Chapter 3 Mesopotamia Study guide



Mesopotamia Study Guide

Using your workbook (pages 33-40), class notes, and handouts in your binder, please answer the following questions to prepare you for your test on Ancient Mesopotamia

1. Why was Mesopotamia called the Cradle of Civilization?

It is called Mesopotamia because it is the world’s first organized civilization

2. Describe the area of the Fertile Crescent: (You should be able to label the Tigris River, Euphrates River, Mediterranean Sea, and Persian Gulf)

“The land between the two rivers”, South West Asia, located in what is now Southern Iraq

3. What are three advantages and three disadvantages of living within the area of the Fertile Crescent?

Advantages: Constant water source, fertile soil, transportation

Disadvantages: Unpredictable flooding, no natural barriers for protection, limited natural resources

4. Be able to describe the Sumerian City-State (there is a really good graphic organizer on this in your workbook!)

Sumerian City-State: Ruled by a king, grew its own crops, owned surrounding land, formed alliances with other city-states, worshiped many gods but claimed one god as its own, had its own government

5. What are the three social classes of Ancient Mesopotamia?

1st (most powerful) = Priests and royalty

2nd= wealthy merchants

3rd= ordinary workers

5. What is Hammurabi’s Code? Why is it important? King Hammurabi reigned in Babylon and created Hammurabi’s Code which was a strict set of laws and punishments. It was important because it protected innocent people who had been harmed and also prevented criminals from being given a punishment that did not fit their crime. The code is known for having the idea of an “eye for an eye.” Note: a person’s social status did make a difference with how the laws were applied.

6. What group took over Mesopotamia in the 1800s B.C. E., and who was their leader?

A group called the Akkad took over Mesopotamia and their leader was King Sargon

7. What did the Assyrians do to the people they defeated?

When Assyrians took over city-states they would destroy the town, rob people, set crops on fire, and force them to pay a tribute.

8. What advancement allowed the Assyrian’s to defeat others in battle?

The Assyrians made their weapons out of iron. Before this, people made their weapons out of softer materials such as tin or copper.

9. How were the Chaldeans able to take over the Assyrian empire?

When the Assyrians were arguing over who would be their next ruler, their empire became weak and chaotic. The Chaldeans used their division as the perfect opportunity to attack.

10. Which king built the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the World?

King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens. It is said that he built them to have a place for her wife to relax in that would remind her of her hometown in the mountains.

11. What are three Sumerian advances that still have an impact on the world today?

Some Sumerian advances (achievements) that we still use today include the wheel, sailboats, wooden plows, and bronze.

Terms- Please define the following.

12. Polytheism- The belief in more than one god

13. Empire- A group of many different lands under one ruler

14. City-state- An independent nation made up of a city and the land around it

15. Irrigation- A way to supply dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams

16. Cuneiform- A Sumerian writing system that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay

17. Ziggurat- A pyramid shaped tower with a temple on top

18. Scribe- A person who copies or writes out documents (often a record keeper)

19. Silt- Small particles of fertile soil

20. Tribute- A payment made to a ruler or state as a sign of surrender

6th Grade History Website:

FranklinHistory6.

Use this site to review notes, look up answers, and read additional materials. I scanned some of our worksheets on there so you can practice filling them out again to help you study.

If you have any questions while you are studying, please feel free to email me at TokosH@ and I will get back to you as soon as I can! (

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