Mesopotamian Civilization - An Introduction Quiz

Answer: Euphrates and Tigris

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are located in modern-day Iraq. The Karun river is located in modern-day Iran and flows through the Zagros mountains. The Khabur begins in south-eastern Turkey, eventually emptying into the Euphrates river in Syria.

Answer: Greek

The actual word, Mesopotamia, is Greek, further translated from old Persian, Miyanrudan, "the Land between the Rivers", or the Aramaic name, Beth-Nahrin, "two rivers".

Answer: Sumerians

The Sumerians settled the area close to the head of the Persian Gulf around 3000 B.C. The Amorites gained control of the region 1000 years after the Sumerians. The Egyptians founded their own civiliation along the Nile River around 3100 B.C. The Etruscans inhabited northern and central Italy before 800 B.C.

Answer: Akkad

Lagash, Ur, and Eridu were all located at the head of the Persian Gulf. Akkad was farther north and established by the Semites as their capital.

Answer: Sargon

Sargon is rumored to have conquered the "cedar forests" of Lebanon, much farther to the west. Gudea was a king of Lagash who expanded foreign trade and improved their irrigation system. Menes was an Egyptian ruler, known as the unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt. Urukagina was also a ruler of Lagash from 2415 to 2400 B.C.

Answer: Ur revolted against Akkadian Empire - Third Dynasty of Ur

About 2000 B.C. the Third Dynasty of Ur was over, thanks to another Semetic invasion. Hammurabi ruled from 1792 to 1750 B.C. The Babylonian kingdom was invaded by the Hittites and Kassites ca. 1600 B.C.

Answer: False

The gods of the Sumerian religion were in the shape of humans and also suffered many "human" traits, like selfishness, childishness, and quarrelsome attitudes. They were immortal and possessed great power. Sumerians believed in prayer, magic, and sacrifice to appeal to their gods.

Answer: All slaves worked for the king

Slavery in ancient Mesopotamian civilization was actually more enlightened than in many future slave systems around the world. Slaves could engage in business and in some instances even own property. They could work to buy back their freedom. Children of a slave by the master might be allowed a share of the master's property after his death! Not all slaves worked for the king ... the temple and its priests had slaves, and so did the private citizens. Punishments, however, were harsher for slaves than for free men.

Answer: Cuneiform

Linear A is still not completely deciphered, and was used in ancient Crete. Linear B, deciphered in the 1950s by Michael Ventris, is an ancient form of Greek like Linear A, and also used in Crete. Urdu is an Indo-European language, originating probably in India.

Answer: False

The wife was actually the legal property of her husband, but had some rights. A woman could divorce her husband and even recover her dowry if her husband could not convict her of any wrongdoing. Divorce was actually easy and fairly equitable.