chapter 5: ancient mesopotamia's growth and achievement

What was one major result of advancements in agriculture in ancient Mesopotamia?

• Villages became smaller and less organized.

• Mesopotamian villages grew because farming could meet the food needs of more people.

• People stopped trading goods and services.

• Transportation became less important.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Who ruled each city-state in ancient Sumer, and what was this form of government called?

• A group of elected officials; democracy

• A council of elders; oligarchy

• Its own king; monarchy

• A single priest; theocracy

What caused a change to the way ancient Mesopotamia was ruled under the Sumerians?

• The invention of the wheel

• Nomadic herders from the surrounding deserts moved into Mesopotamia and settled into the city of Akkad

• The discovery of gold

• The building of large temples

How did Sargon the Great change the government structure in Mesopotamia?

• He created a democracy in every city-state.

• He conquered many cities and created the world’s first empire, ruling many lands under one government.

• He allowed each city to remain independent.

• He abolished all forms of government.

Why did the introduction of written laws in the Code of Hammurabi help protect citizens?

• Written laws could be changed easily by lawmakers.

• Citizens could be better informed of the laws rather than just relying on memory.

• Only kings could read the laws.

• Laws were kept secret from the public.

What material did ancient Mesopotamians use to record important ideas before the invention of paper?

• Clay tablets

• Papyrus scrolls

• Animal skins

• Wooden boards

Which development in ancient Mesopotamia was the first writing system, using symbols to represent syllables?

• Hieroglyphics

• Cuneiform

• Alphabet

• Pictographs

Why was the creation of standardized measurements important in Sumer?

• It helped everyone use the same units of measure.

• It allowed people to write stories.

• It made farming easier.

• It helped build ziggurats.

How did the belief in polytheism affect the daily lives of ancient Mesopotamians?

• They ignored natural disasters.

• They believed gods controlled natural events and gave offerings to please them.

• They only worshipped one god.

• They did not build any temples.

Explain how the development of cuneiform contributed to the creation of the world’s first written epic, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

• Cuneiform allowed Mesopotamians to record knowledge permanently, making it possible to write and preserve the Epic of Gilgamesh.

• Cuneiform was only used for math and science.

• Cuneiform was used to build ziggurats.

• Cuneiform was a type of religious ceremony.