Comparing Paleolithic and Neolithic Peoples San Rock Art vs. Gilgamesh, Hammurabi, and Babylon
Hammurabi’s Code Stele in Louvre Museum, Paris
Hammurabi Code Stele Solid basalt (rock) block inscribed with code of laws (in Akkadian language)
Hammurabi Receiving Code of Laws from Gods Carved top of stele
Sumerian Writing System: Cuneiform: Written in clay tablet
Ishtar Gate (from Babylon) now in Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Ishtar Gate Lion
Ishtar Gate Dragon
Individual Work In one well-written sentence answer the following question: In your view, what was the biggest difference between life in San (Rock Art) culture and life in Mesopotamia (Gilgamesh’s world)?
Group Work: Primary Sources Break up into groups of 5 Answer the question: What are the most important characteristics of Mesopotamian society? Use evidence found in the two documents ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ and ‘Hammurabi’s Code’
Comparisons Paleolithic Peoples (Cave painters) Neolithic Peoples (Mesopotamians & Egyptians) Farming – agricultural people River-based societies: farming, trade, transport Permanent settlements, Polytheistic – many gods Gods representing diff. aspects of life: rain, water, sun Religion/power connected Medicinal practices New technologies/tools Division of labor – specialized tasks and jobs Diff. classes: Metalworkers, artisans, merchants, scribes Written laws Systems of writing Paleolithic Peoples (Cave painters) Hunter-gatherers Nomads Small clans, family-based Stone tools Pictures of cows Rituals: birth, celebration, trance, transformation, death, healing Shaman Used symbols, paintings
Comparisons (continued) Paleolithic Peoples Neolithic Peoples