Social Studies Week 6 Notes: Ancient Mesopotamia Geography

Flashcards covering vocabulary, geography, accomplishments, agriculture, and timeline systems from the Week 6 Ancient Mesopotamia Social Studies notes.

What is the framing question for the Ancient Mesopotamia Geography notes?

How did the geography of the ancient Near East influence the development of Mesopotamia?

What does the term "chronological" mean?

Events presented or described in the order in which they happened.

What is the meaning of the Latin word "circa"?

"Around" or "approximately" a certain date or time period.

What is a crescent?

A curved shape that is wider in the middle than on the ends, like the moon when it is less than half of a circle.

What does "fertile" mean when referring to land?

Land that plants grow well in.

What is silt?

Very fine sand or soil that is carried along by a river.

What is a reservoir?

A man-made pool or lake where water can be stored until it is needed.

Where did the Sumerians settle, and what does "Mesopotamia" mean?

The Sumerians settled between two rivers in the Ancient Near East. Mesopotamia means "land between two rivers."

What inventions are attributed to the Sumerians in the notes?

Soap, the sailboat, the wheel, the first schools, and the first aquarium.

What natural features bordered Mesopotamia in the north and east?

Mountains.

How were the Mediterranean and the gulf referred to in ancient writings?

The Mediterranean was referred to as "the upper sea," and the gulf was called "the lower sea."

Why is the area called the Fertile Crescent?

Because of its rich and fertile soil, spread in a curved shape.

Which five groups fought to control and made Mesopotamia their home at different times?

The Sumerians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Akkadians, and Assyrians.

Where was almost every major ancient city built?

Near a river.

What three characteristics of a civilization are highlighted in the notes?

A stable food supply, permanent settlements, and job specialization.

How did the Sumerian culture spread and influence other areas of the world?

The Sumerians became successful trade merchants, causing their culture to spread.

Why did the Sumerians need to control the rivers?

Because the rivers flooded in the spring and dried up in the summer.

What agricultural system did the Sumerians invent to handle floodwaters?

A system with brick walls and dams that led the floodwaters into reservoirs.

What was the main crop grown in Sumer?

Barley.

Which animals did the Sumerians raise as domesticated livestock?

Goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, ducks, and even pigeons.

Who divided historical timeline events into two sections?

Dionysius Exiguus.

What does B.C. stand for and how does it count years on a timeline?

It stands for "Before Christ" and counts years backward from the year Jesus Christ was likely born.

What does A.D. stand for and how does it count years on a timeline?

It labels events occurring after the birth of Christ and counts the years going forward.

What modern terms are used today in place of B.C. and A.D.?

B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era).