The Civilization of Sumer Part 2 from GR (6th WH: LFCS)

What did Sumerians believe about their gods?

• They controlled some aspects of their lives

• They controlled every aspect of their lives

• They controlled the citizens but not the rulers

• They made the plants grow

List characteristics of the Sumerian gods mentioned in the textbook. (Choose all that apply)

• Sumerians believed that the gods ate, drank, slept, and married. (Behaved like people)

• Sumerians believed that the gods lived forever.

• Sumerians believed that the gods had great power.

• If the gods were happy with people’s prayers and offerings, they might bring good fortune to the city. If not, they might bring war, floods, or other disasters.

• Sumerians believed that the gods had little power.

True/False: Sumerians believed that everyone knew how to communicate with the gods.

• True

• False

What is true about ziggurats?

• In larger Sumerian cities, temples were pyramid-shaped brick towers known as ziggurats.

• In larger Sumerian cities, churches were pyramid-shaped brick towers known as ziggurats.

• The largest ziggurats were seven stories tall.

• They rose upward in steps, with each level smaller than the one below.

• Some were filled with beautiful paintings and statues.

What were some reasons that writing was developed and what was the need?

• Sumerian priests needed a system to keep track of their stored goods.

• At first they drew pictographs on clay.

• In time, this way of keeping records developed into the world’s first system of writing.

• At first they wrote letters on clay.

• In time, this way of keeping records developed into the world’s first system of drawing.

By 3400 B.C., Sumerian priests had created a new system of writing called ________.

• cuneiform

• alphabet

• phonics

• pictographs

Around 2000 B.C., the long poem _____________ appeared.

• Epic of Gilgamesh

• Romeo and Juliet

• The Legend of Adapa

• Code of Hammurabi

True/False: Although the stories of Gilgamesh are myths, historians believe that Gilgamesh might have been a real king who ruled the Sumerian city-state of Uruk.

• True

• False

The first leaders of Sumerian city-states were ________.

• nuns

• kings

• priests

• Akkadians

In times of war, _________ helped choose the best person to lead the city-state into battle.

• kings

• queens

• popes

• preists