fertile

able to grow crops well

irrigation

a means of supplying land with water

Irrigation is a means of supplying land with ___________ .

water

cuneiform

writing from Mesopotamia that uses wedge-shaped characters

ziggurat

an ancient Mesopotamian temple tower with outside staircases and a shrine at the top; usually a religious structure

surplus

more than the basic amount needed

city-state

an early city that was like a small, independent country with its own laws and government

scribe

someone employed to make written copies of documents before printing was invented

A _____________ is someone employed to make written copies of documents before printing was invented

scribe

epic

a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation

empire

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress

polytheism

the belief in or worship of multiple gods/goddesses

social class

an order based on power and wealth

artisan

a person who is skilled at making things by hand

merchant

a person who trades/sells goods

silt

fine sand, clay, or other material with important nutrients and mineral-rich material, carried by running water, and deposited on riverbanks; farmers spread it around crops to help them grow

Farmers spread this around crops to help them grow; made out of fine sand, clay or other material with important nutrients and mineral-rich materials that is carried by running water and deposited on riverbanks. What is this called?

silt

economy

​​the process or system by which goods and services are produced, sold, and bought in a country or region.

Skilled workers are called ________________ .

artisans

The calendar we use today is called the _________________ .

Gregorian

The few Sumerianas who learned how to write often held high positions in society as what?

scribes

Why is the Epic of Gilgamosh important?

oldest long poem