(Chapter 2) Ancient Middle East and Egypt

Fertile Crescent

a region of the Middle East named for its rich soils and golden wheat fields

Mesopotamia

"land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates)

Sumer

The world's first civilization, in Mesopotamia

Mud-brick

Sumerian building material

Epic of Gilgamesh

archaeologist-backed poem that describes a great flood that destroys the world

Temple priests and royal officialss

Sumerian leadership that organized civilization and protection of farmland from catastrophic flooding.

Ur and Uruk

World's first great cities located in Sumer

Trade

Sumerians gained riches from _______

Sumerians

Who invented the wheel?

City-state ruler

Sumerian person in charge of maintaining city walls and irrigation, fighting wars, and enforcing laws, who was seen as chief servant of the gods (and led the ceremonies to please them)

Highest class

ruling family, leading officials, and high priests make up the ______

Middle class

lesser priests, scribes, merchants, and artisans make up the ______

Lowest class

peasant farmers, then slaves

True

Sumerians owned slaves