1. Ancient Mesopotamia “The Land Between Two Rivers”
Objective: Determining how the following factors influenced groups of people to develop into the civilization called Mesopotamia
PowerPoint #2

2. Mesopotamian Civilizations
Sumerians
Babylonians
Mesopotamian
Civilizations
Chaldeans
Assyrians

3. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Sumerian Civilization
Believed to be settled around 3000 B.C.
Divided into city-states
Helped to develop the first form of organized religion
Created one of the earliest form of writing

4. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
city-states: self-governing unit made up of a city and its surrounding villages and farmland.

5. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Sumerian city-states
Always in constant conflict over water rights and land
Created walls for protection, with moats along the outside
Farms were located along the outside of the city
City-states are like small nations
They were independent and self-governing.
Had their own ruler/leader
Their people shared a culture

6. Ancient Mesopotamia SUMERIAN RELIGION Monotheism: worshiping one god.
“Mono” means one
Polytheism: worshiping many gods.
“Poly” means many

7. Ancient Mesopotamia ZIGGURAT Large pyramid shaped structures
Connected to heaven and earth
Ziggurat was the center for learning and religion

8. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA SUMERIAN WRITING
Called cuneiform (Latin for wedge)
Written on clay tablets
Needed for religion, government, and trade
Learned in school, by males that lasted from sunrise to sunset

9. Cuneiform is created by pressing a pointed stylus into a clay tablet.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Cuneiform is created by pressing a pointed stylus into a clay tablet.

10. CUNEIFORM

11. Ancient Mesopotamia Babylonians Marduk King Hammurabi Hammurabi’s Code
Chief god
Prayed for good harvest and success in business.
King Hammurabi
Ruler of Babylon
Hammurabi’s Code
Earliest code of law
Based on equal retaliation (an eye for an eye).

12. Ancient Mesopotamia HAMMURABI’S CODE
282 laws.
Harsh punishment for crimes.
Based on equal retaliation.
“ If a man bring an accusation against a man and charge him with a capital crime, but cannot prove it, the accuser, shall be put to death”
“If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off”
King Hammurabi “code of laws” were carved on a great stone column and placed in the center of town for all to view.

13. How did agriculture change the way people lived?
Agriculture (Farming)
people did not have to move from place to place to hunt and gather food
Growth of Cities
healthier people
population grew
permanent homes
Division of Labor (Specialization)
farmers
raise livestock
carpenters
merchants
Trade
Barter merchandise with others living in or out of the city
Writing and Mathematics
cuneiform
keeping records of merchandise being bought or sold
accounting

14. How did agriculture change the way people lived?
Multi-Flow Map
(be)CAUSE(of) EFFECT
How did agriculture change the way people lived?

15. How did agriculture change the way people lived?
Multi-Flow Chart
(be)CAUSE(of) EFFECT
Agriculture (Farming)
People did not have to move from place to place to hunt and gather food.
How did agriculture change the way people lived?
Growth of Cities
healthier people
population grew
permanent homes
Division of Labor (specialization)
farmers
raise livestock
carpenters
merchants
Trade
Barter or sell merchandise with others living in or out of the city.
Writing and Mathematics
cuneiform
keeping records of merchandise being bought or sold
accounting

16. Ancient Mesopotamia Short Response Questions
How were city-states like small nations?
Why did King Hammurabi carve the “code of laws” on a great stone column and placed it in the center of town?
They were independent and self-governing.
Had their own ruler/leader
Their people shared a culture
Everyone would be able to read and understand the laws.
There was no excuse for breaking the laws or understanding the consequences.
The “code of laws” were linked to the god Shamash in hope that the people would take the laws seriously.

17. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA SUMERIAN PASTIME Entertainment
No longer had to hunt and gather.
More time for fun activities.
Activities
Board games
Instruments
Bare fisted boxing
Activities geared toward young and used for socializing.