Exploring Ancient Mesopotamian Civilization

What was the initial goal of archaeologists when they first came to Mesopotamia in the 1850s?

• To locate the Tigris River

• To uncover the Hanging Gardens

• To find the city of Ur

• To discover the city of Babylon

What was the basis of the Sumerian civilization's agriculture?

• Cereal agriculture

• Fishing

• Livestock farming

• Hunting

What was the center of Sumerian city life?

• The palace

• The harbor

• The temple

• The marketplace

Which invention is considered one of the Sumerians' greatest contributions to the Western world?

• The compass

• The wheel

• The plow

• The calendar

What material did the Sumerians primarily rely on for making most of their items?

• Metal

• Clay

• Stone

• Wood

What was the first form of written communication used by the Sumerians?

• Alphabet

• Papyrus scrolls

• Cylinder seals

• Hieroglyphs

Who created the politically unified empire known as Babylonia?

• Ashurbanipal

• Nebuchadnezzar

• Sargon

• Hammurabi

What was the capital of the Assyrian Empire?

• Akkad

• Nineveh

• Ur

• Babylon

Which empire defeated the Assyrians around 570 BC?

• The Egyptians

• The Persians

• The Chaldeans

• The Babylonians

What is one theory for why ancient Mesopotamian cities are now little more than dust?

• Frequent earthquakes

• Invasion by foreign armies

• Gradual increase of salts in the soil

• Lack of building materials