1. Mesopotamia: The Culture and Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia
7th Grade World History
Do Now: Mr. K’s 9/11 experiences.
Learning Targets:
I will complete Chapter 5 reading notes focusing on elements of culture
I will understand how geography contributes to culture in Mesopotamia
Homework packet will prepare you.
Mesopotamia: The Culture and Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia
Homework –Mr. Dowling’s Study Sheet -is due Monday before the quiz

2. Review: The Seven Elements of Culture
Social Organization
Customs and Tradition
Language
Art and Literature
Religion
Some form of government
Economic systems of trade and barter
Students will be able to describe why these terms are the foundations of culture.

3. Important Vocabulary- Students will be able to define why these elements were so important in Mesopotamia floodplain silt arid drought irrigation surplus Cultural diffusion Cultural relativism

4. What is Culture?
Culture – the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a people’s way of life
The development of writing is vital to building culture

5. Cultural Diffusion – YES, you need to know and apply this;
When two people from different cultures encounter each other, ideas tend to be exchanged which can become brand new ideas or adaptations of other ones.
This exchange of ideas and beliefs between two different cultures is referred to as cultural diffusion.
Be able to give specific examples. Hint; TRADE and Surplus

6. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Cultural Relativism – the practice of evaluating a culture by that culture’s own standards. Can you give an example?
YES, of course you can

7. Farmers learned how to take steps to control the water
supply of early Mesopotamia. The silt left from the flooding
of the rivers was deposited on the land and made the
land fertile. In this arid land, the farmers were able to
grow a surplus of crops. Irrigation allowed the early
people of Mesopotamia to survive and trade for other
Items that they needed and wanted.
Mesopotamia was a land of few
resources. Homes were built out
of reeds and dried mud and straw
bricks. Mesopotamians had to use
their surplus farm products to trade
for items they needed and wanted.

8. These are the types of questions you might see on a quiz
Explain the importance of our vocab words to the development of Mesopotamian culture:
The rivers of Mesopotamia were important because….
Mesopotamians watered their crops by …..
Because of the lack of resources….
What did the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers provide for ancient Mesopotamians?
How did the Mesopotamian farmers obtain the right amount of water for their crops?
How did the lack of natural resources affect Mesopotamians