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