Mesopotamia

What were four advantages to living in the foothills of the Zagros mountains

1. Mild Weather
2. Plenty of Rain
3.Trees to build homes
4. Rocks to make tools

One Problem in the foothills was too many ______________ and not enough ____________________.

people, food

How did farmers living in the foothills solve the food shortage?

They moved to the plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

What was the region called that the people moved to from the zagros mountains to solve the food shortage?

Sumer

What new problem occurred after Sumerian farmers created irrigation systems?

They had to maintain the irrigation system across village boundaries.

What could happen if the irrigation system was not maintained?

The irrigation canals could get clogged with silt.

Why could Sumerian farmers no longer live apart, or in small groups?

Sumerian farmers had to work together so all the villages could grow crops

What happened to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the spring?

The rivers would flood

Why was it difficult to raise crops in Sumer?

They had an uncontrolled water supply - there was too much water or not enough.

How did the Sumerians solve the problem of uncontrolled water supply?

They built levees and irrigation systems

Identify 3 other ways the Sumerians controlled the water supply?

Dams, canals, and reservoirs

What new problem occurred after Sumerian farmers created irrigation systems?

Sumerian farmers had to maintain the irrigation system across village boundaries.

What could happen in an irrigation system that was not maintained?

The irrigation canals could get clogged with silt

Why could Sumerian farmers no longer live apart or in small groups?

Sumerian farmers had to work together so all the villages could grow crops.

What did the Sumerians fight over?

control of water

How did the geography of Sumer leave the cities unprotected?

There were no natural barriers like mountains and rivers.

What did the Sumerians do to protect their cities?

They built walls and moats.

Why were the cities of Sumer called citi-states?

They were like independent countries each with their own set of laws.

What is a scribe?

A professional writer

What does barter mean?

exchange for other goods without using money

What is the Fertile Crescent?

an arc-shaped region in the Middle East, with rich soil which includes Mesopotamia

Why did irrigation in Mesopotamia lead to an increase in population?

Better farming led to a more dependable food supply. More food meant the population could grow.

What is Polytheism?

belief in more than one god

What is a Ziggurat?

A pyramid-shaped temple built for their god

How did the Achievement of the wheel help the Sumerians?

The wheel made it easier to move goods and people

How did the Achievement of Cuneiform Writing help the Sumerians?

Cuneiform, a writing that used wedge shapes, helped scribes record information.

How did the Achievement of a Stable Food Supply help the Sumerians?

The plow helped with tilling the soil for farming, and irrigation helped control the water for the crops.

How did the Achievement of the use of Bronze help the Sumerians?

Bronze was used to create weapons and tools. This replaced stone versions.

Why were priests considered so important?

Sumerians believed that priests were connected to the gods.

How did the kings and priests of Sumer support one another?

The kings helped the priests maintain control and protection during the challenging times in the city. The priests put the king in a position of power.

How did Trade Improvements help the Sumerians?

Sumerians used the wheel to transport goods. They used sail boats on the river to trade.

Why was each city-state a station of trade?

In order to get goods like wood, stone, and copper.

How was the population of city-states divided?

The population was divided into social classes.

Describe the positions of men and women in society?

Usually men had higher social positions, but women could gain power.

How did the Mesopotamians use urban planning?

Mesopotamians implemented urban planning to design cities with organized layouts, including streets, public buildings, houses, the ziggurat was placed in the city center, and farms were located outside of the city walls.

Why did people choose to construct their homes near the city center?

People chose to construct their homes near the city center because the people wanted it to be easy to get to the temple to leave offerings for their gods.