History of the Ancient and Medieval World Ancient Middle East Mesopotamia Walsingham Academy Mrs. McArthur Room 111
Theme: Role of Geography Activating Prior Knowledge Waterways – rivers, seas, gulfs helped connect the two early civilizations of Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent) + Egypt? Cultural diffusion helps explain important changes brought about by contacts with others.
Remember: a good map has: A title A date A scale A key or legend compass What 2 elements does this text map lack?
The Ancient Near East
Mesopotamia Questions to Consider What are some of the ways in which Mesopotamia’s geography influenced its cultural and historical development? What specific examples of the civilizing process that we have studied do we encounter in Mesopotamia’s story?
In Class Activity connecting last week to this Questions based on homework Definition of Terms Take a Look at your maps Gilgamesh Test Yourself! (Complete the organizer) 1.What basic feature of civilization (as well as recurring theme) includes music? 2.What can we learn about early civilizations from artifacts such as musical instruments?
Assignment 1 1.Complete in-class activities, slide#6 2.On-line activities: (I-II of worksheet and slide #9) The purpose is (a) to find out more about the Epic of Gilgamesh and (b) to explore visually archaeological evidence of Mesopotamia’s ziggurats. Read carefully. (two days to complete) Reminders : Back-to-School Night, Wed. 9/15 at 7 PM (2 pts for parent contact) Black Ships Before Troy, September 20
A Mesopotamian Virtual Field Trip I.Gilgamesh’s story (details) II.Ziggurats were the most impressive early buildings – temples show importance of religion. –Kings claimed to be representatives of gods and to rule by favor of gods = theocratic kingship
An Epic is: A story: a.About a hero possessing extraordinary strengths ( and weaknesses.) b.About conflicts requiring feats of valor, great courage and stamina. c.Written in an elevated register (tone) of language.
Write like a Babylonian List the progression from “object” to its cuneiform. Draw one example. Over what period of time and by which peoples were cuneiforms used? What were the advantages, the disadvantages of this system of writing? What eventually replaced cuneiforms writing? Why? What allowed scholars to learn about this first writing system? More Resources for Extra-Credit personalized cuneiform
Assignment 2 Complete on-line worksheet activities, I-III Look over Assignment 3. Brainstorm ideas, create a tentative topic sentence, an outline. Write down questions you wish to ask in class about the assignment. Reminders : Back-to-School Night, Wed. 9/15 at 7 PM (2 pts for parent contact) Black Ships Before Troy, September 20
In Class Activity: Preparing to Write With your partner, you will discuss one of the two topics. Given our activities, (lectures and homework) summarize in bulleted form the key ideas presented. Be sure to cite examples of your major points. Class discussion
Assignment 3 Write a well-organized paragraph answering one of the 2 topics on slide #5. (Be sure you know which one you’ve been assigned.) Remember: Use complete sentences. Check your spelling and punctuation. Provide examples of your key ideas.
Assignment 4 Read pp of your textbook. Complete first row of focus question on chapter guided reading worksheet. For each of the 5 blue-coded terms, write an identifying sentence. Answer Checkpoint question on pp. 37. What phrase emphasizes Hammurabi’s greatness? What effect would it have on its listeners?
Assignment 5 Weekends are a good time to take stock: of where you’ve been; where you are; where you’re going. Consider this self-check. 1.Do you have Black Ships? Due Monday 9/20 2.Do you have your notebook in order? 3.Can you articulate the key ideas of the term so far? 4.Do you have questions? (write them down) 5.Optional cuneiform - due Tues. 9/21
In Summary: