1. Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia By: Laura Boehmer

2. Mesopotamia The land “between the rivers.” Was at the eastern end of the Fertile Crescent

3. Fertile Crescent Arc of land from Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf

4. Sumerians Creators of first Mesopotamian Civilization

5. Polytheistic Believing in many gods

6. City-states Basic units of Sumerian civilization

7. Uruk Independent city in Mesopotamia

8. Ziggurat Massive stepped tower

9. Theocracy Government by divine authority

10. Cuneiform Wedge-shaped system of writing

11. Gilgemesh Epic poem of legendary King

12. Scribe Served as copyists, teachers, and jurists

13. Akkadians North of Sumerian city-states

14. Sargon Leader of Akkadians

15. Empire Large political unit/state

16. Babylon City-state South of Akkad

17. Hammurabi Gained control of Sumer and Akkad

18. Patriarchal Men dominated society