Mesopotamia Society

Silently work on something. Thank you.  Homeroom Silently work on something. Thank you. 

Monday September 26, 2016 https://cms.instructure.c om/enroll/GF9WY8 AE Monday September 26, 2016 https://cms.instructure.c om/enroll/GF9WY8

Work on project. It is due at the end of class today. Monday September 26, 2016 Homework: Review Materials – Test Day – A 10/4 and B 10/5 Warm-Up: Work on project. It is due at the end of class today. You need to have the blueprint completed, as well as the written portion.

How did religion and gender influence society? EQ #2 How did religion and gender influence society?

Vocabulary Urban – city Rural – country-side City-State – a city and surrounding countryside Sargon – the world’s fist emperor, the first ruler to have a permanent army Empire – land with different territories and people under a single ruler Priests – people who performed religious ceremonies Polytheism – the worship of many gods Social Hierarchy – the division of society by rank, and/or class

City-States By 3000 BCE, many Mesopotamian cities formed into a region known as Sumer. Most people in Sumer were farmers, living mainly in rural – our countryside areas. The centers of Sumerian society, however, were urban – or city, areas. Sumer had about 10,000 residents, but quickly grew to an estimated 100,000 residents by 2000 BCE. Sumerian cities were isolated from each other by geography. Each Sumerian city was a city-state – or a city and all the land surrounding it. City-States in Sumer fought each other to gain more farmland. As a result, the city-states built up strong armies, as well as, strong, thick walls around their cities for protection.

Sumerian City – Basic City Layout

Sargon In the 2300s BCE, Sargon, King of the Akkadians, defeated all the city-states in Sumer, establishing the worlds first empire – or land with different territories and peoples under a single rule. Sargon was the first ruler to have a permanent army – which allowed him to conquer an empire.

City of Ur – Present Day

Gods and Rulers Mesopotamians practiced polytheism – the worship of many gods connected to nature and to particular aspects of life. Gods could bring a good harvest or a disastrous flood. They could bring illness, or they could bring good health and wealth. Success in life depended on pleasing the gods. Every person had a duty to serve and to worship the gods. Each Mesopotamian city had its own god that it worshiped. Mesopotamian city-states built ziggurats for worshiping their gods. Ziggurats had temples and altars to the gods, as well as long staircases for the gods to descend to Earth. The word ziggurat means “mountain of god” or “hill of heaven”. People relied on priests – people who perform religious ceremonies, to gain the god’s favor. Mesopotamians believed that their kings were chosen by the gods. The king and the priests were in charge of religious ceremonies that were conducted to please the gods.

Ziggurat

Ziggurat of Ur – Present Day

Social Hierarchy – the division of society by rank or class Although some social mobility occurred, most people stayed at the level into which they were born for their entire lives. Men – political power, made laws, educated, Military, control family, etc. Women – marriage, Children, “house-work”, Rich women may be Educated, some Scribes, Some priestesses, could buy/ Sell property, run business Slaves – prisoners of war, sold into slavery by family, owe money.

Mesopotamian Blue Print Activity The emperor, Sargon, has “requested” your assistance in the development of his empire. Sargon wishes to create a new city along the banks of the Euphrates River or the Tigris River. He has created a contest in the hopes of finding the best architects and designers for the year 2300 BCE. The winner of the contest will become the official architect of the emperor……..gaining wealth and glory!

Homework: Review Materials Friday September 23, 2016 Homework: Review Materials Focus: Start Project NOW…….Due – end of class TODAY Grade Type – Formal = Test Grade Roles: A – Time Keeper = check the clock B – Rule Keeper = develops three basic rules for ALL in the group to follow C - Leader = keeps all on task and settles disputes D – Runner = visit Ms. Gregory with questions/concerns