History Alive Lesson 5

A society has a stable food supply if...

• it gives food to the king.

• it has enough food for its people.

• it buys food from other groups.

• it gets food by hunting and fishing

The Sumerian civilization had a social structure with different social levels and jobs. A social structure is...

• the way a civilization is organized.

• how many taxes a king collects from slaves.

• the way scribes record social events.

• how the government treats the lower classes.

Which of these ancient Sumerians most likely lived in a two-story house near the center of the city?

• a skilled metalworker

• a fisherman

• a government official

• a merchant

Small, mud-brick houses at the edge of the city were the homes of __________.

• slaves

• traders

• potters

• farmers

Which one of these inventions most affected the food supply in Sumer?

• the arch

• the plow

• the wheel

• the chariot

Who had these responsibilities?

• the king

• the priests

• the scribes

• the council

Which Sumerian belief about the king helped strengthen the social order?

• He was supported by the gods.

• He cared most about the poor.

• He consulted with wise advisers.

• He wanted everyone to be happy.

Why were scribes important in Sumerian government?

• to entertain the rulers

• to write down the laws

• to collect people's taxes

• to teach the royal children

The building in the picture was most closely related to which of these features of Sumerian civilization?

• food

• writing

• religion

• government

Which evidence shows that the Sumerians lived after the Stone Age?

• brick houses

• wooden plows

• copper jewelry

• painted pottery