1. Warm Up – January 24 1. Define the term prehistory
Grab handouts from the front table – using the notes from yesterday – answer the following questions:
1. Define the term prehistory
2. Why was the invention of farming so important?
3. What are the two stone ages called? What is the biggest difference between people that lived in the new stone age when compared to those that lived in the old stone age? (Think about how they got their food)

2. Rise of Civilization and Mesopotamia
The Neolithic Revolution leads to CIVILIZATION!!! C – Complex Institutions (government, religion, etc.) A – Advanced cities (centers of trade, culture, large pop.) R – Record Keeping (laws, contracts, taxes) T – Technology (buildings, tools, etc.) S – Specialized workers (builders, soldiers, traders, etc.)

3. Mesopotamia
Also known as The Fertile Crescent

4. Geography of Mesopotamia
Located in modern day Iraq
Rich land and curved shape led scholars to call it the Fertile Crescent
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run thru the region
Rivers unpredictably flood yearly leaving thick layer of mineral rich silt
Periods of no rain could cause desert conditions- Solution: irrigation
No natural barriers for protection. Solution: they built walls
Natural resources were scarce. Solution: trade networks were established

5. Geography of Mesopotamia
Sumerians create City-States
Sumerians developed city-states: city that functioned like an independent country
Early government was controlled by temple priests
Ziggurats was a place of worship and like a town hall
In some cases, military leaders became full- time rulers and passed powers to sons
Dynasty: series of rulers from same family line
Cultural Diffusion: ideas or products spread from one culture to another through conquest and trade

6. Ziggurat

7. Sumerian Culture
Sumerians were polytheistic; believe in more than one God
When you died you went to the “land of no return,” a dismal and gloomy place
Sumerians had social classes – based on wealth
Ur was one of the world’s first cities
Flourished 5,000 years ago
30,000 people
City walls
Use the barter system for trade
Worshipped at the Ziggerat

8. Ur

9. Sumerian Culture Cuneiform: first writing system
Epic of Gilgamesh – first work of literature
Ruler Hammurabi came up with Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code: single, uniform set of laws engraved in stone to help unify diverse groups within his empire

10. Code of Hammurabi Questions
Answer the following questions on the same post it as the warm up:
1. What is the main purpose of laws? Should they promote good behavior or punish bad behavior? 
2. Do all communities need a system of laws to guide them? 
3. What influence does social class have on the punishments for the crimes in the code? 
4. What areas of life did the code cover? Choose one law and explain its importance and significance to society. 
5. In your opinion, list three of Hammurabi’s laws that are too extreme/harsh for society. Why? 

11. TOD – January 24
Answer the following questions on the same post-it as the warm up:
1. Describe two geographical disadvantages of Mesopotamia
2. What is cultural diffusion? Why is important for a civilization to interact with other cultures?
3. Where did Sumerians worship? What can the Sumerian religion be described as since they worshipped more than one god?
4. What was the first written set of laws? Why is it essential for a civilization to have written laws?