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 (taken over).

Cuneiform

An ancient (old) written

language that has

wedged-shaped characters

(“letters”). A reed stylus

(writing tool) was used to

write the characters.

Scribe

A professional writer or record keeper.

Artisan

A skilled craftsman that makes things using their

hands.

Manual Laborer

Physical work done “by hand” instead of

machines or animals

Polytheism

A religion that believes in many

(more than one) gods

Monotheism

A religion that believes in one god

Ziggurat

Large temples built by the Sumerians that had

ramps, stairs and

several levels