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Mesopotamia Vocab
Ancient Mesopotamia vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
civilization | complex society characterized by: dense population, agriculture, cities, social hierarchy, specialization, government, monumental building, writing system, and belief system |
social hierarchy | social classes with producers at the bottom and leaders or kings at the top |
Fertile Crescent | the area of fertile land in SW Asia that is considered the “cradle of civilization” |
cultural diffusion | the process of adopting ideas and technology from other cultures over time |
irrigation | a system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams |
city-state | a city that governs itself and its surrounding territory |
ziggurat | a pyramid shaped structure with a temple at the top |
cuneiform | a system of writing developed by the Sumerians that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay |
scribe | a person who copies or writes out documents; often a record keeper |
pastoralism | the raising and herding of farm animals |
culture | pattern of behavior shared by a society or group of people |