Chapter 3: Ancient Mesopotamia

Which group was part of every class in Sumerian society?

• farmers

• merchants

• slaves

• women

Which of these descriptions best defines a city-state?

• a big city with a large population

• a region containing many towns and farms

• a small country that consists of only of a city

• a city with nearby villages and farmland

The first Sumerian writing system used what kind of symbols

• pictures

• numbers

• alphabet

• wedge shaped marks

The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia arose in a region that is part of what present-day country?

• Egypt

• Iran

• Iraq

• Turkey

What was the main reason the Sumerians developed surpluses of food ?

• They dug canals and irrigated fields.

• They developed the ability to predict floods.

• Their population became healthier and increased.

• Their neighbors gave then food in trade.

Why were the Sumerians able to develop the different kinds of job skills needed to have a civilization?

• Population growth increased the number of people.

• Priests started special schools to train workers.

• Food surpluses allowed people to do other work than farm

• longe periods of peace freed soldiers from military service.

Which phrase most completely describes a ziggurat?

• a holy place

• the center of city life

• a religious temple

• the center of government

Why was the area along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers so good for growing crops?

• The flooding rivers deposited silt on the land.

• It was an area of frequent rainfall.

• It was very flat and mostly clay

• The cities where farmers lived were nearby.

What advance in civilization did the Sumerians make?

• first to use horses

• first to use clay pots

• first to use the wheel

• first to farm the land

Which of the following is an example of the Sumerians' advanced technology?

• Their use in mud for building

• Their social classes

• Their practice of polytheism

• their use of plow in farming