| A | B |
| Fertile Crescent | a curved area where the soil is good for farming |
| scribe | a professional writer |
| Mesopotamia | region between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers |
| culture | the way of life-language, tools, skills, beliefs, traditions, of a group of people |
| civilization | cities, specialized workers, writing, advanced technology, complex institutions |
| specialized | concentrated in one area |
| artisan | someone who makes something with their hands |
| cuneiform | Sumerian style of writing |
| cuneiform | approximately 600 symbols |
| stylus | sharpened reed instrument used for writing |
| bronze | copper and tin |
| institutions | long lasting patterns of organization |
| institutions | government or religion |
| city-state | city and surrounding area |
| barter | exchanging of goods or services for other goods or services |
| ziggurat | mountain of god |
| ziggurat | religious temple |
| ziggurat | used as a city hall |
| polytheistic | worship many gods |
| Hammurabi's Code | 282 law code |
| Hammurabi's Code | eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth |
| Hammurabi's Code | laws that applied to everyone, but differently |
| empire | a large area ruled by one person |
| literacy | the ability to read and write |
| monotheistic | worship one god |
| convenant | a promise between god and the people |
| prophets | messengers of god sent to teach the will of god |
| Iron Age | time period when people stopped using bronze |
| satrap | governor |
| Royal Road | system used for communication |