Social Studies Vocab 1 Chapter 4: Ancient Sumeria and Mesopotamia

Silt

Fine particles of fertile soil.

irrigation

a system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams.

surplus

an amount that is left over after a need has been met.

city-state

a city that governs itself and its surrounding territory.

polytheism

a belief in more than one god.

ziggurat

a pyramid-shaped structure with a temple at the top.

cuneiform

a system of writing developed by the Sumerians that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay.

scribe

a person who copies or writes out documents; often a record keeper.

epic

a long poem that records the deeds of a legendary or real hero.

empire

a large territory or group of many territories governed by one ruler.

tribute

a payment made to a ruler or state as a sign of surrender.

province

a territory governed as a political district of a country or empire