Sumerian Civilization Quiz

9 Questions

What calendar reform did Caesar introduce during his rule?

Julian Calendar

Who did the leading senators initially endorse as the less harmful to their cause?

Pompey

What title was Caesar given during his rule?

Dictator

Who formed the second triumvirate after Caesar's death?

Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian

What was the outcome of the battle between Octavian's fleet and the combined navies of Antony and Cleopatra?

Antony and Cleopatra's navies were crushed

What was the role of the paterfamilias in Roman society?

The paterfamilias was the head of the household and had full authority

What was the relationship between the patricians and plebeians in Roman society?

The patricians were the upper class and the plebeians were the lower class

What was Seneca's view on the treatment of slaves in Roman society?

Seneca believed slaves should be treated humanely

What was the outcome of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey?

Caesar defeated Pompey and his allies, gaining control of the Roman government

Study Notes

Sumerian Civilization (3500 – 2340 BCE)

Sumerians mixed with farming people, leading to the growth of city-states in Southern Mesopotamia, known as Sumer
Sumerians believed in polytheism, building ziggurats as homes for their gods
Cuneiform was their system of record-keeping, using baked clay
Sumerians established schools that trained boys in art, mainly for sons of upper-class professionals

Mesopotamian Society and Culture

Mesopotamia had written laws, advances in mathematics and astronomy, and widespread trade
The Code of Hammurabi dealt with community, religion, irrigation, military service, crime, business, and family relations

Egyptian Civilization (Lasted 3,000 Years)

Egypt depended on the Nile River, with the Nile's silt building up a triangular delta
Egyptians believed in many gods, including animal worship
Inspector-spies, known as the "Eyes and the Ears of the king," monitored the people

Persian Religion and Empire

Zoroaster, a Persian religious teacher, introduced a new religion in the sixth century
Ahura Mazda, the wise Lord, represented truth, goodness, and light, while Ahriman was the evil spirit
Zoroastrianism became the official religion of the Persian Empire

Greek City-States

Greeks lived in small, independent city-states, often at war with one another
Greek city-states were the cradle of Western civilization
Minoans built magnificent palaces that housed royal families, priests, and government officials
Mycenaeans ruled Crete and mainland Greece, borrowing from Minoan civilization

Greek Ideals and Culture

Greeks valued excellence, encouraging the development of many talents
Greeks believed in moderation, a life of balance between extremes
Poets expressed Greek ideals, with poetry playing a key part in expressing the Greek view of life
Pindar and Sappho were famous poets, with Sappho establishing a school of music and singing for wealthy young women

Greek Drama and Theater

Poetry developed into drama, with Thespis being the first person to appear on stage as an actor
Athenian ruler Pisistratus sponsored the first drama festival in 534 B.C.
Three greatest writers of Greek tragedy were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides
The Parthenon was a temple to Athena, built in 447 B.C.

Greek Art

Greek art was a significant part of Aegean culture
Artemis was the great Olympian goddess of hunting, wilderness, and wild animals
Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation
The bronze Boxer of Quirinal was a significant Hellenistic Greek sculpture

Science, Philosophy, and Rome

Mesopotamians and Egyptians took the first steps toward creating science
Philosophy originated from the Greek word "love of wisdom"
Thales, Pythagoras, and Democritus were ancient Greek scientists and philosophers
Julius Caesar was the "Dictator for Life" who introduced the Julian Calendar
Octavian's victory marked the end of the Roman Republic