Social Studies Mesopotamia

Cuneiform

writing that uses wedge-shaped characters

Civilization

A society marked by developed arts, sciences, government, and social structure

Ziggurats

An ancient Mesopotamian temple tower with outside staircases and a shrine at the top

Empire

A large territory in which several groups of people are ruled by a single leader or government

Tribute

Wealth sent from one country or ruler to another as a sign that the other is superior

Code of Hammurabi

A collection of written laws and rules on a steele which was displayed to the public in a temple

Sumer

An area in southern Mesopotamia where cities first appeared

Tigris and Euphrates River

The two largest rivers in southwest Asia, that flow from the mountains in Turkey to the Persian Gulf

Mesopotamia

In ancient times the geographic area located between the Tigris and Euphrates river

Levee

A wall of earth built to prevent a river from flooding its banks

Irrigation

A means of supplying land with water

City-state

An early city that was like a small, independent country with its own laws and government

Akkadians

First ones who conquered Sumer, led by King Sargon, fell after 200 years due to too much territory

Babylonia

Took over after Akkadians, led by Hammurabi, had the code of laws

Assyrian

feared for their military strength, used siege warfare, capital city was Nineveh

Neo–Babylonian empire

led by Nebuchadnezzar, had border walls thick enough for two chariots to pass each other on top of them, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, lasted for 75 years