Quiz 1 Flashcards
(24 cards)
The literal meaning of Mesopotamia
Land between the Rivers
What modern state is it located
Iraq and Iran
What two rivers are most important to the region
Tigris and Euphrates
Two most important regions there
Sumer and Akkad
What did the Sumerians call themselves
Black-Headed people
Cuneiform script definition
Wedge shaped writing
Cuneiform script: two languages written in it
Sumerian and Akkadian
Date of the invention of Cuneiform
3400 BCE
How did this script develop
From pictographic to syllabic
Sumerian belongs to what language family
It does not belong to any
Akkadian belongs to what language family
Semitic
Dates of the Uruk Period and two important events/inventions during it
4000 - 2900 BCE
Fast wheel
Writing
Dates of the Early Dynastic Period and two important events/inventions during it
2900 - 2340 BCE
Independent city states
Administrative buildings
What is the value of a cylinder seal? How is it an improvement on the stamp steal?
It marks ownership and shows who and what they are doing
It held more information.
Name three important cities of Sumerian
Uruk
Ur
Lagash
Kish
What is a ziggurat? What is supposed to be at the top of one?
Step pyramid/platform
Temple
Kingship is called Anu-ship/Enli-Ship in Sumerian and Akkadian. Why?
Authority is derived from divine people; divine rulers hip; given power by the gods.
Name the first woman ruler in Sumeria
Kug-Bau
What is the difference between a temple economy and a palace economy? Are these terms considered accurate today? What factor is responsible for this view of the early Sumerian economy and social structure?
Temple economy is the distribution of wealth by the priest and temple.
Palace economy is distributed by the king.
This isn’t overly accurate given that the king held control over the temple and administration, as well since there isn’t separation of church and state. These terms overlap due to this fact.
There are numerous documents that refer to taxes and record the income of goods to temples and administrative centers.
Define En
Indicated ruler of priestly status
Define Ensi
Leadership position akin to our governor
Define Lugal
Big Man
Closest to our “King”
The Sumerian King List shows us what about the Sumerians and their notions of kingship?
Kingship was always a part of society
They even had women as kings
There was social stratification especially when hereditary kingship was the rule
According to the Sumerian King List, kingship derives it authority and legitimacy from whom?
The Gods
