1. Introductory Unit Mesopotamia

3. Sumer

4. Ziggurat

5. Cuneiform

6. Hammurabi’s Code

7. The Origins of Civilization

8. Mesopotamia means “the land between two rivers” Why does civilization develop here?: a.Rich soil b.Access to water c.Warm climate

9. How does civilization develop? Rivers flood…farmers/people need help! Form a government in order to coordinate resources and build things like dams. Leaders emerge - like Hammurabi

10. Writing develops Cuneiform writing develops. Sumerians needed a way to keep track of business accounts and other records. Eventually, stories, laws, and songs were written.

11. First Law: Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi was a famous king of Babylon Wrote 282 laws that covered everything from trade to murder. Displayed on stone columns around the empire

12. Hammurabi’s Code “If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.” If he breaks another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken.” If he put out the eye of a freed man, or break the bone of a freed man, he shall pay one silver mina. If he put out the eye of a man’s slave, or break the bones of a man’s slave, he shall pay one half of its value. If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox whip in public.

13. Hammurabi’s Code Is it just? Why do you think the punishment’s were so severe? Are our laws as strict as Hammurabi’s?

14. Religion develops Sumerians believed in many gods = polytheism. Believed gods controlled the air, storms, natural forces. Worked hard to please the gods.

15. Sumerian Gods Enlil was the god who ruled the air and storms Sumerians believed that gods were like humans…they ate…they drank…they fell in love They had enormous power over humans

16. Mesopotamia Today Egypt Saudi Arabia Iraq Turkey Iran

17. Exit Ticket On a separate piece of paper….write your name and answer the following two questions: 1. Why did civilization develop in Mesopotamia? 2. Predict….where do you think civilization developed next! Hand in your exit ticket on the way out of the classroom.