Chapter 2—A Civilization of Writing: Mesopotamia

Instructions:
Use the “Chapter 2” PowerPoint and the textbook to help you complete this review
package.

1. Identify the first four (4) civilizations that began to emerge in the 4th M. B.C.E in
chronological order, the location (the valley and the continent), and the years in which
each developed.
Earliest Civilizations Location (Valley and Continent) Approximate Date
of Development

1.
2.
3.
4.

2. Between which two rivers did Mesopotamian civilization emerge?

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3. What is the meaning of the term ‘Mesopotamia’? Why is the meaning of this term
related to the two rivers between which the civilization developed?

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4. What did all four (4) civilizations have in common that allowed them to flourish (succeed
as civilizations)?

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5. Identify the four (4) features that made the Fertile Crescent an ideal location within which
a civilization could develop. Hint: These features are linked to the geography of the
location.
Features of the Fertile Crescent

1.

2.

3.

4.

6. Why is Mesopotamia called the “cradle of civilization”?

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7. Explain how dikes and canals were used as part of the irrigation process.
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8. Identify the first four major cities within Mesopotamia.

1. ______________ 2. ________________ 3. __________________ 4. ________________

9. Complete the cause and effect chain pertaining to the development of writing.

CAUSE: EFFECT: EFFECT:

Development of Development of
_________________ writing in
___________ B.C.E

10. What is the name of the location in which writing emerged? When did writing emerge?

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11. What is the name of the first form of writing? On what technology did the
Mesopotamians write?

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12. Explain why it was so difficult to master (i.e. learn) cuneiform.

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13. With which material were houses constructed?

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14. What types of services were offered in the city?

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15. What characteristics does a city-state have that a city does NOT?

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16. a) What is the Code of Hammurabi?

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b) How many articles did it contain? ____________________

c) What was the major statement that it made?

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d) On what were these articles based?

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17. What did the Code of Hammurabi indicate (i.e. include) that Hammurabi hoped would
teach individuals how to behave?

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18. Complete the following chain to trace the evolution of how kings acquired power.

Method of Method of Method of

Selection: Selection: Selection:
King chosen by a
council of elders
and nobles

19. In Mesopotamian social hierarchy, the middle class was mainly composed of which
group? Did these people possess any property? Explain

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20. Explain the tasks that the peasants engaged in daily. Did they possess any property?

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21. Did Mesopotamian women have any rights? Explain.

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22. Divide this pyramid of social hierarchy into sections that represent each of
Mesopotamia’s social classes.

23. Explain why Mesopotamians can be described as polytheists.

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24. According to Mesopotamians, how were gods different from humans?

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25. What did the Mesopotamians do to try to please their gods?

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26. How is the position of the king linked to god? Explain.

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27. Explain the role of the priests.

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28. Where did Mesopotamians go to worship their gods? How large were these places (what
could they be compared to) and why?

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29. What is a ziggurat? Describe the ziggurat in detail. Where was it located?

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30. How did the Mesopotamians manage to share their culture and their products with those
from other areas?
Did they get something in return for sharing?

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31. In the area below, list everything that the Mesopotamians traded and list everything that
they were lacking (missing).

Products that What Mesopotamians

Mesopotamians Traded Lacked (were missing)
32. Each of the following inventions helped Mesopotamian merchants. Identify the name of
each invention and explain why it helped merchants in the table below.

Invention Name of How Invention Helped Merchants

Invention

33. Define the term ‘innovation’. What did the goods that the Mesopotamians produced have
to do with this term? Explain.

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 34. List the advancements made in terms of mathematics and astronomy in the table below.

Area Advancements Made

Mathematics

Astronomy

35. Which of Mesopotamia’s cultural elements were spread through the travels of merchants?

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