Was Ancient Sumer A Civilization

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Chapter 5 Was Ancient Sumer A Civilization?
In this chapter you will analyze artifacts from
ancient Sumer to determine whether ancient
Sumer was a civilization.
5.1 Introduction
A characteristic of civilization that includes
the beliefs and behaviors of a society or groups
of people
Define Culture __________________________________
___________________ ______________________________
____________________________________
Define Civilization _____________________________
_____________________ ____________________________
______________________________________
A culture marked by developments in arts,
sciences, government, and social structure
When did archeologists begin finding artifacts in
the region of Mesopotamia?
In the mid 1800s archeologists began finding
artifacts.
What one artifact helped us to learn a great deal
about Sumer?
The Standard of Ur helped us to learn a great
deal about Sumer
5.2 Characteristics of Civilization
Name the 7 characteristics of a civilization.
Writing, Stable Food Supply, Social Structure,
Government, Religion, Technology, The Arts
Define Social Structure _________________________
_____________________ ____________________________
______________________________________
The way a civilization is organized
Define Technology _______________________________
___________________ ______________________________
____________________________________
The use of tools and other inventions for
practical purposes
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5.3 Stable Food Supply
What TWO things did Sumerians invent to help
create a stable food supply?
Sumerians invented a complex irrigation system
and the plow.
5.4 Social Structure
Importance
Define Status
Fill in the chart
Upper Class
Priests, Landowners, Government Officials
Common Class
Merchants, Crafts people, Farmers, Fishermen
Lower Class
Slaves
5.5 Government
Why do civilizations have a system of government?
Civilizations have a system of government to
direct peoples behavior and make life orderly.
Sumerian city-states were ruled by __________.
The Sumerians believed that their kings were
chosen by the __________ to rule in their place.
This belief made their kings _________
__________!
kings
gods
very powerful
What was the job of the king?
The job of the king was to enforce laws, collect
taxes, build temples, make sure irrigation
systems were maintained, and led the army.
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Define Chariot Define Scribe
A two-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse
A person who writes
5.6 Religion
Describe what a ziggurat was and why they were
built.
A ziggurat was an ancient Mesopotamian
temple tower built so the people could express
their religious beliefs. The Sumerians believed
the gods lived in them.
5.7 The Arts
What did the Arts include?
The Arts included creative forms of expression
such as Paintings, architecture, and music.
What is a lyre?
A lyre was a wooden instrument made of a sound
box and strings. Often they were decorated.
5.8 Technology
What was the most important Sumerian invention?
(about 3,500BCE) What was the most important
Sumerian architectural invention? Define Arch
The most important Sumerian invention was the
wheel.
The most important Sumerian architectural
invention was the arch.
An upside-down U or V shaped structure that
supports weight above it, as in a doorway.
5.9 Writing
Define Cuneiform Define Pictographs
Writing that uses wedge-shaped characters.
A symbol that stands for an object
What did the Sumerians use to write with?
Sumerians used a wedge-shaped stylus (a sharp
pointed tool).
4
Chapter 5 Was Ancient Sumer A Civilization?
In this chapter you will analyze artifacts from
ancient Sumer to determine whether ancient
Sumer was a civilization.
5.1 Introduction
Define Culture __________________________________
___________________ ______________________________
____________________________________
Define Civilization _____________________________
_____________________ ____________________________
______________________________________
When did archeologists begin finding artifacts in
the region of Mesopotamia?
What one artifact helped us to learn a great deal
about Sumer?
5.2 Characteristics of Civilization
Name the 7 characteristics of a civilization.
Define Social Structure _________________________
_____________________ ____________________________
______________________________________
Define Technology _______________________________
___________________ ______________________________
____________________________________
5
5.3 Stable Food Supply
What TWO things did Sumerians invent to help
create a stable food supply?
5.4 Social Structure
Define Status
Fill in the chart
Upper Class
Common Class
Lower Class
5.5 Government
Why do civilizations have a system of government?
Sumerian city-states were ruled by __________.
The Sumerians believed that their kings were
chosen by the __________ to rule in their place.
This belief made their kings _________
__________!
What was the job of the king?
6
Define Chariot Define Scribe
5.6 Religion
Describe what a ziggurat was and why they were
built.
5.7 The Arts
What did the Arts include?
What is a lyre?
5.8 Technology
What was the most important Sumerian invention?
(about 3,500BCE) What was the most important
Sumerian architectural invention? Define Arch
5.9 Writing
Define Cuneiform Define Pictographs
What did the Sumerians use to write with?