Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Unit 2: Mesopotamia

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 1hrs 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Prompt:  In this unit we have learned how the Ancient Mesopotamians innovated and invented many new technologies that changed the way that people lived in Mesopotamia and had an impact on future civilizations.  

Essay Question: 

A.  Explain how the introduction of new technology and innovations can change the way that people live.  

B.  Explain one piece of Mesopotamian technology and how it changed the lives of people in Mesopotamia and future civilizations. 

C.  Explain one innovation (idea) that the Ancient Mesopotamians developed and how it changed the way that people lived.  

4 lines
2.

Which of these events took place FIRST in the sequence of civilization development in Mesopotamia? 

a)

Agricultural (farming) practices improved.

b)

Not everyone was needed for farming.

c)

Some people specialized in a trade or did different jobs.

d)

Trading centers grew into cities.

3.

Which of the following is true for about Ziggurats?  

a)

 Ziggurats were used to store surplus crops in the City-State. 

b)

Ziggurats are where Mesopotamians made offerings to the gods. 

c)

Only priests or royals were allowed to enter the Ziggurat.  

d)

All of these choices are true.

4.

How was early Sumerian Civilization structured (put together)?

a)

A collection of small City-States, each ruled by its own king, having it's own laws, and it's own army.

b)

A single city ruled by one king.

c)

A collection of large City-States, all ruled by one central king. 

d)

A single City-State ruled by one priest.  

5.

Which of the following was NOT an innovation or invention that came from Mesopotamia?  

a)

The plow

b)

Stone Tools 

c)

Writing 

d)

Mathmatics

6.

What does this mean?    "If a man has knocked out the teeth of a man of the same rank, his own teeth shall be knocked out.  If he has knocked out the teeth of a plebeian (commoner), he (a royal) shall pay one-third of a mina of silver." 

a)

The laws in Hammurabi's Code distinguished between Social Classes. 

b)

Violence must always be punished with violence. 

c)

All men are created equal under the law.

d)

Fines are preferable to physical punishment 

7.

Which of the following is NOT true of Hammurabi's code?  

a)

It covered many aspects of Babylonian life, not just crimes. 

b)

It was used by many later civilizations as a model for their own system of laws.

c)

It treated all people the same under the law. 

d)

It was carved in stone so it lasted a long time.

8.

Why were Mesopotamians considered polytheistic?

a)

They believed in many gods. 

b)

They worshiped one god. 

c)

They worshiped in a temple called a Ziggurat.  

d)

They all had Aunt Polly that was important to them. 

9.

A few Mesopotamians who learned how to write often held high positions in what job?  

a)

Priests 

b)

Scribe

c)

Merchants 

d)

Artisans 

10.

Directions:  Look at the map below to help you answer the questions that follow.  

Which two rivers flow through Ancient Mesopotamia?  

a)

The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers 

b)

The Yellow and Yangtze Rivers 

c)

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers 

d)

The Nile and Amazon Rivers 

11.

Directions:  Look at the Map below and answer the questions that follow.  

Which City-State would you go to first if you travelled NORTH WEST from Babylon?  

a)

Sippar

b)

Uruk 

c)

Tell Asmar 

d)

Ur

12.

Directions:  Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. 

     The Rosetta Stone, named for the place it was found in 1799, contains writing carved in three different languages:  Greek and Coptic, a common script of ancient times, and Egyptian hieroglyphics.  Scholars believe the stone was carved in three scripts to make it easier for all priests and officials of Egypt to read and understand hieroglyphics.  

     Though many people tried to figure out its meaning, a French linguist finally succeed.  Able to read both Coptic and Greek, he figured out that the passage was the same in both languages and reasoned the Egyptian writing also said the same thing.  In this way he was able to read hieroglyphics and learn what many of the symbols meant.  

Which sentence below states the MOST IMPORTANT effect of the information in this passage?  

a)

Ancient Egyptian history can now be read by modern scholars due to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.  

b)

Most people in modern Greece speak and write the Egyptian language.  

c)

Many modern students now learn to write in Egyptian hieroglyphics. 

d)

Rosetta, where the Rosetta Stone was found, is the most famous place in Egypt. 

13.

Which of these events happened SECOND in the historical sequence of human civilization development?  

a)

Ancient Mesopotamian agricultural (farming) techniques improved 

b)

Not everyone was needed for farming 

c)

Some people specialized in a trade. 

d)

Trading centers grew into cities. 

14.

Which group of people were on the highest levels of Mesopotamian Society?  

a)

Farmers 

b)

Slaves

c)

Kings and Priests 

d)

Artisans 

15.

The first leader to unite the City-States of Mesopotamia under one rule and thus created the first empire in history was ___________________________________. 

a)

Sargon the Great (Sargon the 1st)

b)

Hammurabi 

c)

Julius Caesar

d)

Cleopatra 

16.

The earliest civilization in the Mesopotamian area; gave us writing, math, and more was called ______________________.

a)

Babylon

b)

Sumer 

c)

Akkadia 

d)

Assyria

17.

Which of these events happened THIRD in the sequence of the development of human civilization? 

a)

Agriculture (farming) practices improved. 

b)

Not everyone was needed for farming 

c)

Some people specialized into trade.

d)

Trading centers grew into cities 

18.

Which of these events happened LAST in the sequence of human civilization development? 

a)

Agriculture (farming) practices improved.

b)

Not everyone was needed for farming. 

c)

Some people specialized in a trade.  

d)

Trading centers grew into cities. 

19.

Which of the following characteristics is NOT part of a Civilization?

a)

Organized Religion

b)

Public Works

c)

Agriculture

d)

Centralized government

20.

The first government system in Mesopotamia was a(n) ____________________.

a)

Republic

b)

Monarchy

c)

Oligarchy

d)

Democracy

21.

Reorder the following social classes from Most (1) powerful to Least (5) powerful

a)

King

b)

Priests

c)

Scribes

d)

Farmers

e)

Slaves

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
22.

Which of the following is NOT a job or responsibility of Priests in Mesopotamia?

a)

Dentistry

b)

Mediator between people and also between people and the gods

c)

Running everyday life in the city-state

d)

Sailing ships up and down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers whenever sailors were sick.

23.

Complete the sentence: Judaism was ____________.

a)

the 1st monotheistic religion.

b)

Started by Abraham around 4000 years ago.

c)

started in Canaan, between Egypt and Mesopotamia.

d)

ALL of these answers are correct

24.

Which of the following was NOT an event that came from Mesopotamia and had an impact on future civilizations?

a)

The invention of toothpaste

b)

Writing

c)

Base 60 system to tell time

d)

Mathematics