1
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the Sumerian people.
Ancient Civilizations Website
1. What is a ziggurat and what is it similar to in Egypt?
2. What invention of the Sumerians really aided their expanding
economy?
Sumerians
3. Describe the governmental structure of a typical Sumerian city-state.
4. Describe Sumerian religion. How does this compare and contrast to Egyptian religion in terms of afterlife and number of gods?
5. What is cuneiform and why is it significant to the world?
6. Even though the Sumerians were conquered, how did Sumerian culture survive?
2
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the
Babylonians.
Ancient Civilizations Website
1. What were some prominent features of the Middle East that
attracted settlers?
Babylonians
2. What is the most significant fact about Sargon?
3. What is significant about Hammurabi and the early Babylonians? Describe several things.
4. Describe the significance of the “new Babylonian ruler” on the area. What were some advances that
were made because of this man and his people?
5. Who conquered the Babylonians and assumed control of the area?
3
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the Hittites.
Ancient Civilizations Website
Hittites
1. The Hittites were the first people in the world to do what? How is that significant?
2. What group of people did the Hittites defeat to gain control?
3. The Hittites tried to keep this technology to themselves. Why was this not successful?
4. Eventually the Hittites were conquered. By whom were they conquered?
4
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the Assyrians.
Ancient Civilizations Website
1. What did the Assyrians learn from the Hittites? Because of that,
they were the first to do what?
2. What were two new weapons invented by the Assyrians?
Assyrians
3. What was the capital city of this empire, and why is it so important in history?
4. Why were the Assyrians known as the cruelest people on earth? Give some examples of what they
did.
5. Who eventually conquered the Assyrians?
5
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the Persians.
Ancient Civilizations Website
1. What present day country was the Persian empire based out of?
2. What was significant at the time about the size of the empire?
Persians
3. Being conquered is generally not positive, but why could you have possibly wanted to have been conquered by the Persians?
4. Who was the “real” unifier of the empire and what did he do to accomplish this task?
5. Where does the idea of a money economy come from?
6. Describe the teachings of Zoroaster. What were his beliefs? Why is he important to this time period?
Phoenicians
6
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the
Phoenicians.
Ancient Civilizations Website
1. What were the two main cities of the Phoenicians?
2. Due to their location, what was their main mode of trade?
3. What was perhaps the greatest achievement of the Phoenicians? Why was this important even all the
way down to us today?
7
Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________ Hour: __________
Focus: Major achievements and contributions of the Hebrews.
Ancient Civilizations Website
1. What ancient story do the Hebrews have in common with many
other cultures?
2. How were the Hebrews nomadic? Give examples.
Hebrews
3. Describe the achievements of Israel’s two most important rulers. Give several examples for both.
4. What do you think Babylonian Captivity is? You may have to read between the lines on this one.
5. Briefly describe the teachings of Judaism. Give plenty of examples. How is this religion different from
all the other religions we have discussed in class so far?