id stringlengths 24 24 | question stringlengths 1 270 | answer stringlengths 1 239 | documents listlengths 1 1 |
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5730a6cd2461fd1900a9cf51 | Where did the original Sumerians live? | marshland | [
"Sumer\n\nHowever, some scholars contest the idea of a Proto-Euphratean language or one substrate language. It has been suggested by them and others, that the Sumerian language was originally that of the hunter and fisher peoples, who lived in the marshland and the Eastern Arabia littoral region, and were part of t... |
5730a6cd2461fd1900a9cf52 | What culture did the peoples who would be called Sumerian have a part in? | Arabian bifacial | [
"Sumer\n\nHowever, some scholars contest the idea of a Proto-Euphratean language or one substrate language. It has been suggested by them and others, that the Sumerian language was originally that of the hunter and fisher peoples, who lived in the marshland and the Eastern Arabia littoral region, and were part of t... |
5730a6cd2461fd1900a9cf53 | When were the earliest historical records of Sumer? | 26th century BC | [
"Sumer\n\nHowever, some scholars contest the idea of a Proto-Euphratean language or one substrate language. It has been suggested by them and others, that the Sumerian language was originally that of the hunter and fisher peoples, who lived in the marshland and the Eastern Arabia littoral region, and were part of t... |
5730a771069b531400832209 | How long was there native Sumerian rule during the Third Dynasty of Ur? | about a century | [
"Sumer\n\nNative Sumerian rule re-emerged for about a century in the Neo-Sumerian Empire or Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian Renaissance) approximately 2100-2000 BC, but the Akkadian language also remained in use. The Sumerian city of Eridu, on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is considered to have been the world's firs... |
5730a771069b53140083220a | When was the Third Dynasty of Ur? | approximately 2100-2000 BC | [
"Sumer\n\nNative Sumerian rule re-emerged for about a century in the Neo-Sumerian Empire or Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian Renaissance) approximately 2100-2000 BC, but the Akkadian language also remained in use. The Sumerian city of Eridu, on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is considered to have been the world's firs... |
5730a771069b53140083220b | What language was in use in the Neo-Sumerian Empire? | Akkadian | [
"Sumer\n\nNative Sumerian rule re-emerged for about a century in the Neo-Sumerian Empire or Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian Renaissance) approximately 2100-2000 BC, but the Akkadian language also remained in use. The Sumerian city of Eridu, on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is considered to have been the world's firs... |
5730a771069b53140083220c | What is considered to be the world's first city? | Eridu | [
"Sumer\n\nNative Sumerian rule re-emerged for about a century in the Neo-Sumerian Empire or Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian Renaissance) approximately 2100-2000 BC, but the Akkadian language also remained in use. The Sumerian city of Eridu, on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is considered to have been the world's firs... |
5730a771069b53140083220d | How many cultures may have fused together in Eridu? | three | [
"Sumer\n\nNative Sumerian rule re-emerged for about a century in the Neo-Sumerian Empire or Third Dynasty of Ur (Sumerian Renaissance) approximately 2100-2000 BC, but the Akkadian language also remained in use. The Sumerian city of Eridu, on the coast of the Persian Gulf, is considered to have been the world's firs... |
5730a824396df91900096250 | What is the common name given to the non-Semitic dwellers of Mesopotamia by the Akkadians? | Sumerian | [
"Sumer\n\nThe term \"Sumerian\" is the common name given to the ancient non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Sumer, by the Semitic Akkadians. The Sumerians referred to themselves as ùĝ saĝ gíg-ga (cuneiform: 𒌦 𒊕 𒈪 𒂵), phonetically /uŋ saŋ giga/, literally meaning \"the black-headed people\", and to their lan... |
5730a824396df91900096251 | What did the Sumerians refer to themselves as in their language? | "the black-headed people" | [
"Sumer\n\nThe term \"Sumerian\" is the common name given to the ancient non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Sumer, by the Semitic Akkadians. The Sumerians referred to themselves as ùĝ saĝ gíg-ga (cuneiform: 𒌦 𒊕 𒈪 𒂵), phonetically /uŋ saŋ giga/, literally meaning \"the black-headed people\", and to their lan... |
5730a824396df91900096252 | How did the Sumerians refer to their land? | "place of the noble lords" | [
"Sumer\n\nThe term \"Sumerian\" is the common name given to the ancient non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Sumer, by the Semitic Akkadians. The Sumerians referred to themselves as ùĝ saĝ gíg-ga (cuneiform: 𒌦 𒊕 𒈪 𒂵), phonetically /uŋ saŋ giga/, literally meaning \"the black-headed people\", and to their lan... |
5730a824396df91900096253 | Shumer, an Akkadian word, could reference what type of name? | geographical | [
"Sumer\n\nThe term \"Sumerian\" is the common name given to the ancient non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Sumer, by the Semitic Akkadians. The Sumerians referred to themselves as ùĝ saĝ gíg-ga (cuneiform: 𒌦 𒊕 𒈪 𒂵), phonetically /uŋ saŋ giga/, literally meaning \"the black-headed people\", and to their lan... |
5730a824396df91900096254 | What compass point of Mesopotamia did the Hebrew Shinar refer to? | southern | [
