1 What does the Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about the culture in which it emerged?2 What was the significance of the need for irrigation to the political development of Mesopotamia?3 What were the underlying principles of Hammurabi's code of laws and what does the law code tell us about the kind of society that existed in Mesopotamia at the time?4 Why were the Assyrians such formidable conquerors?5 What were the technological innovations of the early Mesopotamians and how did they contribute to the development of the culture and to its overall economic prosperity?6 What were the social strata in ancient Mesopotamia and, in general, what roles did women play?7 What is the significance of the development of cuneiform writing to the Mesopotamian culture and the surrounding areas?8 Compare and contrast the history of the early Jewish community and the Phoenician culture. How did the Mesopotamians influence each?9 What were the origins and early development of the Indo-Europeans?10 Discuss where and how the Indo-European cultures spread through Eurasia.