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Honors World History- Chapter 3 Mesopotamia Study Guide
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Vocabulary
You will be responsible for knowing the following terms:
Civilization
Empire Division of Labor
Social Hierarchy
City-state
Scribe
Code of Hammurabi River Valley Civilization
Agriculture
Canal
Irrigation
Fertile Crescent
Surplus
Polytheism
Silt
Cuneiform
Pictograph
*Note – You will have map questions on your test.
Short Answer Questions:
Directions: Answer the following questions with as much information as possible.
1. What was early writing used for?
Early writing was created to keep business records-trade, farming demands and supplies; government
officials and temples hired them to keep records. Later they wrote works on history, law, grammar and math
2. Mesopotamia did not receive much rain. Explain (in detail) how people were able to grow crops there.
When the Tigris and Euphrates flooded (due to high levels of rain in eastern Asia Minor where the two
rivers began) water levels got high and flooded the land-destroying crops, killing livestock and washing
away homes. When water levels were too low, crops dried. Farmers used irrigation to irrigate their land
(dug out large storage basins to hold water supplies) and dug canals to connect these basins to bring water to
their fields. Plows were then invented to help break up the soil – this helped for increased food production
4. What are the advantages of having writing as a part of your culture?
-Keep accurate records to ensure materials are sufficient in future years
-Record important discoveries or ideas (farming, discoveries on medicine, works of literature)
-Rules can be understood and followed by the masses
-History is not lost or changed over time
5. Describe the type of religion that they had in Ancient Sumer.
Mesopotamia was polytheistic-meaning they believed in more than one god. Each city had a main deity
which all the citizens were to please (in order to attain great crops or to avoid terrible disasters). They
believed that pleasing the gods were each citizens’ duty to ensure a great future.
6. Describe with detail the social hierarchy of Ancient Mesopotamia. (draw the pyramid)
Kings -- selected by the gods to rule – had ultimate power
Priests – were the connection to the gods – were able to interpret the gods’ wishes
Skilled Craftspeople: merchants, traders – trained/educated persons
Farmers and laborers – majority of the population – normally uneducated
Slaves -- could be sent to school to watch over students, you could become a slave temp. if in debt
7. Describe the “eye for an eye” theory behind the Code of Hammurabi.
Hammurabi created this law code to help keep order in his land and he amassed a large empire. Basically
if you were to do something negative to a person, the same would be done to you. Social class was
definitely taken into consideration. For example: If you put out the eye of an equal your eye would be taken
out. However, if you took out the eye of someone of a lower rank thank you, you may just have to pay a
fine.
8. List the 5 characteristics of a civilization. Out of the five characteristics of a civilization, which do you
personally feel is the most important? List your choice, and defend your answer below!
1. Stable Food Supply – Irrigation led to civilizations having this (surplus of crops – wheat,
barley, dates, cattle & fish)
2. Division of Labor – Specialization was caused by surplus of food, allowing people to not
just concentrate on farming (government workers, priests, scribes, slaves, farmers)
3. System of Government – Focuses on creating laws to provide organization (city-states
were ruled by a monarch, or a king)
4. Social Hierarchy – Put society in order based upon occupation
5. Highly-developed culture – examples include religion, art and technology (polytheism)
9. Name a few Mesopotamian inventions and what they were used for.
Cuneiform-business records, history, history, grammar and math
The Wheel-transportation (carts and wagons), pottery wheel was created using the wheel
The plow-pulled by oxen, broke the hard clay of Sumer and increased farm production
10. Explain what a city-state is and an empire. Compare and Contrast them.
City-State were independently controlled parts of a civilization (each considered themselves independent
with their own deity and identity)
Empire: different areas of land under one leader’s control
-Both are elements that comprise a civilization
-Empires would all be united to fight a common enemy, while city-states would fight their own battles
11. Who is Sargon? Why is he important in history?
Akkadian ruler who was the first ruler to have a permanent army. Used his army to launch a
series of wars against neighboring kingdoms. He defeated all city-states of Sumer and brought
them all into his empire (the world’s first empire). Ruler of his empire for 55 years and united
Mesopotamia under one single ruler.