"Sumer\n\nThe term \"Sumerian\" is the common name given to the ancient non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Sumer, by the Semitic Akkadians. The Sumerians referred to themselves as ùĝ saĝ gíg-ga (cuneiform: 𒌦 𒊕 𒈪 𒂵), phonetically /uŋ saŋ giga/, literally meaning \"the black-headed people\", and to their lan... |
5730a8cc2461fd1900a9cf59 | During what periods did the Sumerican city-states rise to power? | prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian city-states rose to power during the prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk periods. Sumerian written history reaches back to the 27th century BC and before, but the historical record remains obscure until the Early Dynastic III period, c. the 23rd century BC, when a now deciphered syllabary writing syst... |
5730a8cc2461fd1900a9cf5a | What is obscure until the Early Dynastic III period around the 23rd century BC? | Sumerian written history | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian city-states rose to power during the prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk periods. Sumerian written history reaches back to the 27th century BC and before, but the historical record remains obscure until the Early Dynastic III period, c. the 23rd century BC, when a now deciphered syllabary writing syst... |
5730a8cc2461fd1900a9cf5b | What was developed that has allowed archaeologists to read contemporary records and inscriptions? | syllabary writing system | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian city-states rose to power during the prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk periods. Sumerian written history reaches back to the 27th century BC and before, but the historical record remains obscure until the Early Dynastic III period, c. the 23rd century BC, when a now deciphered syllabary writing syst... |
5730a8cc2461fd1900a9cf5c | When does Classical Sumer end? | rise of the Akkadian Empire | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian city-states rose to power during the prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk periods. Sumerian written history reaches back to the 27th century BC and before, but the historical record remains obscure until the Early Dynastic III period, c. the 23rd century BC, when a now deciphered syllabary writing syst... |
5730a8cc2461fd1900a9cf5d | What cut short the Sumerian Renaissance in the 21st century BC? | Semitic Amorite invasions | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian city-states rose to power during the prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk periods. Sumerian written history reaches back to the 27th century BC and before, but the historical record remains obscure until the Early Dynastic III period, c. the 23rd century BC, when a now deciphered syllabary writing syst... |
5730a9732461fd1900a9cf63 | Fine quality painted pottery is a distinctive style of what period in Sumerian history? | Ubaid | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Ubaid period is marked by a distinctive style of fine quality painted pottery which spread throughout Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. During this time, the first settlement in southern Mesopotamia was established at Eridu (Cuneiform: NUN.KI), c. 5300 BC, by farmers who brought with them the Hadji Mu... |
5730a9732461fd1900a9cf64 | Where could the pottery be found spread throughout? | Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Ubaid period is marked by a distinctive style of fine quality painted pottery which spread throughout Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. During this time, the first settlement in southern Mesopotamia was established at Eridu (Cuneiform: NUN.KI), c. 5300 BC, by farmers who brought with them the Hadji Mu... |
5730a9732461fd1900a9cf65 | During the Ubaid, where was the first settlement in southern Mesopotamia established? | Eridu | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Ubaid period is marked by a distinctive style of fine quality painted pottery which spread throughout Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. During this time, the first settlement in southern Mesopotamia was established at Eridu (Cuneiform: NUN.KI), c. 5300 BC, by farmers who brought with them the Hadji Mu... |
5730a9732461fd1900a9cf66 | What type of agriculture did the farmers settling at Eridu bring with them? | irrigation | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Ubaid period is marked by a distinctive style of fine quality painted pottery which spread throughout Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. During this time, the first settlement in southern Mesopotamia was established at Eridu (Cuneiform: NUN.KI), c. 5300 BC, by farmers who brought with them the Hadji Mu... |
5730a9732461fd1900a9cf67 | Who was the chief god of Eridu? | Enki | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Ubaid period is marked by a distinctive style of fine quality painted pottery which spread throughout Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. During this time, the first settlement in southern Mesopotamia was established at Eridu (Cuneiform: NUN.KI), c. 5300 BC, by farmers who brought with them the Hadji Mu... |
5730a9ff8ab72b1400f9c63a | What facilitated the rise of Sumerian cities? | trade goods | [
"Sumer\n\nBy the time of the Uruk period (c. 4100–2900 BC calibrated), the volume of trade goods transported along the canals and rivers of southern Mesopotamia facilitated the rise of many large, stratified, temple-centered cities (with populations of over 10,000 people) where centralized administrations employed ... |
