The Rise of Sumerian City-States

Front

The environment of the plains of Sumer was

Back

low and flat, with little rain

Front

The name of Mesopotamia comes from its location. Because of this, Mesopotamia means:

Back

between two rivers

Front

Why were Sumerian communities called city-states?

Back

Each of them had its own ruler, laws, and farmland.

Front

Which fact allowed Neolithic people to farm in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains?

Back

The region had plenty of rain

Front

What development caused food shortages in the Zagros foothills, and forced many people to move to the foothills of Sumer? Options: overuse of the soil, change in the climate, increase in population, fighting between villages

Back

increase in population

Front

What solution did people in the Zagros foothills find to fix the problem of food shortages?

Back

moving to the southern plains of Sumer

Front

One factor that made farming difficult in the area of Sumer was: rocky soil, steep hillsides, lack of rainfall, growth of weeds.

Back

lack of rainfall

Front

Why did the rivers of Sumer flood in the spring?

Back

Snow melted in the mountains where the rivers began

Front

What was the chief (main) purpose of dams and reservoirs?

Back

to store water for later use

Front

If you were in ancient Sumer, you might see a levee beside a river. Why was the levee built?

Back

to prevent floods