| A | B |
|---|
| Mesopotamia | land between the Tigris and Euphrates river |
| floodplain | flat land bordering the banks of a river |
| silt | fine, fertile soil carried by rivers and deposited on nearby banks |
| arid | climate type marked by hot summers and limited rainfall |
| drought | long period of little or no rainfall |
| irrigation | watering dry land by using ditches, pipes, or streams |
| civilization | advanced form of culture that developed in cities |
| city-state | political unit made up of a city and its surrounding lands |
| ziggurat | temple built atop a series of increasingly small platforms |
| polytheism | belief in many gods and goddesses |
| king | highest ranking leader of a group of people |
| pictographs | pictures or drawings that represent a word or an idea |
| cuneiform | first known writing system, which used wedge-shaped symbols |
| scribes | people who specialized in writing and record keeping |
| empire | many different lands and peoples brought under the control of one ruler |
| Fertile Cresent | region stretching from the Persian Gulf northwest up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers |
| code of law | written rules for people to obey |
| justice | fair treatment of all the people based on law |
| tribute | payment made in return for protection |
| exile | forced removal from one's homeland, often to lands far away |
| toleration | practice of allowing people to keep their traditions and beliefs |
| provinces | government divisions like states |
| satraps | governors of provinces in Persian Empire |
| Royal Road | road used for government purposes in ancient times |
| emperor | ruler of an empire |
