Mesopotamia
Mr. Pentzak
Level One Humanities
Fall 2013
Pre-Test
What does “Mesopotamia” mean? Name two natural boundaries of
Mesopotamia. Where is Mesopotamia? Name one of the major gods of
Mesopotamia. Name at least one civilization that ruled in
Mesopotamia. Name one invention of the Sumerians we
still use today. What is the Epic of Gilgamesh? What is a ziggurat?
Bell Ringer #14
Take out a sheet of paper
Number it 1-12 (skip AT LEAST TWO LINES in between each number)
Write “Quick Summary of the Epic of Gilgamesh” on the top line
On each numbered line write “Tablet # (whatever number you are on)”
Example below:
1. Tablet #1
2. Tablet #2
3. Tablet #3
Sit with your group members
Take out your scripts, macbooks, and a writing utensil
You will have twenty five minutes to wrap up your skits, rehearse and make props (ONLY IF YOUR SCRIPTS ARE COMPLETE)
Directions-Reflection Sheet
Write YOUR NAME on the slip of paper I hand you
Write each of your team members’ name on the lines provided
Rate them 0-3 and fill in any comments you have.
Flip your slip over and answer the short response question on the back. Sample response: “Based on the text, I can infer that
in ancient Mesopotamia they valued character trait, character trait, character trait because Gilgamesh/Enkidu… or “Women were described as… while men were described as… Based on this, Mesopotamia was probably matriarchal/patriarchal”
Bell Ringer #15
Give me the basic PLOT (First, Next, Then, Last) of the Epic of Gilgamesh
Describe the main characters of the story
Bell Ringer #16 10/20 & 10/21
What did Mesopotamians build their houses out of? Why?
What our houses made out of in the United States? Why?
Homework: Vocab List One Define the following words using a dictionary or online
resource.
These MUST BE HAND WRITTEN in order to receive credit
Fertile
Irrigation
Silt
Ziggurat
Scribe
Monotheism
Polytheism
City-state
Alliance
Arid
Problem Based Learning Question
Look around the room.
Select one object.
Measure it with a ruler and record it’s dimensions (height, width, depth)
In your mind, clone it infinitely.
How many of those objects would you need in order to construct a home that was ten feet tall, ten feet wide, and ten feet deep?
Bell Ringer #17 10/22 & 10/23
Explain the process/steps of making a mud brick using the PLOT formula Include AT LEAST five adjectives!
Imagine yourself in ancient Mesopotamia. What do you think the life of a brick maker was like? Is it a job you would want to have? Why or why not?
Vocab List One: Standardized Definitions
Fertile- producing or capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops
Irrigation-a system of supplying land with water by means of artificial canals, ditches, etc., esp. to promote the growth of food crops
Silt-fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment
Ziggurat-a rectangular stepped tower, sometimes surmounted by a temple
Scribe-a person who copies out documents, especially one employed to do this before printing was invented
Monotheism- the belief in one god
Polytheism- the belief in many gods
City-state-a city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state
Alliance-a union between people, groups, countries, etc. : a relationship in which people agree to work together
Arid-(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation
Cornell Notes (Topic on top line) NameDate
NOTES Here is where you write brief notes
Use abbreviations
Draw yourself pictures
Invent your own shortcuts, don’t focus on writing the entire slide word for word
Skip a line between new ideas or topics to keep information seperated.
CUE COLUMN Fill this section in after you are finished taking notes.
Use key words, main ideas, or sub topics to give you clues about what you wrote down.
When you study, cover up your notes and try to recall info only from the ideas in the Cue Column
Summary of the entire lesson goes here (Leave the last 5-7 Lines of your paper for this section).
Mesopotamia
Means “Between the Rivers”
Tigris & Euphrates
A region, not a country!
Controlled by various societies/civilizations over time.
Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, etc.
Geography Natural Boundaries:
-Zagros Mnts. -Taurus Mnts.
-Persian Gulf -Mediterranean Sea
-Red Sea -Arabian & Syrian Desert
Isolated Fertile flood
plain
Fertile Crescent “Fertile Crescent”- A boomerang shaped
region in the middle east The first civilizations begin here
Arid= (of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation
Annual flooding of Tigris and Euphrates deposits silt Silt= fine sand, clay,
or other material carried
by running water and
deposited as a sediment
Rise of Civilization Agriculture develops about 10,000 years ago
Hunter-Gatherers previously!
Neolithic farmers settle in Fertile Crescent around 6000 BCE
Agriculture becomes increasingly complex which in turn makes society more complex
Villages → Towns → Cities → City-States Division of labor & specialization (jobs),
surplus!
Sumerians Settle in the region around 5000 BCE A distinct and flourishing culture emerges
Later civilizations will borrow heavily from them
Develop irrigation= a system of supplying land with water by means of artificial canals, ditches, etc., esp. to promote the growth of food crops
Inventions: plow, wheeled vehicles, sailboat, mathematics, astronomy, the arch, writing, potter’s wheel, and the frying pan
Bring us out of Neolithic age, Bronze Age! (c. 3100 BCE) Iron will replace bronze c. 1200 BCE
Sargon the Great
Akkadian (North of Sumer, South of Assur)
Conquers most of Mesopotamia First Empire Ruled c. 2334 BCE – 2279 BCE Subsequent kings tried to emulate Cultural blending as empire
spreads
Babylon
Babylon
Possibly built by Sargon the Great
Major political, cultural, and religious center of Mesopotamia
Highly prized-attacked often Tower of Babel, Hanging
Gardens
City Life
Ur & Uruk First cities
Walled Mud brick cities Narrow, crowded streets
Buildings several stories high
Ziggurat in center of town