Mesopotamia Study Flashcards!

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 other nations that it conquered

Cuneiform

An ancient written language that has wedge-shaped characters (“letters”). A reed stylus was used to write them.

Scribe

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 gods

Monotheism

A religion that believes in one god

Ziggurat

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