VCE Ancient History Practice Questions Flashcards
(15 cards)
What was the main reason Sumerians invented a writing system? What do we call this style of writing?
The main reason the Sumerians invented a writing system was to keep records of trade, crops, and taxes. This helped manage their growing and complex society. The style of writing they created is called cuneiform
What is irrigation? How did it help early farmers in Sumer (Southern Mesopotamia) achieve a surplus?
Irrigation is the artificial process of directing water to crops through channels, canals, ditches, or pipes, especially in areas with unreliable rainfall. In ancient Mesopotamia, farmers used irrigation systems to bring water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to their fields. This helped them grow crops consistently, even during dry seasons. By controlling water supply, they could plant more crops, harvest more food, and produce a surplus. This surplus allowed populations to grow and supported the development of civilisation, including trade, job specialisation, and cities.
Outline how a surplus allowed for farming communities to achieve specialisation
A surplus of food meant that not everyone in early farming communities needed to farm to survive. With extra food available, some people could focus on other tasks instead of growing crops. This led to specialisation, where individuals became skilled in specific jobs such as tool-making, pottery, building, trading, or becoming priests or leaders. Specialisation helped communities become more organised, advanced, and productive, laying the foundation for complex societies and the growth of civilisation.
How does this artefact represent specialisation?
The Standard of Ur represents specialisation by showing different roles within Sumerian society. The artifact displays scenes of farmers, soldiers, craftsmen, and leaders, each performing specific tasks. This highlights how people no longer all farmed, but instead had specialised jobs. The detailed artwork itself also shows the work of skilled artisans, proving that specialisation existed in both daily life and cultural expression.
Explain how the process of
specialisation occurred in Ancient Sumer?
Specialisation in ancient Sumer occurred as a result of agricultural surplus. Once farmers began producing more food than they needed for survival, not everyone had to work in agriculture. This allowed some people to focus on other tasks, leading to the development of specific skills and professions.
Explain the relationship between city-states and the need for a military leader (‘Lugal’) to lead them. Justify your response by referring to the source and your own knowledge.
The relationship between city-states and the need for a military leader (lugal) is clearly shown through the Standard of Ur. The artifact displays scenes of both war and peace, highlighting the dual responsibilities of leadership in early Sumerian city-states. During times of conflict, city-states needed a strong military leader to defend their people and resources, especially as they often competed over land and water.
Using the source and your own knowledge explain how Sumer became a place of “great agricultural abundance”.
Sumer became a place of great agricultural abundance due to its fertile land and advanced farming techniques, which are supported by both historical evidence and the Standard of Ur. Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Sumer benefited from rich silt deposits left by seasonal floods. This made the soil ideal for growing crops like barley and wheat.
The Standard of Ur shows scenes of people carrying food and goods, suggesting that Sumerians produced enough surplus to support different roles in society, such as soldiers, artisans, and leaders. This surplus was made possible by the use of irrigation systems, canals, and ploughs, which improved crop yields.
According to historians,
What 2 purposes did it serve
Religious Purpose: It was a temple dedicated to the moon god Nanna (Sin), serving as a place of worship and a bridge between the gods and the people.
Economic Centre: The ziggurat complex functioned as an administrative and economic hub. Offerings of grain, livestock, and goods were stored there, and priests managed resources, trade, and distribution. It helped organise and control the surplus economy, making it central to Sumer’s wealth and specialisation.
Explain how the process of specialisation occurred in ancient Sumer? part 3
Artifacts like the Standard of Ur visually represent this change, with clear depictions of different social roles, such as leaders, soldiers, and workers. This division of labour created a more structured society, where people relied on each other’s expertise, making Sumer one of the first complex civilisations.
Explain how the process of
specialisation occurred in Ancient Sumer? part 2
People began taking on roles such as potters, weavers, metalworkers, priests, scribes, and traders. These jobs supported the growing needs of the city and contributed to economic and cultural development. The invention of cuneiform writing allowed scribes to record trade, laws, and taxes, showing how specialised roles became essential for society.
Using the source and your own knowledge explain how Sumer became a place of “great agricultural abundance”. part 2
The Standard of Ur shows scenes of people carrying food and goods, suggesting that Sumerians produced enough surplus to support different roles in society, such as soldiers, artisans, and leaders. This surplus was made possible by the use of irrigation systems, canals, and ploughs, which improved crop yields.
Using the source and your own knowledge explain how Sumer became a place of “great agricultural abundance”. part 3
Sumerians also stored and recorded food supplies using cuneiform writing, helping them manage resources and trade efficiently. Therefore, a combination of fertile land, innovation, and organisation led to Sumer’s agricultural success and the rise of complex society.
Explain the relationship between city-states and the need for a military leader (‘Lugal’) to lead them. Justify your response by referring to the source and your own knowledge. part 2
The war side of the Standard of Ur shows a lugal leading troops into battle, larger in size to signify importance, and demonstrating the power and control needed in times of war. This visual source, combined with historical evidence, shows that lugals emerged to protect the city-state, maintain order, and ensure survival. Over time, these military leaders gained political power and became kings. Therefore, the constant threats from rival city-states justified the need for a powerful figure to unify and lead the people.
