Civilization Emerges in Mesopotamia

Flashcards covering key concepts from the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia, including vocabulary, important figures, and significant events.

What is the Fertile Crescent?

A region with good conditions for growing crops that stretches from the Mediterranean coast east through Mesopotamia to the Persian Gulf.

What is Mesopotamia?

A wide, flat plain located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq.

What does it mean to irrigate in terms of agriculture?

To supply water to crops through canals or other means.

What is a city-state?

An independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

What is barter?

A trading system in which people exchange goods directly without the use of money.

What is polytheism?

The worship of many gods or deities.

What is a ziggurat?

A brick, pyramid-shaped temple built in ancient Mesopotamia.

What is cuneiform?

The Mesopotamian system of writing that uses triangular-shaped symbols to represent ideas or things.

Who were the Sumerians?

The first people to settle in Mesopotamia, known for creating the first known civilization around 4500 BCE.

What was the role of priests in Sumerian society?

Priests communicated with the gods and were seen as essential for bringing peace and social order.

What is Hammurabi’s Code?

A set of laws that governed life in the Babylonian Empire, known for establishing the rule of law.

What is the significance of the Assyrian Empire?

Known for its powerful army and advanced military strategies, controlling much of the Fertile Crescent.

How did the Persian Empire rise to power?

Through conquest, notably by Cyrus the Great, who united the Persians and overthrew the Medes.

What was the impact of Phoenician trade?

Phoenician trade linked diverse peoples across the Mediterranean and influenced various cultures through the spread of their alphabet.

What is cultural diffusion?

The spread of cultural traits from one culture to another.

What was the significance of the wheel in Sumerian technology?

An invention that greatly improved transportation and trade.

What era marked the establishment of the first known law code?

Around 2100 BCE, established by Ur-Nammu, king of Ur.