Ancient Mesopotamia How do we know it was

Ancient Mesopotamia How do we know it was a civilization?

Can you fill in your chart with info from the video? Try it!

They had advanced cities…. • City-states grew along the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers • Mesopotamia = “land between the rivers” • This area is also called the Fertile Crescent • City-states – city and the surrounding land it controls • City planning: Irrigation ditches for water, city walls for defense

Where Mesopotamia is today…

Tigris River Now

Euphrates River Now

They had specialized workers… King, priests, nobles Artisans, merchants, scribes, farmers Slaves • Most people were peasant farmers • Women had legal rights; some owned property, but they could be controlled, divorced and sold by men.

They had complex institutions… • Government – Earliest governments were controlled by temple priests – As wars became frequent, military leaders became rulers – Dynasty – series of rulers from a single family • Religion – Sumerians believed in many gods/goddesses (polytheism) – Believed gods controlled every aspect of life – To keep the gods happy, Sumerians built ziggurats temple

They had record-keeping… • Cuneiform – earliest form of writing

They had advanced technology… • Used levees and irrigation to control rivers • Developed basic algebra and geometry • Made accurate calendars (based on moon and stars) • Invented the plow • Made the first wheel, potter’s wheel, arch, and sundial

Hammurabi • Hammurabi collected and established a 282 section code of laws dealing with daily life. • “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (instead of fines) • Hammurabi rose to power by using his military might to put down other rulers. • Hammurabi created a strong government by reorganizing the tax system and building roads, buildings, and irrigation.

I need volunteers…anyone? • Let’s explore Hammurabi’s Code… • You are the judge. . . • You will need to be able to answer these questions after the skit and decide what will happen to the builder: – What is the problem in this case? – How did the builder know the nobleman was satisfied with the house he had built for him? – What happened to the nobleman’s house? – What did the nobleman lose in his house? – Who was killed in the accident?

Let’s RAFT! • R = Role – You are a teenager living in the US (Be you!) • A = Audience – Your audience is President Barack Obama • F = Format – A letter • T = Topic – Why do you think Hammurabi’s Code of Law would work better here in the US than our current system? Use at least 3 examples. (Don’t think it would be better? Give 3 reasons why not. ) (How long does it have to be? ? Answer the question…that’s how long!)