wheel for transportation. (correct)
Who was the first leader of the Old Babylonian empire?
Who was the first leader of the Old Babylonian empire?
What was the Babylonian civilization’s capital city?
What was the Babylonian civilization’s capital city?
What notable structure did Nebuchadnezzar II order to be constructed?
What notable structure did Nebuchadnezzar II order to be constructed?
What innovation did ancient Egyptians create in terms of writing materials?
What innovation did ancient Egyptians create in terms of writing materials?
Which civilization is credited with the earliest known calendar based on astronomy?
Which civilization is credited with the earliest known calendar based on astronomy?
What was a key agricultural development in Sumerian civilization?
What was a key agricultural development in Sumerian civilization?
What type of engineering project was significant in ancient Mesopotamia?
What type of engineering project was significant in ancient Mesopotamia?
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Study Notes
Sumerian Civilization
- Located in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait).
- Established around 3600 BC, recognized as the world’s earliest known civilization.
Writing and Record Keeping
- Cuneiform: the first writing system, developed around 3100 BC, using a set of word pictures in symbolic form.
- Sumerian clay tablets: initially for trade record keeping, evolved to document laws and stories.
Innovations and Inventions
- Wheel: invented shortly after 3500 BC, initially as a potter’s wheel, later adapted for transportation by attaching to wagons for moving heavy items.
- Sailboat: developed for transportation on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, facilitating trade and communication.
Astronomy and Knowledge
- Sumerians: the first astronomers, mapped celestial bodies into constellations, influencing ancient Greek astronomy.
- Contributions to logic, mathematics, engineering, architecture, agriculture, transportation, and medicine.
Babylonian Civilization
- Located in the region adjacent to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, with Babylon as the capital, serving as a major commercial and religious hub.
Key Figures in Babylon
- Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC): first leader of the old Babylonian Empire, known for the promulgation of a famous law code establishing legal standards.
- Nebuchadnezzar II: Neo-Babylonian emperor credited with constructing the Hanging Gardens and Ishtar Gate, enhancing irrigation systems, and adopting the Sumerian sexagesimal (base-60) system.
Ancient Egyptian Civilization
- Positioned along the Nile River in Northeastern Africa, dating back to around 5000 BCE, with early activities in hunting and farming.
- Skilled in heating metals for weapons/utensils, first to create glass artifacts like jars and beads.
- Developed writing with ink and brushes on papyrus, and advanced knowledge in anatomy and medicinal plants.
- Created a calendar with a basis in astronomy, initiating 365 days with a lunisolar system.
- Engaged in various activities including shipbuilding, canal construction, animal breeding, and beauty product production.
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