A large territory in which several groups of people are ruled by a single leader or government
2
New cards
Sumerians
the creators of the first Mesopotamian civilization
3
New cards
Social Classes
A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
4
New cards
Mesopotamia
in ancient times, the geographic area located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (called land between two rivers)
5
New cards
Assyria
This empire used highly advanced with their military. They were seen as mean, cruel and conquered a lot of land.
6
New cards
Akkadians
These people were lead by Sargon- creators of the first empire.
7
New cards
Agriculture
the practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the domestication of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.
8
New cards
Artifact
An object made by human beings; often refers to a primitive tool or other relic from an earlier period
9
New cards
Epic of Gilgamesh
An epic legend about a Mesopotamian king. Literature from the ancient empires written on clay tablets found in the excavations of the library in Nineveh.
10
New cards
Babylonians
A group of people who conquered the Akkadians. They had a very famous king named Hammurabi. Hammurabi created nearly 300 laws known as Hammurabi's Code of Laws.
11
New cards
Monotheism
Belief in one God
12
New cards
Merchants
Traders, people who buy and sell goods
13
New cards
Priests
High hierarchy people who made offerings to the gods
14
New cards
Exile
Forced people to move from their homelands to other lands, often far away
15
New cards
Tribute
Money or goods that the ruler had to pay for the protection given by the Assyrian army.
16
New cards
Battering ram
A powerful weapon having a wooden beam mounted on wheels
17
New cards
Treasury
A place where the money is kept.
18
New cards
Loom
To come into view usually from a high spot.
19
New cards
Amorites
Re-unified Mesopotamia, and established their capital at Babylon, on the Euphrates. The Amorites (Old Babylonian Dynasty) ruled for about 300 years, from around 1900-1600 B.C.E.
20
New cards
Hammurabi Code of Laws
First written law; one of the worlds oldest written codes of law. It is significant because they were written in stone. They were supposedly given to Hammurabi of the Mesopotamian civilization by a god, Eye for Eye
21
New cards
Cup bearer
A person who fills and serves cups of wine, as at a banquet or to a king; also sometimes one who tastes the wine before handing it to his master to avoid poisoning
22
New cards
Sargon
2340 B.C. leader of the Akkadians who overran the Sumerian city-state and set up the first empire
23
New cards
Phalanx Military formation
A military formation of foot soldiers armed with spears and shields
24
New cards
Bow and arrows, spears, shovels, and irrigation
Examples of the technology that Akkadians used
25
New cards
Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians)
An empire that arose late in the 7th century B.C.E. These peoples also deported rebellious populations but were less brutal than the Assyrians. Conquered Jerusalem and brought the Hebrew people to Babylon. Fell in 539 B.C.E. to Cyrus the Great of Persia.
26
New cards
Hammurabi code of laws
FIRST written law; one of the world's oldest written codes of law. It is significant because they were written in stone. They were supposedly given to Hammurabi of the Mesopotamian civilization by a god, Eye for Eye
27
New cards
Ashurbanipal II
King of Assyria who is famous for the palace and library he built at Nineveh
28
New cards
Nineveh
capital of the assyrian empire
29
New cards
Hebrews
Early group of people who lived in lands between Mesopotamia and Egypt. They developed the religion Judaism.
30
New cards
Nebuchadnezzar II
King of Babylon who conquered Judah and carried off many of the inhabitants into exile in Babylon.
31
New cards
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
An artificial mountain covered with trees and plants, built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife. The gardens are one of the Seven Wonders of the world.
32
New cards
Ishtar Gate
The entrance gate into Babylon. It was built by Nebuchadnezzar.
33
New cards
Jerusalem
A city in the Holy Land, regarded as sacred by Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
34
New cards
Cyrus the Great
A remarkable leader who managed to reunite he Persian Empire in a powerful kingdom. Under Cyrus, Persia began building an empire larger than any yet seen in the world
35
New cards
Persian empire
Mesopotamian empire that conquered the existing Median, Lydian, and Babylonian empires, as well as Egypt and many others. Also known as the Achaemenid Empire.
36
New cards
Darius the Great
Ruler of the Persian Empire at its greatest size and power
37
New cards
Royal Road (Persia)
A road in the Persian Empire, stretching over 1,600 miles from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia.
38
New cards
Xerxes
Son of Darius; became Persian king. He vowed revenge on the Athenians. He invaded Greece with 180,000 troops in 480 B.C.
39
New cards
Satraps
Governors of provinces in the Persian Empire
40
New cards
King's Eyes and Ears
Secret Agents who worked for the Persian king to keep him informed on what was going on so he could rule more effectively