Chapter 4: Mesopotamia

Question 1

Mesopotamia means ‘land between the ______.’

Answer 1

rivers

Question 2

The two main rivers in Mesopotamia are the ______ and ______ Rivers.

Answer 2

Tigris, Euphrates

Question 3

The first civilization in Mesopotamia was called ______.

Answer 3

Sumer

Question 4

A city and the land around it that has its own government is called a ______.

Answer 4

city-state

Question 5

Large temples built to honor the gods were called ______.

Answer 5

ziggurats

Question 6

The Sumerians invented a type of writing called ______.

Answer 6

cuneiform

Question 7

Cuneiform was written on ______ tablets.

Answer 7

clay

Question 8

A person trained to write cuneiform was called a ______.

Answer 8

scribe

Question 9

The most famous Sumerian city was ______.

Answer 9

Ur

Question 10

The earliest known story from Sumer is the ______ of Gilgamesh.

Answer 10

Epic

Question 11

Babylon became powerful under King ______.

Answer 11

Hammurabi

Question 12

Hammurabi is known for creating a set of laws called ______.

Answer 12

Hammurabi’s Code

Question 13

The phrase ‘an eye for an eye’ comes from ______’s Code.

Answer 13

Hammurabi

Question 14

Mesopotamians used a sharp tool called a ______ to write.

Answer 14

stylus

Question 15

The first written laws were carved into a ______ pillar.

Answer 15

stone

Question 16

Mesopotamians were the first to invent the ______ (used for carts).

Answer 16

wheel

Question 17

Sumerian schools trained boys to become ______.

Answer 17

scribes

Question 18

The region of Mesopotamia is now part of modern-day ______.

Answer 18

Iraq

Question 19

Hammurabi’s Code had ______ laws.

Answer 19

282

Question 20

Mesopotamian farmers grew crops like barley and ______.

Answer 20

wheat

Question 21

Sumerians believed in many gods, which means they were ______.

Answer 21

polytheistic

Question 22

A board game similar to checkers was found in the city of ______.

Answer 22

Ur

Question 23

The Sumerians used ______ to measure land.

Answer 23

math

Question 24

Mesopotamians studied the ______ to make calendars.

Answer 24

stars

Question 25

Mesopotamia is called the 'cradle of ______.'

Answer 25

civilization

Question 26

What does 'Mesopotamia' mean? A. Land of mountains B. Land of kings C. Land between the rivers D. Land of the sun

Answer 26

C – Mesopotamia means 'land between the rivers'.

Question 27

Which two rivers bordered Mesopotamia? A. Nile and Amazon B. Tigris and Euphrates C. Yangtze and Ganges D. Mississippi and Missouri

Answer 27

B – The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were vital to Mesopotamia.

Question 28

What was the first known civilization in Mesopotamia? A. Egypt B. Babylon C. Sumer D. Greece

Answer 28

C – Sumer was the first known civilization in the region.

Question 29

What is a city-state? A. A city without walls B. A small village C. A city with its own government D. A state with no people

Answer 29

C – A city-state had its own king and government.

Question 30

What were ziggurats? A. Palaces B. Temples C. Homes D. Schools

Answer 30

B – Ziggurats were temples built to honor gods.

Question 31

What was the Sumerian form of writing? A. Alphabet B. Hieroglyphs C. Cuneiform D. Latin

Answer 31

C – Cuneiform was the Sumerian writing system.

Question 32

What material did Sumerians write on? A. Paper B. Metal C. Clay D. Wood

Answer 32

C – Clay tablets were used for writing.

Question 33

What tool did they use to write cuneiform? A. Pen B. Chisel C. Stylus D. Brush

Answer 33

C – A stylus was the writing tool.

Question 34

Who created the first code of written laws? A. Gilgamesh B. Hammurabi C. Sargon D. Nebuchadnezzar

Answer 34

B – Hammurabi created one of the first law codes.

Question 35

How many laws were in Hammurabi’s Code? A. 100 B. 282 C. 50 D. 300

Answer 35

B – Hammurabi’s Code had 282 laws.

Question 36

What did the phrase 'an eye for an eye' represent? A. Fair trade B. Equal justice C. Learning to read D. Farming

Answer 36

B – It meant equal punishment for crimes.

Question 37

Who was trained to write in cuneiform? A. Farmers B. Warriors C. Scribes D. Traders

Answer 37

C – Scribes were trained writers.

Question 38

Which city was known for King Hammurabi? A. Ur B. Nineveh C. Babylon D. Uruk

Answer 38

C – Babylon was ruled by Hammurabi.

Question 39

Where was Mesopotamia located? A. North America B. Africa C. Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers D. South America

Answer 39

C – Mesopotamia was between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Question 40

What did Mesopotamians build to honor their gods? A. Pyramids B. Temples C. Ziggurats D. Castles

Answer 40

C – Ziggurats were religious structures.

Question 41

What is the Epic of Gilgamesh? A. A law book B. A song C. A temple D. A story

Answer 41

D – It’s one of the world’s oldest stories.

Question 42

Which of these was invented in Mesopotamia? A. The compass B. The wheel C. The telephone D. The airplane

Answer 42

B – The wheel was invented in Mesopotamia.

Question 43

What was used to make early Mesopotamian homes? A. Bricks made from sun-dried clay B. Stones C. Wood D. Metal

Answer 43

A – Bricks made from sun-dried clay were common.

Question 44

What kind of religion did the Sumerians follow? A. Monotheism B. Buddhism C. Christianity D. Polytheism

Answer 44

D – They believed in many gods, or polytheism.

Question 45

What is the modern-day country where Mesopotamia once was? A. Iran B. Iraq C. Egypt D. Turkey

Answer 45

B – Mesopotamia is in present-day Iraq.

Question 46

What did Mesopotamians use to measure land? A. Ropes B. Feet C. Math D. Hands

Answer 46

C – They used math for measurements.

Question 47

Who went to school to learn writing? A. Girls B. Boys from wealthy families C. Everyone D. Only kings

Answer 47

B – Wealthy boys could attend school.

Question 48

What was cuneiform mainly used for at first? A. Art B. Games C. Keeping records D. Maps

Answer 48

C – It was first used for keeping records.

Question 49

What did Mesopotamians use to make calendars? A. Sunflowers B. Rainfall C. Stars D. Shadows

Answer 49

C – Stars helped them track time.

Question 50

Why is Mesopotamia called the 'cradle of civilization'? A. It had the most babies B. It was the newest civilization C. It had the first writing, laws, and cities D. It had many animals

Answer 50

C – It was where many key ideas began.