Mesopotamia
How did Mesopotamian civilization develop?
Over time, farming villages developed into civilizations. These first civilizations came about in river valleys. One of these civilizations was called Mesopotamia. It was developed on a small piece of land in-between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers. These civilizations, or complex societies, include: cities, organized governments, art, religion, as well as a writing system.
Sumer is a region known to be in the southern region of Mesopotamia. It was a city developed inside of Mesopotamia. Sumer had it’s own city-states with their own governments. This is because rough terrain such as deserts were in-between Sumer. So, the Sumerians on each side developed their own city-states that were not connected with each other. Often these different city-states would go to war with one another. The Sumerians believed in many gods. They also built a temple like structure called a ziggurat to please the chief god. At the top was a shrine, where only priests and priestesses could enter. Later, kings ruled. These kings were war heroes. Also, their position was hereditary.
Sumerian kings lived in large palaces while ordinary people lived in mud-brick houses. Most people in Sumer farmed, but some were highly skilled workers called artisans. Others were merchants or traders. Upper, middle, and lower class people made up Sumer. The middle class was the largest group and made up ordinary people. Lower class people were enslaved. Higher-class people were kings, priests, and government officials.
The people of Sumer created a written language as well as the 12-month calendar. These are things we still use today and are very important. Cuneiform is the written language used by the Sumerians. They used a sharp reed to engrave letters into wet clay. Only boys got to learn how to write, though. These are scribes. After writing was developed, so was the first story. This was the epic of Gilgamesh.
Shortly after, Sumer weakened. Sargon, the king of Akkadians, noticed this. He soon conquered all of Mesopotamia. An empire lasting nearly 200 years ended after a new group of people came along. These people created the city of Babylon, under Hammurabi as their ruler. Hammurabi created a code, or set of laws known as Hammurabi's code. Ironically, his punishments were very cruel. Even this being said, he still made progress to a fair law system.
Sumer is a region known to be in the southern region of Mesopotamia. It was a city developed inside of Mesopotamia. Sumer had it’s own city-states with their own governments. This is because rough terrain such as deserts were in-between Sumer. So, the Sumerians on each side developed their own city-states that were not connected with each other. Often these different city-states would go to war with one another. The Sumerians believed in many gods. They also built a temple like structure called a ziggurat to please the chief god. At the top was a shrine, where only priests and priestesses could enter. Later, kings ruled. These kings were war heroes. Also, their position was hereditary.
Sumerian kings lived in large palaces while ordinary people lived in mud-brick houses. Most people in Sumer farmed, but some were highly skilled workers called artisans. Others were merchants or traders. Upper, middle, and lower class people made up Sumer. The middle class was the largest group and made up ordinary people. Lower class people were enslaved. Higher-class people were kings, priests, and government officials.
The people of Sumer created a written language as well as the 12-month calendar. These are things we still use today and are very important. Cuneiform is the written language used by the Sumerians. They used a sharp reed to engrave letters into wet clay. Only boys got to learn how to write, though. These are scribes. After writing was developed, so was the first story. This was the epic of Gilgamesh.
Shortly after, Sumer weakened. Sargon, the king of Akkadians, noticed this. He soon conquered all of Mesopotamia. An empire lasting nearly 200 years ended after a new group of people came along. These people created the city of Babylon, under Hammurabi as their ruler. Hammurabi created a code, or set of laws known as Hammurabi's code. Ironically, his punishments were very cruel. Even this being said, he still made progress to a fair law system.
Vocabulary:
Civilization → A complex society with cities, government, art, religion, class, and writing
Sumer → The earliest-known civilization in the Fertile Crescent
Empire → A group of many different lands under one ruler
Fertile Crescent → Area of fertile land in the Middle East
Mesopotamia → means "Land between the Rivers"
Hammurabi → King of Babylonian Empire; famous for his Law Codes
Hammurabi's Code → First organized and written code that all could see
city-state → isolated cities that functioned like small countries
Sargon → King of the Akkadians; first to conquer all of Mesopotamia
cuneiform → First form of writing; uses wedged -shaped symbols
Irrigation → moving water to grow food
Artisans → skilled workers that made useful products
scribes → Record Keepers; Those that could write
Epic of Gilgamesh → The world's oldest known story; comes from Sumer
Ziggurat → means "mountain of god"
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers → Rivers that surround Mesopotamia
Babylon → City built by Hammurabi
Civilization → A complex society with cities, government, art, religion, class, and writing
Sumer → The earliest-known civilization in the Fertile Crescent
Empire → A group of many different lands under one ruler
Fertile Crescent → Area of fertile land in the Middle East
Mesopotamia → means "Land between the Rivers"
Hammurabi → King of Babylonian Empire; famous for his Law Codes
Hammurabi's Code → First organized and written code that all could see
city-state → isolated cities that functioned like small countries
Sargon → King of the Akkadians; first to conquer all of Mesopotamia
cuneiform → First form of writing; uses wedged -shaped symbols
Irrigation → moving water to grow food
Artisans → skilled workers that made useful products
scribes → Record Keepers; Those that could write
Epic of Gilgamesh → The world's oldest known story; comes from Sumer
Ziggurat → means "mountain of god"
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers → Rivers that surround Mesopotamia
Babylon → City built by Hammurabi
Things I have learned about the past that can help me in the future?
Problem: Many people did't get the opportunity to attend school.
Solution: I can benefit from this and take advantage of my opportunities as a student.
Problem: Many people did't get the opportunity to attend school.
Solution: I can benefit from this and take advantage of my opportunities as a student.
Cuneiform Tablet from Mesopotamia for 'Extra'
Credit: www.mesopotamia.co.uk