Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent Civilizations

Mesopotamia

Greek origins meaning between two rivers

Irrigation

Using canals, ditches, pipes, and streams to deliver water to dry land

City-state

An independent city and the farmland that surrounds it.

Empire

A nation and the other nations that it has conquered

Cuneiform

An ancient written language that has wedged shaped character’s. A reed stylus was used to write the characters.

Scribe

A professional writer or record keeper

Artisan

A skilled craftsman that makes things using their hands

Manual labor

Physical work done by hand instead of machines or animals

Polytheism

A religion that believes in many gods

Monotheism

A religion that believes in one god

Ziggurat

Large temples buillt by the Sumerians that had ramps, stairs and several levels.