Mesopotamia Chapter 4 Vocabulary

Irrigation

a system that supplies water to dry land

Cuneiform

a system writing developed by the Sumerians. Wedged shaped marks made in soft clay

Scribes

high class people who were record keepers. They wrote documents and recorded information.

Astronomer

a person who studies planets, stars and space.

Social Class

levels of society based on economy, beliefs and status.

Assyrians

warrior people whose empire stretched from east to north of the Tigris River all the way to Central Egypt

Mesopotamia

first civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present day Iraq; means land between the rivers. It was located in Asia

Hammurabi

wrote a legal code that covered most areas of daily life ( The Code of Hammurabi)

Upper Class People in Sumer

King, warriors, government officials, and priests

Middle Class People of Sumer

merchants, artisans, farmers, and fishermen

Lower Class People of Sumer

debtors, criminals, and slaves

Artisan

a person who was skilled at making things like metal items, cloth, and pottery.

Imports for Sumer

Sumerians traded their goods for timber, metals, Carnelian, and Lapis Luzuli.

Empire

a group of many different lands and territories under one ruler.