Download File - 6th Grade History

Mesopotamia Study Guide
Using your workbook (pages 33-40), class notes, and handouts in your binder, please answer
the following questions to prepare you for your test on Ancient Mesopotamia
1. Why was Mesopotamia called the Cradle of Civilization?
It is called Mesopotamia because it is the world’s first organized civilization
2. Describe the area of the Fertile Crescent: (You should be able to label the Tigris River,
Euphrates River, Mediterranean Sea, and Persian Gulf)
“The land between the two rivers”, South West Asia, located in what is now Southern Iraq
3. What are three advantages and three disadvantages of living within the area of the Fertile
Crescent?
Advantages: Constant water source, fertile soil, transportation
Disadvantages: Unpredictable flooding, no natural barriers for protection, limited natural
resources
4. Be able to describe the Sumerian City-State (there is a really good graphic organizer on this in
your workbook!)
Sumerian City-State: Ruled by a king, grew its own crops, owned surrounding land, formed
alliances with other city-states, worshiped many gods but claimed one god as its own, had its
own government
5. What are the three social classes of Ancient Mesopotamia?
1st (most powerful) = Priests and royalty
2nd= wealthy merchants
3rd= ordinary workers
5. What is Hammurabi’s Code? Why is it important? King Hammurabi reigned in Babylon and
created Hammurabi’s Code which was a strict set of laws and punishments. It was important
because it protected innocent people who had been harmed and also prevented criminals
from being given a punishment that did not fit their crime. The code is known for having the
idea of an “eye for an eye.” Note: a person’s social status did make a difference with how the
laws were applied.
6. What group took over Mesopotamia in the 1800s B.C. E., and who was their leader?
A group called the Akkad took over Mesopotamia and their leader was King Sargon
7. What did the Assyrians do to the people they defeated?
When Assyrians took over city-states they would destroy the town, rob people, set crops on
fire, and force them to pay a tribute.
8. What advancement allowed the Assyrian’s to defeat others in battle?
The Assyrians made their weapons out of iron. Before this, people made their weapons out of
softer materials such as tin or copper.
9. How were the Chaldeans able to take over the Assyrian empire?
When the Assyrians were arguing over who would be their next ruler, their empire became
weak and chaotic. The Chaldeans used their division as the perfect opportunity to attack.
10. Which king built the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the World?
King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens. It is said that he built them to have a place
for her wife to relax in that would remind her of her hometown in the mountains.
11. What are three Sumerian advances that still have an impact on the world today?
Some Sumerian advances (achievements) that we still use today include the wheel, sailboats,
wooden plows, and bronze.
Terms- Please define the following.
12. Polytheism- The belief in more than one god
13. Empire- A group of many different lands under one ruler
14. City-state- An independent nation made up of a city and the land around it
15. Irrigation- A way to supply dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams
16. Cuneiform- A Sumerian writing system that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay
17. Ziggurat- A pyramid shaped tower with a temple on top
18. Scribe- A person who copies or writes out documents (often a record keeper)
19. Silt- Small particles of fertile soil
20. Tribute- A payment made to a ruler or state as a sign of surrender
6th Grade History Website:
FranklinHistory6.weebly.com
Use this site to review notes, look up answers, and read additional materials. I scanned some
of our worksheets on there so you can practice filling them out again to help you study.
If you have any questions while you are studying, please feel free to email me at
[email protected] and I will get back to you as soon as I can! 