Early River Civilizations: Mesopotamia Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, figures, and concepts of the early Mesopotamian civilizations including Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon.

Mesopotamia

A Greek term meaning "land between two rivers," referring to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Sumer

The oldest known civilization, existing from $5400-2400$ B.C., which was organized into city-states.

Sumerian City-States

Political units characterized by wealth inequality, the absence of private property, and a system of theocracy.

Ziggurats

Massive religious structures or temples built by ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.

Wheel

A technological invention first used by the Sumerian civilization to facilitate trade.

Cuneiform

The system of writing developed and used in ancient Mesopotamia.

Sumerian Trade

Economic activities conducted across Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus River Valley, primary using mud as a resource.

Mesopotamian Literature

A collection of literary works including the Enuma Elish, Atrahasis, and the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Akkadians

The group that replaced the Sumerians in Mesopotamia and adopted their writing, culture, and religion.

Lugals

Kings or leaders within the Akkadian political structure.

Sargon of Akkad

The Akkadian ruler who reigned from $2371-2316$ B.C.

Amorite (Babylonian) Empire

An empire that existed from $2000-1595$ B.C., likely established through conquest.

Hammurabi

The ruler of the Babylonian Empire from $1792-1750$ B.C., famous for his code of laws.

Hammurabi’s Code

A collection of laws based on the principles of reciprocity and retaliation, which introduced the presumption of innocence.

Why did early civilizations settle on rivers?

Early civilizations settled on rivers due to the availability of water for irrigation, fertile soil for agriculture, and as a means of transportation and trade.

What was Sumerian religion like? Why?

Sumerian religion was polytheistic, with a focus on nature gods representing elements like water, wind, and fertility. It involved rituals and temples to gain favor and ensure prosperity in agriculture and society.