The Sumerians

The Sumerians

Directions: Write the correct word from the Word Bank to complete each sentence.

Word Bank

arches

city-states

cuneiform

dike

Euphrates

legal

priests

sacrifices

stylus

temples

ziggurats

1) The main buildings in Sumerian cities were the _______________.

2) Sumerian women had many lawful, or _______________, rights.

3) By inventing ramps and _______________, Sumerians were able to

build taller and stronger buildings.

4) The Sumerians settled between the Tigris and the _______________

Rivers.

5) To keep their gods happy, the Sumerians built _______________ in

which to worship them.

6) The writing that Sumerians invented was called _______________.

7) Sumerian religious leaders were called _______________.

8) The Sumerians built _______________, or cities surrounded by

smaller villages.

9) A _______________ is a bank of earth that keeps out water.

10) Sumerians wrote on soft clay tablets by using a sharp tool called a

_______________.

11)The Sumerians offered ______________ as gifts to their gods.

Do You Remember?

Directions: Write the answers to these questions using complete sentences.

1) Why were the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers so important to the people of Mesopotamia?

2) In what ways did Sumerians live better than prehistoric humans had?

3) What are some of the things the Sumerians did to keep their many gods happy?

4) Why do we consider writing the most important Sumerian invention?

5) What was a Sumerian city like? Give specific examples.