Ancient Mesopotamia Notes

1. Mesopotamia was located in between the __________________ and ___________________ Rivers.

a. Part of the_______________________________________.
b. Mesopotamia means __________________________________ in Greek
2. In order to predict the coming of the floodwaters, a 12-month calendar based
on the __________________________ was used.
3. What is a city-state? ________________________________________________.
Religion
4. Many of the earliest civilizations were polytheistic.
a. polytheism is _______________________________.
Government
5. Originally ________________________, or government controlled by religious
leaders. Eventually controlled by military leaders who became _________________.
What country the modern day Mesopotamia be located? ____________________________
Sumer
6. Sumer was the _______________________ city- state. Sumerians grew wealthy
from __________________________. Items traded included:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
7. Two of the Sumerians inventions included _____________________ and the
________________________.
How did the wheel and sailboat make a big impact on society?

8. Sumerians were the first people to ________________________ and keep list of

records. Their form of writing was known as____________________.
a. World's first story was the ________________________________.
9. Around 2300 B.C, _________________ conquered Sumer and other city-states and
became the ____________ empire
10. _____________________________ conquered Akkad around 1800 BC.
Their king was ___________________. He built temples, irrigation canals, and
encouraged trade and ideas
a. Each city-state in Mesopotamia had its own __________, or collection of
laws. Hammurabi took what he believed as the best laws from each, put them

together, and issued them to everyone in his empire. This was called
______________________.
b. The laws were carved into stone and placed where all could read and know the
rules and punishment
11. After Hammurabi died, the empire split in two. In the 500s BC, _____________________ rebuilt the city and made it the center for trade and culture.
a. the royal palace was known for its _______________________________.
12. Who were the most important traders? ___________________________________.
a. Phoenicians became known for their ___________________and keeping
records.
b. Their alphabet gave rise to the three languages still used today/
1.
2.
3.