Chapter 2 Section 1 Civilization in Mesopotamia

1. Why was the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers able to sustain an early civilization? Rich Soil and Abundant Crops

2. What were the Sumerians the first to do? Created the first Mesopotamian Civilization

3. Describe the dimensions of the Sumerian city of Uruk. Had a 6 mile long wall around it with towers every 30 feet

4. In what ways were the people of Mesopotamia creative with mud bricks? They invented the arch and the dome and built huge buildings

5. In what three ways did the temples serve as the center of a Sumerian city? Physically, economically, and politically

6. What did the Sumerians believe about who it was that ruled their cities? Te Gods ruled the city, it was a Theocracy

7. Around 3000 BC what was invented that greatly affected the transport of goods in Sumeria? The wheel, which gave them carts

8. Give the definition of empire A large political unit, under one leader, with many people

9. Who set up the first empire in world history, and how did he do it? Sargon, by taking over Sumerian city- states

10. What principle was a fundamental part of the Code of Hammurabi? Eye for an eye

11. According to Sumerian beliefs, why did the gods create human beings? To do manual labor the Gods didn’t want to do

12. What do many people consider to be the greatest invention of the Sumerians? Cuneiform, “wedge-shaped” writing

13. Why was writing so important in an ancient civilization? It allowed society to keep records and pass information from generation to generation