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Mesopotamia Document Based Questions
Part 1 Directions: analyze each of the following primary sources from Mesopotamia. Then answer the
questions that follow on a separate sheet of paper .
Document 1
1. The excerpt from the epic of Gilgamesh above recounts an event of an epic deluge (flood). Can
you think of another flood myth similar to the one above?
2. How do you think the geography of Mesopotamia may have influenced the writing of this myth?
Document 2:
3.
4.
How did the geography of Mesopotamia impact the accomplishments of the Sumerians?
What impact did the accomplishments of the Sumerians have on other civilizations?
Document 3
5. Why were the Tigris and Euphrates vital to the development of Mesopotamia?
Document 4
6. What does the size of the temple tell you about how the Sumerians felt about their gods?
Document 5
Sumerians created cuneiform script over 5000 years ago. It was the world's first written language.
Sumerians invented this writing system to keep track of business dealings because they traded with
people who lived in lands that were hundreds and even thousands of miles away. Writing was a
giant leap forward in the development of civilization. People kept records and new ideas were now
able to be passed easily from generation to generation. Cuneiform was written on clay tablets, and
then baked hard in a kiln.
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7. How did cuneiform help Mesopotamia develop into a successful civilization?
Document 7
8. The Mesopotamians were the first civilization to create and develop the wheel. Why do you think
they developed it? How could this have helped the Sumerians with their success?
Document 8
The Sumerians were skilled builders. They used their ingenuity to conquer the harsh, and make their
civilization thrive. The Sumerians built extensive irrigation ditches to bring water from the Tigris and
Euphrates to the fields of Mesopotamia. The Sumerians also built massive walls to fortify their
civilization in the middle of the desert.
Part 2 Directions: Use at least 4 of the primary sources to support your answer to the following question.
Answer the question in 3-5 paragraphs.
1. How did the geography of Mesopotamia affect its development? This can include the
development of their religion, infrastructure, trade network, writing, and inventions.