Mesopotamia Vocabulary

Greek word meaning "The Land Between the Rivers."

Two rivers that flow into the Persian Gulf. Their plains formed Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia is often referred to by this term, because the world's first civilization (Sumer) began there. It is considered the birth place of civilization.

A collection of kingdoms or regions under one powerful ruler.

The world's first civilization. It was located in the southern area of Mesopotamia where the Tigris and Euphrates came together.

First people of Mesopotamia, who built the world's first cities. Their empire lasted from 3,500 BCE to 2,000 BCE.

A geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates.

An ancient city-state of Mesopotamia where many laws were created.

People who ruled Mesopotamia after the Sumerians. They were known for their architecture and system of laws. Their empire lasted from 1,800 BCE to 900 BCE.

A king of Babylon. His reign is often described as the "Golden Age of Babylon" because he established many new laws.

Civilization in northern Mesopotamia that had a strong army, and in 900 BCE controlled all of Fertile Crescent.

War-like people of Assyria who ruled from 900 BCE to 600 BCE.

The ancient Sumerians constructed these raised areas of earth, in order to hold back the flood waters from the destructive seasonal flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

A system of bringing water to crops when rainfall was scarce or did not occur regularly. This helped keep soil fertile.

The ancient Mesopotamians organized themselves into these areas. They consisted of the city, the surrounding mud brick wall, and the surrounding farmland. They often competed among each other.