1. Comparing Paleolithic and Neolithic Peoples
San Rock Art vs. Gilgamesh, Hammurabi, and Babylon

2. Hammurabi’s Code Stele in Louvre Museum, Paris

3. Hammurabi Code Stele Solid basalt (rock) block inscribed with
code of laws
(in Akkadian language)

4. Hammurabi Receiving Code of Laws from Gods
Carved top of stele

5. Sumerian Writing System:
Cuneiform:
Written in clay tablet

6. Ishtar Gate (from Babylon) now in Pergamon Museum, Berlin

7. Ishtar Gate Lion

8. Ishtar Gate Dragon

9. Individual Work
In one well-written sentence answer the following question:
In your view, what was the biggest difference between life in San (Rock Art) culture and life in Mesopotamia (Gilgamesh’s world)?

10. Group Work: Primary Sources
Break up into groups of 5
Answer the question: What are the most important characteristics of Mesopotamian society?
Use evidence found in the two documents ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ and ‘Hammurabi’s Code’

11. Comparisons Paleolithic Peoples (Cave painters)
Neolithic Peoples (Mesopotamians & Egyptians)
Farming – agricultural people
River-based societies: farming, trade, transport
Permanent settlements,
Polytheistic – many gods
Gods representing diff. aspects of life: rain, water, sun
Religion/power connected
Medicinal practices
New technologies/tools
Division of labor – specialized tasks and jobs
Diff. classes: Metalworkers, artisans, merchants, scribes
Written laws
Systems of writing
Paleolithic Peoples (Cave painters)
Hunter-gatherers
Nomads
Small clans, family-based
Stone tools
Pictures of cows
Rituals: birth, celebration, trance, transformation, death, healing
Shaman
Used symbols, paintings

12. Comparisons (continued)
Paleolithic Peoples
Neolithic Peoples