Topic 2: The Fertile Crescent

What geographic feature of Mesopotamia promoted the growth of civilization?

• Location near the Mediterranean Sea

• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers brought water and fertile soil for farming

• River valleys protected the people from invaders

• Year-round rainfall supported crops

How did Sargon build the first empire in Mesopotamia?

• He conquered Sumer’s weakened city-states

• He overthrew the Assyrian king

• He sent his armies west to take Syria

• He built ships to send troops down rivers

What was the most important contribution of the Phoenicians?

• Developing the alphabet

• Learning to sail ships

• Making colored dyes

• Coining money

Which is the correct order of developments in Mesopotamian civilizations?

• Irrigation → Food surplus → Specialization

• Food surplus → Irrigation → Specialization

• Herding → Irrigation → Specialization

• Specialization → Irrigation → Food surplus

Which is the correct chronological order of Fertile Crescent empires?

• Akkadian → Assyrian → Neo-Babylonian → Phoenician

• Assyrian → Akkadian → Phoenician → Neo-Babylonian

• Neo-Babylonian → Akkadian → Assyrian → Phoenician

• Assyrian → Neo-Babylonian → Akkadian → Phoenician

The ziggurat was built to …

• Honor the city-state’s chief god

• Store grain

• Train soldiers

• Keep out floods

Sumerian farmers used irrigation and dams to produce a food (a)   .

Sumerians had a belief system known as (a)   .

Which are characteristics of early Mesopotamian city-states?

• Each had its own government

• Built walls for protection

• Often fought over land and resources

• Leaders were elected by citizens

Which statements are true of women in Mesopotamian society?

• Some served as rulers and priestesses

• A few owned businesses

• Had fewer rights than men

• Main job was to run the home