Mesotopia

• What is the significance of ancient Asian civilizations to modern society?

  They develop the learner's spirit of hard work
• What are the key features of Mesopotamia?

  • Located in eastern Syria, Southern Turkey, Iraq
  • Home to the Sumerian civilization
  • First cities built by Sumerians
  • Fertile soil with flood control and irrigation
  • Polytheistic beliefs and divine authority of kings
  • Innovations: plough, potter's wheel, bronze, cuneiform
• What rivers were significant to the Sumerian civilization?

  Tigris and Euphrates
• What materials did the Sumerians use for their buildings?

  Sun-dried mud bricks
• What were the large temples built by the Sumerians called?

  Ziggurats
• What was the role of Sumerian kings?

  They ruled as representatives of major gods
• What was the Sumerians' belief system?

  Polytheism
• What technological innovations first appeared in Mesopotamia?

  Plough and potter's wheel
• What writing system did the Sumerians develop around 3200 BC?

  Cuneiform
• How was cuneiform different from an alphabet system?

  It was a complex system of ideographs
• What fields did the Sumerians contribute to?

  Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, metal works
• What are the key features of Persia?

  • Included parts of modern Iran and Afghanistan
  • Known as the "Land of Aryans"
  • Established the Persian Empire
  • Founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BC
  • Largest empire in ancient history
  • Contributions to government, law, and religion
  • Developed roads and the first postal service
  • Religion: Zoroastrianism, founded by Zoroaster
• What was the original name of the region now called Iran?

  Land of Aryans
• Who founded the first Persian Empire?

  Cyrus the Great
• What was the extent of the Persian Empire?

  From Europe to India's Indus Valley
• What was the religion of the Persians?

  Zoroastrianism
• Who was the prophet of Zoroastrianism?

  Zoroaster
• What were some contributions of the Persian Empire?

  New roads and postal service
• What is the significance of ancient Asian civilizations to modern society?

  They develop the learner's spirit of hard work
• What is the geographical area of Mesopotamia?

  Eastern Syria, Southern Turkey, and Iraq
• Which civilization was the earliest of the great river valley civilizations?

  The Sumerian civilization
• Between which rivers was the Sumerian civilization found?

  Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• What building material did the Sumerians use for their constructions?

  Sun-dried mud bricks
• What were the large temples built by the Sumerians called?

  Ziggurats
• What was the soil quality like in southern Mesopotamia?

  Very fertile
• How did the Sumerians manage to grow large crops?

  Through flood control and irrigation
• What type of authority did Sumerian kings have?

  Divine authority
• What was the religious belief system of the Sumerians?

  They were polytheists
• What agricultural inventions first appeared in Mesopotamia?

  The plough and the potter's wheel
• What metal did the Sumerians possibly first use?

  Bronze
• When did the Sumerians develop their writing system?

  Around 3200 BC
• What was the Sumerian writing system called?

  Cuneiform
• How was cuneiform different from an alphabet system?

  It was a complex system of ideographs
• What fields did the Sumerians develop?

  Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and metal works
• What modern countries did ancient Persia include?

  Parts of Iran and Afghanistan
• What did the Persians call their region?

  The "Land of Aryans"
• What was the name of the first Persian Empire's founder?

  Cyrus the Great
• When was the first Persian Empire founded?

  Around 550 BC
• How did the first Persian Empire compare in size to other empires?

  It was one of the largest empires in history
• What regions did the Persian Empire stretch across?

  From Europe to India's Indus Valley