Mesopotamia: From City-States to Kingdoms Quiz

Answer: Berossus

Berossus was a priest of Baal-Marduk and astronomer who lived in the 3th century BC in Babylon in the Hellenistic era. He used the concept of Mesopotamia in his work "History of Babylonia".

Answer: 3500 B.C.

The Sumerians settled themselves in Sumer and developed new agricultural methods, using innovative systems of irrigation, the wheel, the plough and creating the cuneiform script. They organized themselves politically under the form of city-states: Ur, Uruk, Nippur, Lagas, Umma, Larsa.

Answer: Akkadian Empire

Sargon (approx. 2350-2295 B.C.) fabricated a false genealogy for himself in order to legitimate his ambitions by origin, much like Romulus and Remus in Roman historiography or Cyrus II the Great, King of Persia. Sargon conquered Elam, Assyria and parts of modern Syria to create an empire stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf.

Answer: Naram-Sin

During Naram-Sin's reign (approx. 2272-2235 B.C.), the Akkadian language became the one used for diplomatic purposes but Sumerian remained in use for religious functions. After his death, Mesopotamia was attacked - and for a while ruled - in part by "Guti", a barbarian people from the north.

Answer: Gudea

Gudea was one of the Lagash kings, named "patesi", accepting the domination of Ur. He promoted the culture and supported architecture.

Answer: Sumu-Abum

Sumu-Abum (also known as Su-abu), who reigned from approx. 1830-1817 B.C. is known to have been an Amorite chief, but alamost no details about his reign or personality survive. Some credit him with founding the city of Babylon.

Answer: one of the first codes of law

The Hammurabi Code was discovered at Susa in ancient Persia. It includes the principle of "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth". What is less well known is that about half the code is concerned with civil law, especially contracts and liability.

Answer: Assyria

Assyria was a state known for its aggressive military policy. In Ancient times the Assyrians also had a reputation for cruelty. The peak of its power was reached during the reign of Assurbanipal (669-626 B.C.).

Answer: Nabopolassar

Nabopolassar was the founder of the Neo-Babylonian Kingdom, of Chaldean origin(625-605 B.C.).

Answer: Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 B.C.) is famous for some of the greatest accomplishments of the Babylonian era. The Tower of Babel (Etemenaki ziggurate) is one of them, also the Hanging Gardens. In 587 B.C. he conquered Jerusalem and decided to deport the Jews to Mesopotamia. He figures prominently in the Bible.

Answer: Cyrus II the Great

It is believed that the Persians conquered Babylon through a trick, by opening the gates from inside. The last Babylonian king, Nabonidus, apparently suffered from "depression" for seven years, leaving the affairs of the state in the hands of his son Balthasar. Babylon became the richest satrapy of the Persian Empire.

Answer: Gaugamela

Gaugamela was the final blow for the ruler of the collapsing Persian Empire, Darius III. He fled once again, as at Issos in 333 B.C., eventually being assasinated by the satrap of Bactria, Bessos. Alexander occupied Babylon without a fight.

Answer: Seleucid Kingdom

The Seleucid Kingdom was the largest part of what was Alexander's Empire, being founded by general Seleucos Nicator. It contained most of the Asian conquests of Alexander.

Answer: Traianus

The Roman province of Mesopotamia was created by Traianus in AD 115-116 and had only a very brief existence, as Emperor Hadrianus withdrew the legions west of the Euphrates in AD 118.

Answer: Iraq

After becoming a British mandate after World War I, Iraq became an independent state in 1932.