Flashcards History Alive! The Ancient World Ch. 4-6

Front

What kind of environment would you find in ancient Sumer?

Back

low and flat, with little rain

Front

The name of Mesopotamia comes from its location, which was

Back

between two rivers.

Front

Why were Sumerian communities known as city-states?

Back

Each boasted its own ruler and expansive farmland.

Front

Which fact allowed Neolithic people to farm in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains?

Back

The region had plenty of rain.

Front

What development caused food shortages in the Zagros foothills?

Back

increase in population

Front

How did the clever folks in the Zagros foothills tackle the tricky problem of not having enough food?

Back

moving to the south

Front

What made farming difficult in Sumer?

Back

lack of rainfall

Front

Why did ancient civilizations build those massive dams and reservoirs?

Back

To cleverly store water for times when it was scarce.

Front

Imagine you're time-traveling to ancient Sumer and spot a levee beside a river. What's its purpose?

Back

to prevent floods

Front

Why was silt a problem for the people of Sumer?

Back

It clogged the irrigation canals.