Social Studies Text Help

Lesson 3-pages 168-173

Questions 1, 2, and 3 on page 173.

Question 1. How did three great rulers build and maintain empires in Mesopotamia?

The three rulers built and maintained empires in very similar ways. First, tell me how they were able to build such a strong empire. One answer will work for all three of them. Secondly, tell me how they were able to maintain their empires. What things did they do to make sure that they would remain in power? Did they use fear, intimidation, armies, were they nice? How did they keep control?

Question 2. Besides land, what resources and achievements made the city-states desirable to conquerors?

The city-states were a wonderful target for a conqueror, why? What did a city-state have, in addition to land, that made a conqueror want to attack. There are many possible answers to this question.

Question 3. What features of the geography of Mesopotamia forced the Sumerians to develop trade?

There were things missing from the land in Mesopotamia that made the Sumerians trade. It was not just a desire or a want, they NEEDED to trade. Why did they NEED to trade? What was the Mesopotamian land lacking?