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Ancient Middle East Study Guide

 

Section 1: Sumerian Civilization

 

  1. Why is the Fertile Crescent known as the “crossroads of the world”?

 

 

  1. There are few geographical barriers in the region. What was the impact did this have on societies of the Ancient Middle East?

 

 

  1. Why was it difficult to unite the Fertile Crescent under a single ruler (as it often was in Egypt)?

 

 

 

  1. What does the word “Mesopotamia” mean, what two rivers make it up, and how many miles do these rivers run parallel to one another?

 

 

 

 

  1. Name at least two major dangers which always loomed over ancient Sumeria?

 

 

  1. What was the Mesopotamian delta region like, how did Sumerians make the area useful and what was required to maintain the area over time?

 

 

 

  1. What is a city-state and how was it governed?

 

 

 

  1. How did the threat of disasters affect the way people worshipped their gods in ancient Sumeria?

 

 

  1. Did Sumerians believe their leaders were Gods, like in Ancient Egypt? How did they view them?

 

 

 

  1. What was a city-state’s temple to their god called, how big was it, and how was it used?

 

 

 

  1. Were Sumerians polytheistic? How did they view their god(s)?

 

 

 

  1. How did Sumerians view the afterlife? Why might they see it this way?

 

 

 

  1. What was Sumerian writing called, what does the word mean, and what was used to make the characters?

 

 

 

 

  1. What were scribes used for, where were they trained, and who could become a scribe?

 

 

 

  1. Name 5 technological developments of the ancient Sumerians.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. When did Sumerian civilization end?

 

 

Section 2: Blending of Cultures

 

  1. Name the first “empire” in Mesopotamia. What did Sargon call himself? Would you like that nickname?

 

 

 

  1. In what city did King Hammurabi create an empire? What was his greatest contribution?

 

 

  1. How many laws did Hammurabi’s code contain? Where were the laws published?
  2. Where did the Hittites come from, what did they adopt from the Sumerians, and to what did they owe their military successes?

 

 

  1. How did the Hittites lose their military advantage over others?

 

 

  1. Who were the Assyrians, what was the name of their god, and why were the so successful conquering most of the Middle East?

 

 

 

  1. How did the Assyrians govern? What did they do to keep power?

 

 

 

 

  1. What was the name of the capital built by the Assyrians and what positive thing did they contribute to the history of the world?

 

 

 

  1. What two major groups destroyed Nineveh? Which of these two groups extended their empire over the Fertile Crescent and what was their leaders name?

 

 

 

  1. List at least 4 major accomplishments of King Nebuchadnezzar?

 

 

 

 

  1. How did the Persian leader, Cyrus, treat conquered areas? What specifically did he do?

 

 

 

  1. What was Cyrus’ successor’s name and list three things he did that allowed him to keep control of such a vast empire?

 

 

 

 

 

  1. What religion was followed by the Persians, who founded it, and what was its sacred book called? How did it serve as a precursor to more modern religions?

 

 

Section 3: Contributions of Smaller States

 

  1. How did the Phoenician’s survive? Name some specific examples of what they traded?

 

 

  1. What city in North Africa did the Phoenicians found which dominated trade for almost a thousand years.

 

  1. What made the Phoenician alphabet superior to that of Egypt or cuneiform and what important language was adapted from the ancient Phoenician alphabet?

 

 

  1. How did the Lydians survive and prosper and what was their major contribution? What advantage did a coined money economy have over a barter economy?

 

 

 

 

  1. Where did the Hebrews settle, and what was the name of their sacred book? Were Hebrews monotheistic or polytheistic?

 

 

 

 

  1.  Who was the chief lawgiver (hero of the Exodus) and what was the name of set of laws supposedly handed down by God to the Hebrew people? What is a covenant?

 

 

 

  1. Who were the two major kings of the kingdom of Israel? What was the name of its capital?

 

 

  1. What two modern religions were strongly influenced by the Hebrew faith?

 

 

  1. What is the name of the first five books of the Old Testament?

 

  1. Did the Hebrews see their king as a god? How did they see him?

 

 

 

  1. What’s one major difference between the 10 Commandments and Hammurabi’s Code? Who did the Hebrews believe transmitted instructions from God?