5730aa008ab72b1400f9c63b | How were trade goods transported in southern Mesopotamia? | transported along the canals and rivers | [
"Sumer\n\nBy the time of the Uruk period (c. 4100–2900 BC calibrated), the volume of trade goods transported along the canals and rivers of southern Mesopotamia facilitated the rise of many large, stratified, temple-centered cities (with populations of over 10,000 people) where centralized administrations employed ... |
5730aa008ab72b1400f9c63c | How many people lived in the cities? | over 10,000 | [
"Sumer\n\nBy the time of the Uruk period (c. 4100–2900 BC calibrated), the volume of trade goods transported along the canals and rivers of southern Mesopotamia facilitated the rise of many large, stratified, temple-centered cities (with populations of over 10,000 people) where centralized administrations employed ... |
5730aa008ab72b1400f9c63d | During which period did Sumerian cities begin using slave labor? | Uruk | [
"Sumer\n\nBy the time of the Uruk period (c. 4100–2900 BC calibrated), the volume of trade goods transported along the canals and rivers of southern Mesopotamia facilitated the rise of many large, stratified, temple-centered cities (with populations of over 10,000 people) where centralized administrations employed ... |
5730aa008ab72b1400f9c63e | What have been found as far east as central Iran? | Artifacts | [
"Sumer\n\nBy the time of the Uruk period (c. 4100–2900 BC calibrated), the volume of trade goods transported along the canals and rivers of southern Mesopotamia facilitated the rise of many large, stratified, temple-centered cities (with populations of over 10,000 people) where centralized administrations employed ... |
5730aa6f8ab72b1400f9c644 | What is an "ensi"? | priest-king | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian cities during the Uruk period were probably theocratic and were most likely headed by a priest-king (ensi), assisted by a council of elders, including both men and women. It is quite possible that the later Sumerian pantheon was modeled upon this political structure. There was little evidence of ... |
5730aa6f8ab72b1400f9c645 | What type of leadership did Sumerian cities during the Uruk period probably have? | theocratic | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian cities during the Uruk period were probably theocratic and were most likely headed by a priest-king (ensi), assisted by a council of elders, including both men and women. It is quite possible that the later Sumerian pantheon was modeled upon this political structure. There was little evidence of ... |
5730aa6f8ab72b1400f9c646 | Who assisted the ensi? | a council of elders | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian cities during the Uruk period were probably theocratic and were most likely headed by a priest-king (ensi), assisted by a council of elders, including both men and women. It is quite possible that the later Sumerian pantheon was modeled upon this political structure. There was little evidence of ... |
5730aa6f8ab72b1400f9c647 | What was the most urbanized city in the world at the time? | Uruk | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian cities during the Uruk period were probably theocratic and were most likely headed by a priest-king (ensi), assisted by a council of elders, including both men and women. It is quite possible that the later Sumerian pantheon was modeled upon this political structure. There was little evidence of ... |
5730aa6f8ab72b1400f9c648 | Over how many people lived in Uruk? | 50,000 | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian cities during the Uruk period were probably theocratic and were most likely headed by a priest-king (ensi), assisted by a council of elders, including both men and women. It is quite possible that the later Sumerian pantheon was modeled upon this political structure. There was little evidence of ... |
5730ab3a8ab72b1400f9c65c | What is the name of the earliest dynastic Sumerian king? | Etana | [
"Sumer\n\nThe earliest dynastic king on the Sumerian king list whose name is known from any other legendary source is Etana, 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish. The earliest king authenticated through archaeological evidence is Enmebaragesi of Kish (c. 26th century BC), whose name is also mentioned in the Gilga... |
5730ab3a8ab72b1400f9c65d | What dynasty was Etana the 13th king of? | Kish | [
"Sumer\n\nThe earliest dynastic king on the Sumerian king list whose name is known from any other legendary source is Etana, 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish. The earliest king authenticated through archaeological evidence is Enmebaragesi of Kish (c. 26th century BC), whose name is also mentioned in the Gilga... |
5730ab3a8ab72b1400f9c65e | Who is the earliest king that is authenticated by actual physical evidence and not just legend? | Enmebaragesi | [
"Sumer\n\nThe earliest dynastic king on the Sumerian king list whose name is known from any other legendary source is Etana, 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish. The earliest king authenticated through archaeological evidence is Enmebaragesi of Kish (c. 26th century BC), whose name is also mentioned in the Gilga... |
5730ab3a8ab72b1400f9c65f | Where is Enmebaragesi's name mentioned? | Gilgamesh epic | [
"Sumer\n\nThe earliest dynastic king on the Sumerian king list whose name is known from any other legendary source is Etana, 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish. The earliest king authenticated through archaeological evidence is Enmebaragesi of Kish (c. 26th century BC), whose name is also mentioned in the Gilga... |
