Study Guide Chapter 4 Mesopotamia 1) silt: fine particles of fertile soil 2) irrigation: a system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams Key Vocabulary Terms: 11) tribute: a payment made to a ruler or state as a sign of surrender 12) province: a territory governed as a political district of a country or empire 3) surplus: an amount that is left over after a need has been met 4) city-state: a city that governs itself and its surrounding territory 5) polytheism: a belief in more than one god 13) caravan: a group of merchants traveling together for safety, usually with a large number of camels 14) astronomer: a person who studies planets and stars 6) ziggurat: a pyramid-shaped structure with a temple at the top 7) cuneiform: a system of writing developed by the Sumerians that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay 8) scribe: a person who copies or writes out documents; often a record keeper 9) epic: a long poem that record the deeds of a legendary or real hero 10) empire: a large territory or group of many territories governed by one ruler Page 1
Lesson 4-1 Study Guide: The Sumerians Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1. Where did the first civilizations arise because of farming conditions? A. in the mountains B. near the sea C. in river valleys D. in the desert 2. A Sumerian temple to honor their chief god was called a A. scribe. B. cradle. C. Gilgamesh. D. ziggurat. 3. Although most Sumerians were farmers, many made metal, cloth, and pottery because they were skilled A. artisans. B. merchants. C. slaves. D. priests. 4. The few Sumerians who learned how to write often held high positions in society as what? A. artisans B. scribes C. heads of households D. merchants 5. The calendar developed by the Sumerians was based on A. the number 60. B. the cycles of the moon. C. the Roman calendar. D. the geometry of the wheel. Page 2
Match each word with its correct definition or description. A. Mesopotamia B. cuneiform C. city-state D. irrigation E. civilization 6. Greek for land between the rivers 7. complex societies that have organized governments, culture, and writing 8. a method that brings water to crops 9. has its own government but is not part of any larger unit 10. a form of writing developed by the people of Sumer Subjective Short Answer 11. Explain the role of women in Sumerian society. Page 3
Essay 12. Explain why the wheel was an important Sumerian invention Page 4
Lesson 4-2 Study Guide: Mesopotamian Empires Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1. What did the Hittites teach the Assyrians that helped make their army stronger? A. how to use bows and arrows and other more advanced weapons such as catapults and battering rams B. how to fight while riding horses C. how to make use stronger metals for weaponry, such as iron D. how to make chariots 2. Which part of Babylon was known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? A. Hanging Gardens B. king s palace C. wall around the city D. irrigation system 3. Babylon became rich from trade because it was located on a major trade route between the Mediterranean Sea and the A. Red Sea. B. Euphrates River. C. Tigris River. D. Persian Gulf. 4. In 612 B.C. the Chaldeans defeated whom? A. Akkad B. Assyria C. Hammurabi D. Nebuchadnezzar 5. Which mountain people captured Babylon in 539 B.C.? A. the Hittites B. the Persians C. the Chaldeans D. the Assyrians Page 5
Match each word with its correct definition or description. A. province B. astronomer C. Nineveh D. Nebuchadnezzar E. caravan 6. a group of traveling merchants 7. the Assyrian Empire s capital city 8. a political district 9. Chaldean king who rebuilt Babylon 10. one who studies the stars and planets Subjective Short Answer 11. What are some examples of the Assyrian army s brutality, or extreme violence? Page 6
Chapter 4 Review (Lessons 1-2) True / False Indicate whether the statement is true or false. 1. The Fertile Crescent includes parts of the modern countries of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. 2. Sumerian city-states went to war with one another in order to increase trade. 3. Many Sumerians were skilled metalworkers because of the abundance of metal in Sumer. 4. Sargon conquered all of the peoples of Mesopotamia, creating the world s first empire that lasted more than 200 years. 5. The Assyrian army numbered around 50,000 soldiers, including infantry, cavalry, and charioteers. Multiple Choice Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 6. Which group rebelled against the Assyrians? A. Chaldeans B. Sumerians C. Babylonians D. Hittites 7. The first Sumerian kings were probably A. farmers. B. artisans. C. scribes. D. war heroes. Page 7
8. Who wrote a legal code that covered most areas of daily life? A. Gilgamesh B. Nineveh C. Nebuchadnezzar D. Hammurabi 9. Sumerian artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishers made up this group. A. business class B. middle class C. upper class D. lower class 10. During the summer in Mesopotamia, A. water was scarce. B. high humidity kept people indoors. C. melting snow led to flooding. D. snow sometimes fell. Matching Match each word with its correct definition or description. A. Assyrians B. astronomers C. Gilgamesh D. Nineveh E. ziggurat F. scribe 16. site of one of the world s first libraries 17. first large army to use iron weapons 18. hero of an epic who travels the world performing great deeds 19. people who study the heavenly bodies 20. a pyramid-shaped structure with a temple at the top Page 8