Chapter 2 Book Work: Early River Valley Civilizations

As you read, make sure that you can answer the following questions:

Section 1: City-States in Mesopotamia

1. Where is the Fertile Crescent?

2. What does “Mesopotamia” mean (in Greek)?

3. What rivers provided natural irrigation in the Fertile Crescent?

4. What 3 environmental challenges did the Sumerians face in Mesopotamia?

5. How did the Sumerians solve these challenges (3 ways)?

6. What is a city-state?

7. How did Sumerian priests and rulers share control?

8. What is polytheism?

9. How did the Sumerians view their many gods? Include both in life and in death.

10. Label the following showing the Sumerian social structure:

11. Provide notes on the following Sumerian achievements:

a. Math: b. Architecture: c. Cuneiform:

12. Who built the first empire in history (2350 BCE)?

13. Who was Hammurabi? 14. What is the significance of Hammurabi’s Code?

Section 2: Pyramids of the Nile

1. Describe the geography of Egypt.

2. Why is Egypt called the “gift of the Nile?”

3. What 3 risks did the Egyptians face (even though the Nile flooded MORE REGULARLY than the Tigris/Euphrates Rivers)?

4. Where are the following (be able to locate them on a map):

a. Upper Egypt – b. Lower Egypt –

5. How and when did Narmer unify Egypt (Upper and Lower)?

6. How did the pharaohs rule as a theocracy?

7. What is the purpose of an Egyptian pyramid?

8. Describe Egyptian religion:

9. How did the Egyptians’ views about the afterlife differ from Mesopotamia?

10. What is mummification?

11. What is the Book of the Dead?

12. Illustrate Egyptian society on the pyramid provided:

13. What are hieroglyphics?

14. What “paper” did Egyptians write on (much more practical than stone!)? 15. Describe Egyptian achievements in:

a. Calendars – b. Numerical systems – c. Medicine –

16. When were the Old and Middle Kingdoms?

17. What group invaded Egypt and ended the prosperous Middle Kingdom?