3.2 Mesopotamia

Around 3300 B.C., historians believe that the early Mesopotamians developed the world's first

• agriculture

• civilization

• artisans

• religion

Priests collected payments and conducted religious services at

• the city gate

• the city's courtyards

• the city's grain storehouse

• the city's ziggurat

The early Mesopotamians organized themselves into

• city-states

• provinces

• irrigation districts

• ziggurats

Which phrase most completely describes a ziggurat?

• a holy place

• the center of city life

• a religious temple

• the center of government

The highest level leader in ancient Mesopotamia was a

• judge

• king

• council leader

• merchant

The civilization that rose around 3300 B.C. in southern Mesopotamia is known as

• Babylon

• Persia

• Sumer

• Assyria

Because they worshiped many gods, the Sumerians are said to have practiced

• animal sacrifice

• Hinduism

• monotheism

• polytheism

The growth of trade led to what change in Sumer?

• Priests became less important.

• A writing system developed.

• The wheel was invented.

• Attacks by outsiders decreased.

Why do historians consider Sumer the first "civilization"?

• They engaged in trade.

• They lived in Mesopotamia.

• They invented the wheel.

• They farmed the land.

How did the ability of Sumerian farmers to produce food surpluses help make Sumer a civilization?

• It allowed people to specialize in other kinds of work.

• It brought new settlers to the city states.

• It enabled the population to grow.

• It gave Sumerians more time to practice their religion.