Ancient MesopotamiaAncient Mesopotamia“The Land Between Two Rivers”“The Land Between Two Rivers”

Objective: Objective: Determining how the Determining how the following factors influenced groups following factors influenced groups of people to develop into the of people to develop into the civilization called Mesopotamia civilization called Mesopotamia

PowerPoint #2

Mesopotamian Civilizations

Sumerians Babylonians

Chaldeans Assyrians

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

Sumerian CivilizationSumerian Civilization– Believed to be settled

around 3000 B.C.– Divided into city-states– Helped to develop the

first form of organized religion

– Created one of the earliest form of writing

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

city-states: self-governing unit made up of a city and its surrounding villages and farmland.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIASumerian city-states

– Always in constant conflict over water rights and land

– Created walls for protection, with moats along the outside

– Farms were located along the outside of the city

– City-states are like small City-states are like small nationsnations

They were independent and self-governing.Had their own ruler/leaderTheir people shared a culture

Ancient Mesopotamia

SUMERIAN RELIGION– Monotheism: worshiping one

god.“Mono” means one

– Polytheism: worshiping many gods.

“Poly” means many

Ancient Mesopotamia

ZIGGURAT–Large pyramid shaped structures

–Connected to heaven and earth–Ziggurat was the center for learning and religion

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

SUMERIAN WRITING– Called cuneiform Called cuneiform

(Latin for wedge)(Latin for wedge)– Written on clay Written on clay

tabletstablets– Needed for religion, Needed for religion,

government, and government, and tradetrade

– Learned in school, by Learned in school, by males that lasted males that lasted from sunrise to from sunrise to sunsetsunset

Ancient Mesopotamia

Cuneiform is created by pressing a pointed stylus into a clay tablet.

CUNEIFORM

Ancient Mesopotamia

BabyloniansMarduk– Chief god– Prayed for good harvest and

success in business.

King Hammurabi– Ruler of Babylon

Hammurabi’s Code– Earliest code of law– Based on equal retaliation (an

eye for an eye).

Ancient MesopotamiaHAMMURABI’S CODE – 282 laws.– Harsh punishment for crimes.– Based on equal retaliation.

“ If a man bring an accusation against a man and charge him with a capital crime, but cannot prove it, the accuser, shall be put to death”“If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off”

King Hammurabi “code of laws” were carved on a great stone column and placed in the center of town for all to view.

How did agriculture change the way people lived?

Agriculture (Farming)– people did not have to move from place to place to hunt and gather food

Growth of Cities– healthier people– population grew– permanent homes

Division of Labor (Specialization)– farmers– raise livestock– carpenters– merchants

Trade– Barter merchandise with others living in or out of the city

Writing and Mathematics– cuneiform– keeping records of merchandise being bought or sold– accounting

(be)CAUSE(of) EFFECT

How did agriculture change the

way people lived?

Multi-Flow Map

(be)CAUSE(of) EFFECT

How did agriculture change the

way people lived?

Agriculture (Farming)

Growth of Cities

Division of Labor

(specialization)

Trade

Writing and Mathematics

People did not have to move from place to place to hunt and gather food.

• healthier people• population grew• permanent homes

• farmers• raise livestock• carpenters• merchants

Barter or sell merchandise with others living in or out of the city.

• cuneiform• keeping records of

merchandise being bought or sold

• accounting

Multi-Flow Chart

Ancient Mesopotamia Ancient Mesopotamia Short Response QuestionsShort Response Questions

How were city-states How were city-states like small nations?like small nations?

They were They were independent and self-independent and self-governing.governing.

Had their own Had their own ruler/leaderruler/leader

Their people shared a Their people shared a cultureculture

Why did King Hammurabi Why did King Hammurabi carve the “code of laws” on carve the “code of laws” on a great stone column and a great stone column and placed it in the center of placed it in the center of town?town?

Everyone would be able to Everyone would be able to read and understand the laws.read and understand the laws.

There was no excuse for There was no excuse for breaking the laws or breaking the laws or understanding the understanding the consequences.consequences.

The “code of laws” were linked The “code of laws” were linked to the god Shamash in hope to the god Shamash in hope that the people would take the that the people would take the laws seriously. laws seriously.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIASUMERIAN PASTIME– Entertainment

No longer had to hunt and gather.More time for fun activities.

– ActivitiesBoard games InstrumentsBare fisted boxing

– Activities geared toward young and used for socializing.