5730ab3a8ab72b1400f9c660 | What is the period of Enmebaragesi's reign associated with? | increased war | [
"Sumer\n\nThe earliest dynastic king on the Sumerian king list whose name is known from any other legendary source is Etana, 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish. The earliest king authenticated through archaeological evidence is Enmebaragesi of Kish (c. 26th century BC), whose name is also mentioned in the Gilga... |
5730ab9c396df9190009626a | What is one of the first empires known in history? | Eannatum of Lagash, | [
"Sumer\n\nAlthough short-lived, one of the first empires known to history was that of Eannatum of Lagash, who annexed practically all of Sumer, including Kish, Uruk, Ur, and Larsa, and reduced to tribute the city-state of Umma, arch-rival of Lagash. In addition, his realm extended to parts of Elam and along the Per... |
5730ab9c396df9190009626b | What city-state was the rival of Lagash? | Umma | [
"Sumer\n\nAlthough short-lived, one of the first empires known to history was that of Eannatum of Lagash, who annexed practically all of Sumer, including Kish, Uruk, Ur, and Larsa, and reduced to tribute the city-state of Umma, arch-rival of Lagash. In addition, his realm extended to parts of Elam and along the Per... |
5730ab9c396df9190009626c | What did Eannatum annex? | practically all of Sumer | [
"Sumer\n\nAlthough short-lived, one of the first empires known to history was that of Eannatum of Lagash, who annexed practically all of Sumer, including Kish, Uruk, Ur, and Larsa, and reduced to tribute the city-state of Umma, arch-rival of Lagash. In addition, his realm extended to parts of Elam and along the Per... |
5730ab9c396df9190009626d | What did Eannatum use to keep the people of the time in line? | terror | [
"Sumer\n\nAlthough short-lived, one of the first empires known to history was that of Eannatum of Lagash, who annexed practically all of Sumer, including Kish, Uruk, Ur, and Larsa, and reduced to tribute the city-state of Umma, arch-rival of Lagash. In addition, his realm extended to parts of Elam and along the Per... |
5730ab9c396df9190009626e | What happened to Eannatum's empire after his death? | collapsed | [
"Sumer\n\nAlthough short-lived, one of the first empires known to history was that of Eannatum of Lagash, who annexed practically all of Sumer, including Kish, Uruk, Ur, and Larsa, and reduced to tribute the city-state of Umma, arch-rival of Lagash. In addition, his realm extended to parts of Elam and along the Per... |
5730ac218ab72b1400f9c666 | Where is the Semetic Akkadian language first found? | proper names of the kings of Kish | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Semitic Akkadian language is first attested in proper names of the kings of Kish c. 2800 BC, preserved in later king lists. There are texts written entirely in Old Akkadian dating from c. 2500 BC. Use of Old Akkadian was at its peak during the rule of Sargon the Great (c. 2270–2215 BC), but even then ... |
5730ac218ab72b1400f9c667 | Where is the Semetic Akkadian language found preserved after 2800 BC? | king lists | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Semitic Akkadian language is first attested in proper names of the kings of Kish c. 2800 BC, preserved in later king lists. There are texts written entirely in Old Akkadian dating from c. 2500 BC. Use of Old Akkadian was at its peak during the rule of Sargon the Great (c. 2270–2215 BC), but even then ... |
5730ac218ab72b1400f9c668 | During whose rule was the use of Old Akkadian at its peak? | Sargon the Great | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Semitic Akkadian language is first attested in proper names of the kings of Kish c. 2800 BC, preserved in later king lists. There are texts written entirely in Old Akkadian dating from c. 2500 BC. Use of Old Akkadian was at its peak during the rule of Sargon the Great (c. 2270–2215 BC), but even then ... |
5730ac218ab72b1400f9c669 | What language did scribes use over Akkadian? | Sumerian | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Semitic Akkadian language is first attested in proper names of the kings of Kish c. 2800 BC, preserved in later king lists. There are texts written entirely in Old Akkadian dating from c. 2500 BC. Use of Old Akkadian was at its peak during the rule of Sargon the Great (c. 2270–2215 BC), but even then ... |
5730ac218ab72b1400f9c66a | How long did Akkadian and Sumerian coexist as spoken languages? | about one thousand years | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Semitic Akkadian language is first attested in proper names of the kings of Kish c. 2800 BC, preserved in later king lists. There are texts written entirely in Old Akkadian dating from c. 2500 BC. Use of Old Akkadian was at its peak during the rule of Sargon the Great (c. 2270–2215 BC), but even then ... |
5730ad61069b531400832231 | Which dynasty of Ur was the last great Sumerian renaissance? | 3rd | [
"Sumer\n\nLater, the 3rd dynasty of Ur under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, whose power extended as far as southern Assyria, was the last great \"Sumerian renaissance\", but already the region was becoming more Semitic than Sumerian, with the rise in power of the Akkadian speaking Semites in Assyria and elsewhere, and the in... |
5730ad61069b531400832232 | Who guided Ur during the last gasp of power? | Ur-Nammu and Shulgi | [
"Sumer\n\nLater, the 3rd dynasty of Ur under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, whose power extended as far as southern Assyria, was the last great \"Sumerian renaissance\", but already the region was becoming more Semitic than Sumerian, with the rise in power of the Akkadian speaking Semites in Assyria and elsewhere, and the in... |
