Mesopotamia Vocab

civilization

a group of settlements that share geography, culture, and achievements.

empire

a large territory in which one civilization has conquered and rules over others.

tribute

wealth sent from the different regions in an empire, to its ruler

scribe

(in ancient times) a person whose job was to read and write for others

siege

a military blockade and attack on a city/fortress to force it to surrender

agriculture

farming (growing crops and raising livestock animals)

polytheism

religion based on worshipping many gods/goddesses

cuneiform

the first system of writing, using symbols to represent sounds, words and ideas

irrigation

a system of supplying land with water for watering crops

levee

a wall built to hold back flood waters

city-state

a city that functions like an independent country, with its own laws and government

fertile

when soil has the nutrients needed to grow crops

monarchy

a government based on one ruler, such as a king or queen

alloy

a new metal formed by combining two or more types of melted metals (ex. copper + tin = bronze)

Bronze Age

3300-1200BC, the era in which tools and weapons were made from bronze (a metal alloy)

Iron Age

1200BC-600AD, the era in which iron was the main metal used in making tools and weapons (began in Assyria)

artifact

a human-made object from a particular time

bazaar

an outdoor market, where merchants, artisans, craftsmen, and producers would sell or barter their items