Essay Prompt for in class History Essay Quiz 10/18/12 This worksheet may be used during the test

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1 Essay Prompt for in class History Essay Quiz 10/18/12 This worksheet may be used during the test All the world's earliest civilizations had in common a location near large river valleys. On the other hand, other aspects of their geography differed dramatically. For example, Egypt had large areas of desert, but few mountains. India, on the other hand, included mountainous areas but few deserts. Without rivers, it seems, no civilization could form, at least until technology advanced significantly. In the case of the Mesopotamian civilizations, rivers made it possible (1) to develop rich farmlands, and (2) to develop powerful city-states, with people employed in specialized occupations, such as scribes, soldiers, and merchants, but (3) other aspects of the geography opened the region to invasion from outside the region as well as warfare between the city-states inside the region. Rivers made it possible for the Mesopotamians to develop rich farm land because: (IN FULL SENTENCES give at least 3 facts about the rivers and how they made the farmland better.) example: The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded the fields every spring, bringing fresh nutrients to the soil

2 The Mesopotamians developed powerful city states because of their rich farm land. (IN FULL SENTENCES give 3 facts about the city states and how each fact was because of the farm land.) Other aspects of the geography opened the region to invasion from outside the region as well as warfare between the citystates inside the region. (What kinds of geography made it possible for outsiders to invade? What made them want to invade? What geography made the city-states attack each other? ANSWER WITH 3 FULL SENTENCES HERE:) FINAL PARAGRAPH: Tell the thesis again, use a fact from each paragraph here in the conclusion.

3 IF YOU HAVE IT THIS PAPER COULD HELP GIVE DETAILS FOR YOUR ESSAY. NAME: PERIOD: Color * video clip: characteristics of ancient civilizations China: India: Fertile Crescent (Mideast) Egypt Greece Rome

4 These are the answers Mr. Joyce gave for this worksheet. You may copy them to your worksheet. You may not use my typed answers during the quiz. NAME: Period: Read World History chapter 2, section 1 ("Civilization in Mesopotamia"), pages and answer the questions below, using the textbook. Be sure you also are familiar with the terms that are in italics: 1. The region that was the birthplace of the world's first cities was The fertile crescent, the middle east. (p. 26) 2. Why did early civilizations develop in Mesopotamia, in the area of land that now includes Iraq? (p. 26) The rivers overflowed each spring causing the fertile soil from the river to become part of the fields beside the rivers. The fields were so fertile that it was easy work to grow crops plus the rivers being so close made it easy to keep them watered if it did not rain. 3. What is the Fertile Crescent? (p. 26) A crescent shape area of land that had good soil for farming because of the rivers. 4. Examine the map on page what rivers provided the fertile soil necessary for permanent settlements in Mesopotamia? The Tigris and Euphrates rivers. 5. Mesopotamian religions are based on the belief in many gods. This is known as Polytheism. (p. 27) 6. Why did Mesopotamians have a negative view of the gods they worshiped? (p. 27) They thought the gods were the cause of everything that happened, good or bad. Because many bad things happened they thought the gods were angry all the time and they were scared of the gods because the gods could be angry any time. 7. The basic political unit in early Mesopotamia was the city-state -- what was the city-state and how were they defended against enemies? (p. 28) A city state is a state with it s own government but is the size of a city. Like a mini-country with a wall around it.

5 8. A government in which the ruler is both the political and religious leader is called a Theocracy. (p. 29) 9. What was a ziggurat? (p. 29) A man-made stepped tower that might have a temple on top of it. 10. Why do you think kings gradually assumed the major power in Sumeria, after priests and priestesses played an early important role in ruling the city-states? (p. 29) The city states were being invaded by other city states and outsiders. The priests and priestesses were good at talking to the gods but they did not lead armies and they did not fight to defend the people. Kings came from the leaders of the army getting so much power that they were in control of most of the city state, and because they kept the people safe the people wanted the armies in charge and the leader of the army became the king. 11. What were the three major social groups in Sumerian city-states? (p. 29) Nobles, Commoners, and Slaves. 12. Sumerians invented the oldest writing system in the world, called Cuneiform. (p. 30) 13. Why did boys in the upper classes in Sumeria want to become scribes an what was a scribe? (p. 30) Boys who were scribes could grow up to be leaders of the cities, temples and armies. 14. What form of punishment was routinely administered to boys studying to be scribes? (p "Primary Source") They could be hit by a cane (canning) 15. Identify two significant technology developments from the Sumerians? (p.31) Writing, use of the wheel, sundial, potters wheel, metal work from copper and tin, 60 minute clock, charted constellations, arch for construction 16. Examine the war panel on page what does it reveal about Sumerian society? It shows the Assyrians coming from war. It shows that war was something they were proud of, and that they had a big army and were strong in war. They were the winners. 17. What is an empire and who established the world's first empire? (pp ) An empire is when one leader takes over many city states or territories. They can be large, and are often hard to control. 18. Hammurabi's greatest achievement was his codified system of Laws. (p. 33)

6 19. The Code of Hammurabi was based upon the concept of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Explain this concept. (p. 33) The punishment for anything that someone does wrong should be having the same thing done to them. If they accidently killed someone s son then their son would be killed. If they were lazy and someone got hurt because of it, then they would be hurt in the same way OR have something equal taken away from them. 20. Give a couple of examples of how Mesopotamian society was "patriarchal." (p. 33) Men were in charge of everything. they led the city states, owned the land, could maybe be taught to read or write, could take people to court. Women could not do those things. They had to do what their husbands told them to do or they could be set aside so he could have a new wifehe would still have to take care of her, but not be really married to her anymore.