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law code
a written set of laws
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a written set of laws
law code
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barbarians
people without civilization
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people without civilization
barbarians
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population
number of people
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number of people
population
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cultural borrowing
transfer of ideas or customs from one culture to another
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transfer of ideas or customs from one culture to another
cultural borrowing
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polytheism
worshipping many gods
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worshipping many gods
polytheism
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chariot
wheeled war vehicle
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wheeled war vehicle
chariot
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city-state
made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages that it controls
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made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages that it controls
city-state
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pictograph
pictures that represent objects
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pictures that represent objects
pictograph
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irrigation
a system for watering crops
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a system for watering crops
irrigation
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scribe
a person who was trained to write and keep records in ancient times
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a person who was trained to write and keep records in ancient times
scribe
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Why was Mesopotamia's soil so fertile?
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers carried rich soil from the mountains that spread across the plain.
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Why were floods harmful to farmers?
In years of heavy rain whole villages might be swept away by the flood waters.
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What did irrigation allow farmers to do?
Irrigation canals carried water from the rivers to the fields. Farmers could keep their crops alive through the hot, dry summer.
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What made the plow even more useful to the Sumerian farmer?
It cut a long trench in the earth where seeds could be planted and the soil was loosened so that roots could grow more quickly.
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Why did food surpluses begin to exist in Sumer?
Improved agricultural techniques helped the Sumerians produce a food surplus.
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How did kingship begin in Sumer?
As city-states grew, they would battle with each other, and some of the military leaders held onto the position of ruler in times of peace...becoming a king
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How did the invention of the sail and the wheel help the Sumerians?
They could carry their grain and wool over long distances and bring home lumber, metals, and precious stones.
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Describe the three social classes in Sumer, and who was in each one?
- Upper class--ruler, his top officials, powerful priests, wealthy merchants, large landowners
- Middle class--farmers and skilled workers
- Lower class--slaves
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What did the Sumerians believe about their gods?
They believed that gods represented elements of nature like wind and rain. They believed that the gods behaved like people, but lived forever and had great power. They could bring good or bad fortune to a city.
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What is a ziggurat?
Temples in larger cities where gods were worshipped.
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Who developed the cuneiform?
Scribes in Sumer at 3500 B.C.
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How did written language evolve?
- First, pictures represented words (pictograph)
- Second, symbols were used for syllables
- Third, letters were used for sounds
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Which country developed the alphabet on which our modern alphabet is based?
Rome
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Why did many armies choose not to live in a defeated city?
It was too risky...if too few soldiers occupied the city they would not be able to control it. If too many soldiers occupied the city there might not be enough to protect the home city from attack.
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Why is a written language an important sign of civilization?
For Hammurabi it showed the laws of his kingdom and information about life in Mesopotamia.
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