Unit 7 Ancient Mesopotamia Vocabulary

agriculture

the raising of crops for human use

artisan

a skilled craftsperson

caravan

a group of traveling merchants and animals

city-state

independent state made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages

civilization

a complex society which includes geography, religion, achievements, politics, economics, and social structure

code of law

a written set of laws that apply to everyone under a government

culture

people's learned behavior and ways of life, including their language, beliefs, customs, and practices

cuneiform

Sumerian system of writing made up of wedge-shaped markings

economy

relating to the production, distribution, and use of income, wealth, and goods for trade

empire

a group of territories or nations under a single ruler or government

enduring influence

long-term effects that can be seen many years, decades, or centuries later

government

the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed

Hammurabi

King of Babylonia who is best known for his code of law

irrigation

method of bringing water to a field from another place to water crops

levee

a wall built along a river bank to prevent flooding

Mesopotamia

early center of civilization, in the area of modern Iraq, located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

monotheism

belief in one god

polytheism

belief in many gods

Sargon

king of the Akkadians who conquered all of Mesopotamia in about 2340 B.C.

scribe

a record keeper

social structure

a pattern of organized relationships among groups of people within a society

specialization

the development of different kinds of jobs

Sumer

a group of ancient city-states in southern Mesopotamia; the earliest civilization in Mesopotamia

trade

the exchange of goods between people

ziggurat

a large step pyramid with several stories built by the ancient Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians