Mesopotamia Flashcards
(50 cards)
What were four advantages to living in the foothills of the Zagros mountains
- Mild Weather
- Plenty of Rain
3.Trees to build homes - Rocks to make tools
One Problem in the foothills was too many ______________ and not enough ____________________.
people, food
How did farmers living in the foothills solve the food shortage?
They moved to the plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
What was the region called that the people moved to from the Zagros mountains to solve the food shortage?
They lived in Sumer, the plains region of southern Mesopotamia.
What new problem occurred after Sumerian farmers created irrigation systems?
They had to maintain the irrigation system across village boundaries
What could happen if the irrigation system was not maintained?
The irrigation canals could get clogged with silt.
Why could Sumerian farmers no longer live apart, or in small groups?
Sumerian farmers had to work together so all the villages could grow crops and maintain irrigation systems.
What happened to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the spring?
The rivers would flood
Why was it difficult to raise crops in Sumer?
They had an uncontrolled water supply - there was too much water or not enough.
How did the Sumerians solve the problem of uncontrolled water supply?
They built levees and irrigation systems
Identify 3 other ways the Sumerians controlled the water supply?
Dams, canals, and reservoirs
What new problem occurred after Sumerian farmers created irrigation systems?
Sumerian farmers had to maintain the irrigation system across village boundaries.
What could happen in an irrigation system that was not maintained?
The irrigation canals could get clogged with silt
What was the long term result of the Sumerians working together?
Sumerians began to live in larger towns and cities.
What did the Sumerians fight over?
control of water
How did the geography of Sumer leave the cities unprotected?
There were no natural barriers like mountains and rivers.
What did the Sumerians do to protect their cities?
They built walls and moats.
Why were the cities of Sumer called city-states?
They were like independent countries each with their own set of laws.
What is a scribe?
A professional writer
What does barter mean?
exchange for other goods without using money
What is the Fertile Crescent?
an arc-shaped region in the Middle East, with rich soil which includes Mesopotamia. The land between 2 rivers.
Why did irrigation in Mesopotamia lead to an increase in population?
Better farming led to a more dependable food supply. More food meant the population could grow.
What is Polytheism?
belief in more than one god
What is a Ziggurat?
A pyramid-shaped temple built for their god
