The Rise of Sumerian City-States

Front

What was the environment of the plains of Sumer?

Back

low and flat, with little rain

Front

What does Mesopotamia mean based on its location?

Back

between two rivers

Front

Why were Sumerian communities called city-states?

Back

Each of them had its own ruler, laws, and farmland

Front

What solution did people in the Zagros foothills find to fix the problem of food shortages?

Back

moving to the southern plains of Sumer

Front

What was the problem with living in the plains of Sumer?

Back

It was too dry most of the year, but flooded in the Spring.

Front

Why was a levee built beside a river in ancient Sumer?

Back

to prevent floods

Front

Why was silt (a type of mud) a problem for the people of Sumer?

Back

It clogged the irrigation canals

Front

Why did the villages of Sumer depend on each other?

Back

They worked together to keep the water systems (canals) working for each village.

Front

The people of Sumer constructed moats (water around the walls of a city) to

Back

protect cities from attack