Egypt & Mesopotamia

Question 1

What rivers bordered Mesopotamia?

Answer 1

Euphrates and Tigris

Question 2

What river bordered Egypt?

Answer 2

Nile River

Question 3

What are some differences in Egypt’s and Mesopotamia’s geography?

Answer 3

Egypt had natural barriers (desert), Nile River (predictable flooding and easy transportation), natural resources, natural irrigation, etc.

Mesopotamia lacked natural barriers, had unpredictable flooding, no natural irrigation, lack of natural resources, etc.

Question 4

What was Egypt’s type of government?

Answer 4

Theocracy (gov. ruled by religion)

ex: pharaohs thought of as gods and ruled Egypt

Question 5

What was Mesopotamia’s type of government?

Answer 5

Absolute monarchy

Question 6

What was Egypt’s form of writing?

Answer 6

Hieroglyphics: used pictures that stood for ideas

Question 7

What was Mesopotamia’s form of writing?

Answer 7

Cuneiform: used pictographs/symbols

Question 8

What was Hammurabi’s Code?

Answer 8

created by Hammurabi: single code of laws to unify groups in his empire (Babylon)

Question 9

What were city-states?

Answer 9

cities and the surrounding area that it controlled

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a civilization?

Answer 10

advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology

Question 11

What does polytheistic mean?

Answer 11

to believe in more than one god

Question 12

What is the Fertile Crescent?

Answer 12

curved piece of land between the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea that contains rich soil

Question 13

What is the significance of Nubia/Kush?

Answer 13

Nubia and Egypt had been trading since the Middle Kingdom. Egypt ruled Nubia and the Nubian kingdom Kush from 2,000-1,000 B.C. When Egypt fell, Nubia established the Kushite dynasty. Kush was ruled by Egypt once more, but regained power again when Egypt fell. Kush united the entire Nile Valley.

Question 14

Who was Hammurabi?

Answer 14

Hammurabi was the ruler of Babylon from 1792-1750 B.C. Babylon was at its greatest during Hammurabi’s reign. He created Hammurabi’s Code.

Question 15

Who was Sargon I of Akkad?

Answer 15

He led his army from Akkad in 2350 B.C. to defeat Sumer’s city-states. Akkad adopted most of Sumer’s culture. He controlled north and south Mesopotamia and created the world’s first empire

Question 16

Who were the Hyksos?

Answer 16

Hyksos ruled Egypt from 1640-1570 B.C. They shook Egypt’s confidence in their natural barrier.

Question 17

Who was Ramses II?

Answer 17

Ramses was an Egyptian pharaoh that made a peace treaty with a Hittite king. He ruled from 1290-1224 B.C. He was considered to be a very talented builder during the New Kingdom.

Question 18

What is the significance of the Hebrews?

Answer 18

The Hebrews created a bible that stated that a man named Abraham and his family crossed the Euphrates river and went to Canaan in 1800 B.C. In 1650 B.C., Abraham’s descendants moved to Egypt.

Question 19

Who is Hatsheput?

Answer 19

Hatsheput declared herself pharaoh in 1472 B.C. She promoted trade instead of war. She ordered a trading expedition to the land of Punt; this brought back gold, ivory, unusual plants and animals, etc.