Home to the Worlds First Civilization Mesopotamia Land

Home to the World’s First Civilization Mesopotamia

“Land Between Two Rivers” (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)

Sumerian Religion • polytheism - belief in many gods • believed that many different gods controlled the various forces of nature • humans = servants to gods, at any moment a god might send a flood or set a fire if he was angered - worked hard to earn the gods’ protection in this life Enki Innana

Sumerian Inventions

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Sumerian Scribes “Tablet House”

Cuneiform Writing

Deciphering Cuneiform

Sumerian Art Statues with large eyes (focus on god)

Sumerian Architecture Ziggurat • tiered pyramid • center of religious ceremonies and government • “Mountain to God” • Made of clay found all around them…no wood or stone in this desert climate

The Babylonian Empires

Hammurabi, the Judge

Hammurabi’s [r. 1792 -1750 B. C. E. ] Code

Hammurabi’s Code • “Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a tooth” • Let’s see it in action…….

Mesopotamia Billboard • You are the head of the travel bureau for Mesopotamia. Your job is to make a billboard that will make people want to come to Mesopotamia. • Your billboard must have…. – Visual Representation (ziggurat, map, etc. ) – At least 4 facts about Mesopotamia – COLOR!!