Mesopotamia was an ancient region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq. Some of the earliest known writings were discovered in the Sumerian city of Uruk, including the Epic of Gilgamesh. The first settlers of the region were the Sumerians, who established city-states with kings as leaders. They developed a system of writing known as cuneiform and engaged in irrigation using canals. Mesopotamian culture was polytheistic and believed in laws of the universe called mes. Important achievements included Hammurabi's code of laws in Babylon and the development of bricks, the wheel, and cooking with fire.

1. Name: _________________________
1. What is Mesopotamia?
a. Country
b. Region
c. City
2. Mesopotamia is situation between the __________________________ and
_________________________ rivers.
3. The earliest writings were found in which city?
a. Sumer
b. Ebla
c. Babylon
4. One of the most famous Mesopotamian writings is the Epic of
a. Beowulf
b. Aeneas
c. Gilgamesh
5. Who were the first settlers of Mesopotamia?
a. Assyrians
b. Sumerians
c. Babylonians
6. Which type of leader was common in Mesopotamia?
a. King
b. President
c. Warlord
7. Mesopotamians used a type of writing known as ____________________________.
8. Which king is famous for his code of laws?
a. Herod
b. Hammurabi
c. Hagar
9. Which other group entered Mesopotamia and conquered the inhabitants?
a. Semites
b. Moors
c. Saxons
10. Kings were referred to as __________________________, the Sumerian word for “big
man”.

2. 11. Which type of irrigation was common in Mesopotamia?
a. Canals
b. Aquifers
c. Levees
12. A ziggurat is a type of
a. Home
b. Temple
c. Office
13. Which described Mesopotamian religion?
a. Monotheistic, believing in one god
b. Atheistic, believing in no gods
c. Polytheistic, believing in many gods
14. Mesopotamians believed in laws of the universe, called ______________________.
15. Compare and contrast the lives of men and women in ancient Mesopotamia.
16. Why was Ur a wealthy city?
a. It provided most of the grain for the area
b. It provided goods from many artisans
c. It provided soldiers to many other cities

3. 17. How did Mesopotamian artists depict humans?
a. Involved in action, such as running or jumping
b. In different colors that represented their station
c. In profile and with large eyes
18. How did Mesopotamians sign documents?
a. Using a cylinder seal
b. Using wax and a stamp
c. Using cuneiform writing
19. Hammurabi ruled from which city?
a. Ur
b. Babylon
c. Sumer
20. Mesopotamia is the first area known to have developed which?
a. Bricks and mortar
b. The wheel
c. Using fire to cook food