Download MESOPOTAMIA UNIT TEST STUDY GUIDE

MESOPOTAMIA UNIT TEST STUDY GUIDE
NAME______________________________ DATE_______________________PERIOD_______________
DATE OF TEST: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH
Use your textbook and notes to answer the following questions. The test will include multiple choice,
true/false and 2 short answer essay question.
1)
Describe how farmers in Mesopotamia irrigated (watered) their fields. (textbook pages 8485). Include the names of the two rivers from which they built canals.
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Mesopotamians developed a system of irrigation in which they used canals that led water from the
river into the farming fields. They built wooden dams to control the flow of water.
2)
List the 5 traits of a civilization and describe each trait in a complete sentence. (Textbook
pages 90-91/tree map)
Advanced Cities: These allowed people a place to store their surplus of grain and gave citizens more
opportunities for jobs.
Specialized Workers: People had the chance to do other types of jobs besides farming.
Complex Institutions: Religion, education, army, government, education.
Record Keeping: Using writing to keep track of surplus grains and important events.
Advanced Technology: New ideas/tools allowed the quality of life to improve.
3)
What does the word Mesopotamia mean? (textbook page 83)
“The land between two rivers.”
4)
Who was in charge of the irrigation drains (supply of water) and the surplus grain supply?
(textbook page 92)
The Priests were in charge.
5)
The people of Mesopotamia were polytheists. What does it mean to be a polytheist? Who
did the Sumerians worship? (textbook page 93)
Polytheists worship more than one god. Sumerians worshiped gods of water, wind, foothills, and, sky.
Each city had specific gods they worshiped.
6)
Why were priests considered leaders in the Sumerian Civilization? (textbook page 94)
Priests worked to satisfy the gods and worked to protect the city. Sumerians believed priests were
in direct contact with the gods. Priests claimed to have influence with the gods. People accepted
them as leaders.
7) Describe slaves in Mesopotamia. Did they have rights? How would someone end up a slave?
(textbook page 100)
People that were slaves: Prisoners of war (most slaves), orphan children, people who were in
debt.
Slave Rights: conducting business, borrowing money, buying freedom.
8)
What writing system did the Sumerians invent? What did the Sumerians use this writing
system for? (textbook page 102)
Cuneiform: a series of about 600 different symbols. Scribes used the cuneiform. It would take years
for scribes to learn. Scribes were very important.
Used for RECORD KEEPING: surplus of food, major events (wars).
9) What other inventions besides a writing system did the Sumerians invent? Include as many
examples as you can find. (textbook pages 100-101)
Pictographs, plow, wheel, potter’s wheel, bronze tools, mathematics, wagon, canal/irrigation.
10) What was a “ziggurat” and where were they located within a city-state. What was their
purpose and why were they so important? Who was allowed inside? Draw a simple sketch of
a ziggurat. (textbook pages 92-94)
The center of the city-state. It was a temple and city hall. People that paid the priests were allowed
inside. The ziggurat held the city-states surplus of food.
11) Name the set of laws that King Hammurabi wrote. Write down 2 examples of his laws.
(textbook pages 115-116)
Hammurabi’s Code of Laws/Eye For an Eye Laws. These were the first written laws in human history
and were used to keep the citizens of Babylon under control.
Examples: If a son strikes his father, his hand shall be hewn (cut off).
If a man break another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken.
12) What was the class system in Sumerian society like? What were the different classes? Who
made up these classes? (textbook page 99)
The upper class consisted of Kings, Priests (because of their link to the gods), as well as landowners,
government officials and rich merchants.
The in between class included all free people. (Majority of Sumer)
The lower class was the slaves.
ESSAY QUESTIONS: You will answer your choice of 2 of the following 3 essay questions. Make sure to
answer all parts of the question for full credit. Each question will be worth 5 points.
1.
2.
3.
Describe the Sumerian invention that you think is most important and then back up your answer with at
least 2 supporting details explaining how or why this invention changed people’s lives.
Suppose you lived in Babylon during Hammurabi’s reign. Do you think his Code of Laws was fair?
Explain why or why not using at least 2 supporting details that back up your answer.
Describe the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to the Mesopotamian by listing at least 3 things
these rivers gave them.