1. A. B. D. C. Greek two-rivers Tigris Euphrates Iraq arid
Identify the following geographic features by placing the corresponding letter on the map.
A—Tigris River
B—Euphrates River
C—Nile River
D—Mediterranean Sea
Draw a dotted line showing the location of the Fertile Crescent. A. B. D.
Fertile Crescent C.
Geography
Mesopotamia is a ____________________ word meaning between the __________________________
Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the ______________________ and _____________________ Rivers
Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day ___________________
The _________dry climate was mixed with seasonal flooding from the rivers
Greek
two-rivers
Tigris
Euphrates
Iraq
arid

2. Language
Mesopotamians were the _________________to use writing (around 3,000 BC), it was called ____________________
Cuneiform was wedge shaped symbols pressed into ________________ tablets
The Mesopotamians wrote many ____________
The most famous was the epic______________ called Gilgamesh
Writing allowed people to keep records of their transactions
First civilization
Cuneiform
wet, clay
stories
poem

3. Officials, scribes & minor priests
Duties and Responsibilities:
_________________________________________
King
Created new laws, head of the army, intercessor to their gods
Conducted religious ceremonies, served as doctors to the ill
High Priests & Nobles
Worked in the palace, army and as merchants; public writers
Officials, scribes & minor priests
Engaged in trade, document business transactions in cuneiform
Uneducated farmers who worked for others. Owned homes
Craftsmen & Artisans
Servants, laborers & peasants/slaves

4. Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or god
Religion
The people of Mesopotamia believed in many _________. This is called ________________________________.
Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or god
The ________________, served as the city’s _______________, and was also the center of every city
Gods
polytheism
ziggurat
temple

5. They used a barter _____________
Economy
At first, the Sumerians grew a _______________ barley for metals, timber, stone, and grapevines
Later, the Sumerians began to make goods for trade that they could move easily, such as_______ and bronze ornaments
The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans and created a credit system
They used a barter _____________
surplus/extra
copper
system

6. Government
The Mesopotamians had _______________ laws that everyone in the empire had to follow .
King Hammurabi made 282 laws called Hammurabi’s______________; the laws were written in stone and placed in a public location.
They believed the gods called the king to establish justice and order; whoever disobeyed the _____________disobeyed the gods
a variety
code
laws

7. You Decide Law 202 Law 195 Law 233 Law 22 Law 122 Law 5 Law 3
Determine which laws you find fair or cruel. Put the
number of the law on the correct side of the scale
Law 3:If someone falsely accuses someone else of certain crimes, then he shall be put to death
Law 5:If a judge makes an error through his own fault when trying a case, he must pay a fine, be removed from the judge’s bench, and never judge another case.
Law 22:If someone is caught in the act of robbery, then he shall be put to death
Law 122:If someone gives something to someone else for safekeeping, the transaction should be witnessed and a contract made between the two parties.
Law 195: If a son strikes his father, the son’s hands shall be cut off.
Law 233: If a contractor builds a house for someone and the walls start to fall, then the builder must use his own money labor to make the walls secure.
Law 202: If someone strikes a man of higher rank, then he shall be whipped 60 times in public.
Law 202
Law 195
Law 233
Law 22
Law 122
Law 5
Law 3
Fair Cruel

8. Questions: 1. Why do some people thin Hammurabi laws were fair?
2. Why do others think the laws were cruel?
3. What are some laws in the United States that are similar to Hammurabi’s?