5730ad61069b531400832233 | Even during the 3rd dynasty, what was happening to the racial makeup of the region? | more Semitic than Sumerian | [
"Sumer\n\nLater, the 3rd dynasty of Ur under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, whose power extended as far as southern Assyria, was the last great \"Sumerian renaissance\", but already the region was becoming more Semitic than Sumerian, with the rise in power of the Akkadian speaking Semites in Assyria and elsewhere, and the in... |
5730ad61069b531400832234 | What was there an influx of waves of coming into Sumerian lands? | Amorites | [
"Sumer\n\nLater, the 3rd dynasty of Ur under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, whose power extended as far as southern Assyria, was the last great \"Sumerian renaissance\", but already the region was becoming more Semitic than Sumerian, with the rise in power of the Akkadian speaking Semites in Assyria and elsewhere, and the in... |
5730ad61069b531400832235 | How long did the Babylonians and Assyrians continue to teach the Sumerian language in their schools? | for as long as cuneiform was utilized. | [
"Sumer\n\nLater, the 3rd dynasty of Ur under Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, whose power extended as far as southern Assyria, was the last great \"Sumerian renaissance\", but already the region was becoming more Semitic than Sumerian, with the rise in power of the Akkadian speaking Semites in Assyria and elsewhere, and the in... |
5730aea88ab72b1400f9c678 | What effect was rising salinity having on the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands? | compromised | [
"Sumer\n\nThis period is generally taken to coincide with a major shift in population from southern Mesopotamia toward the north. Ecologically, the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands was being compromised as a result of rising salinity. Soil salinity in this region had been long recognized as a major p... |
5730aea88ab72b1400f9c679 | The salinity of what in the region was long recognized as a major problem? | Soil | [
"Sumer\n\nThis period is generally taken to coincide with a major shift in population from southern Mesopotamia toward the north. Ecologically, the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands was being compromised as a result of rising salinity. Soil salinity in this region had been long recognized as a major p... |
5730aea88ab72b1400f9c67a | Poorly drained irrigated soils in an arid climate with a good deal of evaporation is responsible for leaving what? | dissolved salts | [
"Sumer\n\nThis period is generally taken to coincide with a major shift in population from southern Mesopotamia toward the north. Ecologically, the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands was being compromised as a result of rising salinity. Soil salinity in this region had been long recognized as a major p... |
5730aea88ab72b1400f9c67b | What did cultivation shift from to salt-tolerant barley during the Ur III phase? | wheat | [
"Sumer\n\nThis period is generally taken to coincide with a major shift in population from southern Mesopotamia toward the north. Ecologically, the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands was being compromised as a result of rising salinity. Soil salinity in this region had been long recognized as a major p... |
5730aea88ab72b1400f9c67c | How much did the population of the region decline due to the decrease in crop productivity? | by nearly three fifths | [
"Sumer\n\nThis period is generally taken to coincide with a major shift in population from southern Mesopotamia toward the north. Ecologically, the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands was being compromised as a result of rising salinity. Soil salinity in this region had been long recognized as a major p... |
5730af512461fd1900a9cf8f | Who were a non-Semitic caucasoid people? | The Sumerians | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerians were a non-Semitic caucasoid people, and spoke a language isolate; a number of linguists believed they could detect a substrate language beneath Sumerian, because names of some of Sumer's major cities are not Sumerian, revealing influences of earlier inhabitants. However, the archaeological ... |
5730af512461fd1900a9cf90 | What influences did the Sumerian language seem to retain? | earlier inhabitants | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerians were a non-Semitic caucasoid people, and spoke a language isolate; a number of linguists believed they could detect a substrate language beneath Sumerian, because names of some of Sumer's major cities are not Sumerian, revealing influences of earlier inhabitants. However, the archaeological ... |
5730af512461fd1900a9cf91 | What do archaeological records clearly show about the Sumerian culture? | uninterrupted cultural continuity | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerians were a non-Semitic caucasoid people, and spoke a language isolate; a number of linguists believed they could detect a substrate language beneath Sumerian, because names of some of Sumer's major cities are not Sumerian, revealing influences of earlier inhabitants. However, the archaeological ... |
5730af512461fd1900a9cf92 | When were settlements started in southern Mesopotamia? | early Ubaid period | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerians were a non-Semitic caucasoid people, and spoke a language isolate; a number of linguists believed they could detect a substrate language beneath Sumerian, because names of some of Sumer's major cities are not Sumerian, revealing influences of earlier inhabitants. However, the archaeological ... |
5730af512461fd1900a9cf93 | Why were the lands in the region the Sumerian people settled fertile? | silt deposited by the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerians were a non-Semitic caucasoid people, and spoke a language isolate; a number of linguists believed they could detect a substrate language beneath Sumerian, because names of some of Sumer's major cities are not Sumerian, revealing influences of earlier inhabitants. However, the archaeological ... |
5730b004396df91900096288 | Where do some archaeologists speculate Sumerians originally moved from? | the north | [
"Sumer\n\nIt is speculated by some archaeologists that Sumerian speakers were farmers who moved down from the north, after perfecting irrigation agriculture there. The Ubaid pottery of southern Mesopotamia has been connected via Choga Mami transitional ware to the pottery of the Samarra period culture (c. 5700 – 49... |
5730b004396df91900096289 | What had the Sumerians perfected before coming south? | irrigation agriculture | [
"Sumer\n\nIt is speculated by some archaeologists that Sumerian speakers were farmers who moved down from the north, after perfecting irrigation agriculture there. The Ubaid pottery of southern Mesopotamia has been connected via Choga Mami transitional ware to the pottery of the Samarra period culture (c. 5700 – 49... |
5730b004396df9190009628a | Who were the first to practice a primitive form of irrigation agriculture? | the Samarra | [
"Sumer\n\nIt is speculated by some archaeologists that Sumerian speakers were farmers who moved down from the north, after perfecting irrigation agriculture there. The Ubaid pottery of southern Mesopotamia has been connected via Choga Mami transitional ware to the pottery of the Samarra period culture (c. 5700 – 49... |
5730b004396df9190009628b | How many levels of pre-Ubaid pottery were excavated by the French in the 1980s? | eight | [
"Sumer\n\nIt is speculated by some archaeologists that Sumerian speakers were farmers who moved down from the north, after perfecting irrigation agriculture there. The Ubaid pottery of southern Mesopotamia has been connected via Choga Mami transitional ware to the pottery of the Samarra period culture (c. 5700 – 49... |
5730b004396df9190009628c | What did the temple-centered social organization of the farming peoples allow them to mobilize? | labor | [
"Sumer\n\nIt is speculated by some archaeologists that Sumerian speakers were farmers who moved down from the north, after perfecting irrigation agriculture there. The Ubaid pottery of southern Mesopotamia has been connected via Choga Mami transitional ware to the pottery of the Samarra period culture (c. 5700 – 49... |
5730b096396df9190009629c | How were women protected in Sumerian society? | law | [
"Sumer\n\nThough women were protected by late Sumerian law and were able to achieve a higher status in Sumer than in other contemporary civilizations, the culture was male-dominated. The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest such codification yet discovered, dating to the Ur-III \"Sumerian Renaissance\", reveals a glimpse a... |
5730b096396df9190009629d | What gender dominated Sumerian culture? | male | [
"Sumer\n\nThough women were protected by late Sumerian law and were able to achieve a higher status in Sumer than in other contemporary civilizations, the culture was male-dominated. The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest such codification yet discovered, dating to the Ur-III \"Sumerian Renaissance\", reveals a glimpse a... |
5730b096396df9190009629e | Whose code reveals a bit about the societal structure through Sumerian law? | Ur-Nammu | [
"Sumer\n\nThough women were protected by late Sumerian law and were able to achieve a higher status in Sumer than in other contemporary civilizations, the culture was male-dominated. The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest such codification yet discovered, dating to the Ur-III \"Sumerian Renaissance\", reveals a glimpse a... |
5730b096396df9190009629f | Who was at the top of the power pyramid in Sumerian society? | the lu-gal | [
"Sumer\n\nThough women were protected by late Sumerian law and were able to achieve a higher status in Sumer than in other contemporary civilizations, the culture was male-dominated. The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest such codification yet discovered, dating to the Ur-III \"Sumerian Renaissance\", reveals a glimpse a... |
5730b096396df919000962a0 | How many strata existed in Sumerian society? | two | [
"Sumer\n\nThough women were protected by late Sumerian law and were able to achieve a higher status in Sumer than in other contemporary civilizations, the culture was male-dominated. The Code of Ur-Nammu, the oldest such codification yet discovered, dating to the Ur-III \"Sumerian Renaissance\", reveals a glimpse a... |
5730b14b069b531400832271 | What were the most important discoveries for archaeologists from Sumer? | tablets written in cuneiform | [
"Sumer\n\nThe most important archaeological discoveries in Sumer are a large number of tablets written in cuneiform. Sumerian writing, while proven to be not the oldest example of writing on earth, is considered to be a great milestone in the development of man's ability to not only create historical records but al... |
5730b14b069b531400832272 | What is Sumerian writing considered to be in the development of man's ability to create literature? | milestone | [
