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Chapter 4
Mesopotamia
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Silt | small particles of fertile soil |
| Irrigation | a system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams |
| Surplus | an amount that is left over after a need has been met |
| City-state | a city that governs itself and its surrounding territory |
| Polytheism | a belief in more than one god |
| 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 |
| Epic | a long poem that records the deeds of a legendary or real hero |
| Empire | a large territory or group of many territories governed by one ruler |
| Tribute | a payment made to a ruler or state as a sign of surrender |
| Province | a territory governed as a political district of a country or empire |
| Caravan | a group of merchants travelling together for safety, usually with a large number of camels |
| Astronomer | a person who studies planets and stars |