Sumerian Civilization Quiz

A region in the Middle East located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known for its fertile soil and early civilizations.

A system of canals and ditches built to control and distribute water from rivers for irrigation.

The invention of the plow, wheel, and irrigation systems helped Sumerians overcome the challenges of their climate and produce surplus food

The surplus food produced by the Sumerians allowed them to trade with other civilizations.

Independent cities with their own governments, gods, and leaders.

A towering temple dedicated to a city-state's patron god.

The Sumerian civilization is considered to be the 'cradle of civilization' due to its significant contributions in areas like writing, agriculture, and city-building.

A dry, hot desert-like climate with unpredictable floods that left fertile silt behind.

The Sumerian civilization believed that their purpose on Earth was to serve the gods.

The Sumerian civilization was polytheistic, believing in many gods, including those of nature, who were seen as unpredictable and powerful.

Sumerian priests were responsible for controlling irrigation, settling disputes, storing and distributing surplus goods, and making sacrifices to appease the gods.

Sumerian houses were windowless and made of sun-dried mud bricks due to the lack of wood and stone. The flat roofs were often used as living spaces.

Sumerian city streets were extremely narrow, making it difficult to navigate even a cart.

Sumerian society was organized into social classes based on wealth and education, with priests, rulers, and the wealthy at the top, and slaves and peasants at the bottom.

A Sumerian city was organized around a central courtyard where families gathered, while narrow streets connected homes facing away from the busy streets.

The Sumerian city of Ur was known for its ziggurat, a temple dedicated to the city's patron god, which was surrounded by courtyards for trade and only priests could enter.

The use of wedge-shaped symbols pressed into soft clay tablets, marking a major advance in communication and record-keeping.

A clay container used by Mesopotamian merchants to store tokens representing goods traded, later evolving into a form of early writing by marking the outside of the container.

The first known epic poem, telling the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, and his quest for immortality. It explores themes of friendship, loss, and mortality.

A system of written laws created by King Hammurabi of Babylon, known for its strict and harsh punishments. It serves as a crucial example of early legal codes.

The first empire in Mesopotamia, established by King Sargon of Akkad, who conquered and united various city-states. This marked a shift from independent city-states to a unified empire.

The process of deciphering ancient cuneiform writing to understand its meaning and glean knowledge from Mesopotamian culture and history.

A period in Mesopotamian history marked by constant battles between city-states, leading to the development of assemblies, temporary leaders, and eventually the co-sharing of power between priests and kings.

The process of applying water to land to promote plant growth, a key innovation in Mesopotamia that allowed for increased agricultural production.

A legal code engraved on a stone pillar, containing 282 laws that regulated Babylonian society.

The principle of justice where punishment directly corresponds to the crime committed. A common example is 'an eye for an eye.'

The idea that the government has responsibility for what happens in its society and must uphold justice and order.

One of the scenarios Hammurabi faced where a carpenter builds a house that collapses and kills the owner.

One of the scenarios Hammurabi faced where a wife disrespects her husband.

One of the scenarios Hammurabi faced where a nun enters a wine shop for a drink.

One of the scenarios Hammurabi faced where a son is adopted and his biological parents want him back.

One of the scenarios Hammurabi faced where a man cannot pay his debts.

A builder who constructs a house that collapses and causes the owner's death is to be executed.

A wife who neglects her household duties and disrespects her husband can be punished by being thrown into a body of water.

A nun who engages in wine-selling or drinking can be burned to death.

An adopted son cannot be reclaimed by his birth parents.

If a man is unable to repay his debts, he can sell his wife, son, or daughter into servitude for three years.

A son who strikes his father will have his hand cut off.

A wine seller who fails to report bad characters gathered at her shop is to be executed.

A person accused of a crime can prove their innocence by undergoing a river ordeal: sinking means guilt, while surviving means innocence.