"Sumer\n\nThe most important archaeological discoveries in Sumer are a large number of tablets written in cuneiform. Sumerian writing, while proven to be not the oldest example of writing on earth, is considered to be a great milestone in the development of man's ability to not only create historical records but al... |
5730b14b069b531400832273 | What followed cuneiform in writing? | Ideograms | [
"Sumer\n\nThe most important archaeological discoveries in Sumer are a large number of tablets written in cuneiform. Sumerian writing, while proven to be not the oldest example of writing on earth, is considered to be a great milestone in the development of man's ability to not only create historical records but al... |
5730b14b069b531400832274 | How many texts in the Sumerian language have survived to modern day? | hundreds of thousands | [
"Sumer\n\nThe most important archaeological discoveries in Sumer are a large number of tablets written in cuneiform. Sumerian writing, while proven to be not the oldest example of writing on earth, is considered to be a great milestone in the development of man's ability to not only create historical records but al... |
5730b14b069b531400832275 | What was the Sumerian language used for long have their civilization had diminished? | religion and law in Mesopotamia | [
"Sumer\n\nThe most important archaeological discoveries in Sumer are a large number of tablets written in cuneiform. Sumerian writing, while proven to be not the oldest example of writing on earth, is considered to be a great milestone in the development of man's ability to not only create historical records but al... |
5730b4be8ab72b1400f9c6c8 | Why is the Sumerian language usually thought of as a language isolate in linguistics? | belongs to no known language family | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian language is generally regarded as a language isolate in linguistics because it belongs to no known language family; Akkadian, by contrast, belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. There have been many failed attempts to connect Sumerian to other language groups. It is an ag... |
5730b4be8ab72b1400f9c6c9 | Akkadian's language can be traced to the Semitic branch of what languages? | Afroasiatic | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian language is generally regarded as a language isolate in linguistics because it belongs to no known language family; Akkadian, by contrast, belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. There have been many failed attempts to connect Sumerian to other language groups. It is an ag... |
5730b4be8ab72b1400f9c6ca | What has been the result of attempts to connect Sumerian to other language groups? | failed | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian language is generally regarded as a language isolate in linguistics because it belongs to no known language family; Akkadian, by contrast, belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. There have been many failed attempts to connect Sumerian to other language groups. It is an ag... |
5730b4be8ab72b1400f9c6cb | What are morphemes? | "units of meaning" | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian language is generally regarded as a language isolate in linguistics because it belongs to no known language family; Akkadian, by contrast, belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. There have been many failed attempts to connect Sumerian to other language groups. It is an ag... |
5730b4be8ab72b1400f9c6cc | In Sumerian, what are morphemes added together to create? | words | [
"Sumer\n\nThe Sumerian language is generally regarded as a language isolate in linguistics because it belongs to no known language family; Akkadian, by contrast, belongs to the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. There have been many failed attempts to connect Sumerian to other language groups. It is an ag... |
5730b5b4069b531400832295 | How many cosmogenic myths does the religion of the Sumerians appear to be founded upon? | two | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian religion seems to have been founded upon two separate cosmogenic myths. The first saw creation as the result of a series of hieros gami or sacred marriages, involving the reconciliation of opposites, postulated as a coming together of male and female divine beings; the gods. This continued to inf... |
5730b5b4069b531400832296 | What does one myth see creation as being the result of? | a series of hieros gami | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian religion seems to have been founded upon two separate cosmogenic myths. The first saw creation as the result of a series of hieros gami or sacred marriages, involving the reconciliation of opposites, postulated as a coming together of male and female divine beings; the gods. This continued to inf... |
5730b5b4069b531400832297 | In the Enuma Elish, what is creation seen as the union of? | fresh and salt water | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian religion seems to have been founded upon two separate cosmogenic myths. The first saw creation as the result of a series of hieros gami or sacred marriages, involving the reconciliation of opposites, postulated as a coming together of male and female divine beings; the gods. This continued to inf... |
5730b5b4069b531400832298 | What were the titles given to the gate keeps of the E-Abzu temple of Enki? | the muddy ones | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian religion seems to have been founded upon two separate cosmogenic myths. The first saw creation as the result of a series of hieros gami or sacred marriages, involving the reconciliation of opposites, postulated as a coming together of male and female divine beings; the gods. This continued to inf... |
