Turning Point Webquest - River Valley - Mesopotamia

From LearnSocialStudies
Turning Points in History
Timeline Event
Mesopotamia - River Valley
When
3500BC
Where
Between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers in Modern Day Iraq & Kuwait
Participants (Who)
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{{ #if: King Hammurabi of Babylon | *King Hammurabi of Babylon| }} {{ #if: Sumerians | *Sumerians| }} {{ #if: Babylonians | *Babylonians| }} {{ #if: | *| }} {{ #if: | *| }} {{ #if: | *| }} {{ #if: | *| }}

What Happened
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One of the first river valleys existed between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers. Farming communities became city-states.
Causes/Why Happened
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A stable source of water for irrigation allowed for a population to grow.
Results/Outcomes
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Domestication of plants & animals and a stable water source & fertile soil leads to a surplus. This leads to trade. In order to keep track of trade you need a way of recording your transactions which leads to writing. This leads to job specialization (everyone doing different aspects of creating something) to increase the productivity for trade. The stable food supply leads to larger populations. This leads to cities and complex forms of government and laws (Code of Hammurabi) are developed to create order and stability. This is the beginnings of civilization and the form of government known as the city-state.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Listing

TIGRIS/EUPHRATES RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION

<mediaplayer width='400' height='300'>http://www.myextrahelpteacher.com/socialstudies/video/2.flv</mediaplayer> Mesopotamia an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia means the land between two rivers. Mesopotamia began as urban societies in southern Iraq in 5000 BC, and ends in the 6th century BC.

Impact of Geography

  • It was the two rivers that became the basis upon which the wealth of the region
  • There was never a regular supple of water in Mesopotamia but the soil was so enriched over the years by the layers of silt which is material deposited by the two rivers.
  • The valley between the Tigris and the Euphrates River was known as the land "between the rivers" in Greek
  • An arc of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf called the Fertile Crescent had rich soil and abundant crops to sustain life in the early civilization.
  • Ancient Mesopotamia consists of current day Assyria, Akkad, and Sumer.
  • The three main independent cities in Southern Mesopotamia were Eridu, Ur, and Urak, these cities had a political and economic over the surrounding countryside

Economy

  • The Sumerian city-states was based on farming and trade.
  • Industry became an important factor in civilization as well.
  • The people of Mesopotamia were known for their metalwork, woolen textiles, and pottery
  • Copper, tin, and timber were imported goods exchanged for dried fish, wool, wheat, and metal goods.
  • Around 3000 B.C. the invention of the wheel was created making transportation of good easier and quicker.

Social Structure

  • - There were three major social groups in the Sumerian city-states
  • - The groups were the nobles, commoners, and the slaves
  • - The Nobles included many of the royal and religious officials
  • - The Commoners worked for palace and temple domain, they also worked as farmers, merchants, and crafts people
  • - More than 90 percent of the people in Mesopotamia were farmers due to the rich soil
  • - The slaves worked in building buildings and also belonged to the palace officials

Buildings/Structures

  • The most famous and important building in the Sumerian city was the temple dedicated to the gods and goddesses of the city.
  • The temple was called a ziggurat and was built atop a massive stepped tower
  • Housing were built by sun-dried bricks
  • A small portion of buildings were made by stone or wood

Characters/Gender Roles

  • Female slaves:
  • Often used to weave cloth and grind grains
  • The Sumerian kings:
  • Families lived in large palaces and helped rule

Tools/Weapons/Technology

Tools Weapons Technology
* Saws * Arrowheads * Writing system
* Chisels * Axes * Number system
* Hammers * Knives * First wheeled vehicles
* Braces * Lancepoints * Irrigation systems
* Bits * Swords * Boats
* Nails * Daggers
* Pins * Clubs
* Rings * Armor
* Hoes
* Glue

Religion
  • In Mesopotamia, each town and city was believed to be protected by a god
  • The Mesopotamians believed that these pyramid temples connected heaven and earth
  • At first, many religious events were held at the temple but later as priesthood developed, the temple became the center of both religion and learning for the entire community
  • The gods in Sumerian were called dingir
  • Their gods and goddesses had supernatural powers
  • Every single city had its own patron god or goddess who owned everything and everyone in the city
  • Everyone was expected to sing hymns, say prayers, make sacrifices and bring offerings to the local temple (ziggurat) for the gods
  • In Mesopotamia the people looked to religion to answer their questions about life and death, good and evil, and the forces of nature
  • The Sumerians believed in divine order, that is, everything that occurs is preplanned by the gods
  • There are four all-powerful gods that created and controlled the universe
  • An was the god of heaven
  • Enlil was the air-god
  • Enki was the water-god
  • Ninhursag was the mother earth-goddess
  • Utu, the sun-god
  • Nanna was the moon-god
  • Each of these gods created lesser gods who were also important in Mesopotamia

Writing/Literature

  • One of the greatest accomplishments of the Sumerian people was the invention of the earliest known system of writing
  • The Sumerians created written documents by using a triangular-tipped stylus to make wedge-shaped impressions in soft clay
  • Enuma Elish and Gilgamesh are examples of great religious literature, while the Code of Hammurabi is one of the greatest early examples of juridical literature
  • People who lived north of the Sumerian city-states also known as Akkadians (Semitic) spoke a Semitic language

Code of Hammurabi

Code of Law - Rules and Regulations to govern a society.

  • Stele Discovered in 1901 in Susa
  • Pillar with over 200 laws (see picture on right) Ancient pillars are called "stele"
  • One of the oldest code of laws. (4,000 years old)
  • Showed Slavery existed in Babylonia.
  • Not everyone was treated the same. Different laws for different groups of people or social classes.

<mediaplayer width='400' height='200'>http://www.myextrahelpteacher.com/socialstudies/video/1.mp4</mediaplayer>

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