Mesopotamia Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to ancient Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia

An ancient region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Fertile Crescent

An area of rich farmland in Southwest Asia.

Civilization

A society with cities, a government, and a shared way of life.

Silt

Fine soil carried and left behind by a river.

Irrigation

Bringing water to farmland to help crops grow.

Canal

A human-made waterway.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods.

Monotheism

Belief in one god.

Ziggurat

A large, stepped temple tower.

Cuneiform

A writing system made by pressing symbols into clay.

Alphabet

A set of letters used to make words.

Bronze

A strong metal made by mixing copper and tin.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen.

City-state

A city and its surrounding land with its own government.

Empire

Several lands and peoples ruled by one government.

Hammurabi’s Code

A written collection of laws used in ancient Babylon.

Surplus

More of something than is needed.

Labor

When people specialize in different jobs.

Barter

To trade goods directly without using money.

Social hierarchy

The way people in a society are ranked by power or status.