5730b5b4069b531400832299 | Who was the Lady Sacred Mountain? | Ninhursag | [
"Sumer\n\nSumerian religion seems to have been founded upon two separate cosmogenic myths. The first saw creation as the result of a series of hieros gami or sacred marriages, involving the reconciliation of opposites, postulated as a coming together of male and female divine beings; the gods. This continued to inf... |
5730b6398ab72b1400f9c6d2 | What did the Sumerian deities form? | a core pantheon | [
"Sumer\n\nThese deities formed a core pantheon; there were additionally hundreds of minor ones. Sumerian gods could thus have associations with different cities, and their religious importance often waxed and waned with those cities' political power. The gods were said to have created human beings from clay for the... |
5730b6398ab72b1400f9c6d3 | What could Sumerian gods be associated with? | different cities | [
"Sumer\n\nThese deities formed a core pantheon; there were additionally hundreds of minor ones. Sumerian gods could thus have associations with different cities, and their religious importance often waxed and waned with those cities' political power. The gods were said to have created human beings from clay for the... |
5730b6398ab72b1400f9c6d4 | What did the religious importance of city gods wax and wan with? | those cities' political power | [
"Sumer\n\nThese deities formed a core pantheon; there were additionally hundreds of minor ones. Sumerian gods could thus have associations with different cities, and their religious importance often waxed and waned with those cities' political power. The gods were said to have created human beings from clay for the... |
5730b6398ab72b1400f9c6d5 | Why did the gods create human beings from clay? | for the purpose of serving them | [
"Sumer\n\nThese deities formed a core pantheon; there were additionally hundreds of minor ones. Sumerian gods could thus have associations with different cities, and their religious importance often waxed and waned with those cities' political power. The gods were said to have created human beings from clay for the... |
5730b6398ab72b1400f9c6d6 | How could a citizen avoid their labor duty to their local temple? | a payment of silver | [
"Sumer\n\nThese deities formed a core pantheon; there were additionally hundreds of minor ones. Sumerian gods could thus have associations with different cities, and their religious importance often waxed and waned with those cities' political power. The gods were said to have created human beings from clay for the... |
5730b6e08ab72b1400f9c6dc | What were Sumerian temples known as? | Ziggurats | [
"Sumer\n\nZiggurats (Sumerian temples) each had an individual name and consisted of a forecourt, with a central pond for purification. The temple itself had a central nave with aisles along either side. Flanking the aisles would be rooms for the priests. At one end would stand the podium and a mudbrick table for an... |
5730b6e08ab72b1400f9c6dd | What was the central pond in the forecourt of a Ziggurat for? | purification | [
"Sumer\n\nZiggurats (Sumerian temples) each had an individual name and consisted of a forecourt, with a central pond for purification. The temple itself had a central nave with aisles along either side. Flanking the aisles would be rooms for the priests. At one end would stand the podium and a mudbrick table for an... |
5730b6e08ab72b1400f9c6de | Who were the rooms on either side of the aisles in the temple for? | the priests | [
"Sumer\n\nZiggurats (Sumerian temples) each had an individual name and consisted of a forecourt, with a central pond for purification. The temple itself had a central nave with aisles along either side. Flanking the aisles would be rooms for the priests. At one end would stand the podium and a mudbrick table for an... |
5730b6e08ab72b1400f9c6df | What was the mudbrick table in the temple for? | animal and vegetable sacrifices | [
"Sumer\n\nZiggurats (Sumerian temples) each had an individual name and consisted of a forecourt, with a central pond for purification. The temple itself had a central nave with aisles along either side. Flanking the aisles would be rooms for the priests. At one end would stand the podium and a mudbrick table for an... |
5730b6e08ab72b1400f9c6e0 | Where did the Sumerians usually locate their granaries and storehouses? | near the temples | [
"Sumer\n\nZiggurats (Sumerian temples) each had an individual name and consisted of a forecourt, with a central pond for purification. The temple itself had a central nave with aisles along either side. Flanking the aisles would be rooms for the priests. At one end would stand the podium and a mudbrick table for an... |
5730b7842461fd1900a9cfdd | What type of afterlife could Sumerians look forward to? | confined to a gloomy world | [
"Sumer\n\nIt was believed that when people died, they would be confined to a gloomy world of Ereshkigal, whose realm was guarded by gateways with various monsters designed to prevent people entering or leaving. The dead were buried outside the city walls in graveyards where a small mound covered the corpse, along w... |
5730b7842461fd1900a9cfde | What realm was guarded by gateways containing various monsters? | Ereshkigal | [
"Sumer\n\nIt was believed that when people died, they would be confined to a gloomy world of Ereshkigal, whose realm was guarded by gateways with various monsters designed to prevent people entering or leaving. The dead were buried outside the city walls in graveyards where a small mound covered the corpse, along w... |
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