Download ara two - christieteacher

Christiana Byrne
EEL 301 B
Assured Reading Assignment-EXTRA CREDIT
Name of Text: Glencoe World History (Florida Edition)
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Year: 2005
Unit of Study/Chapter: Chapter 2 (Western Asia and Egypt): Section 1 (Civilization
begins in Mesopotamia)
Pages: 37-44
Timeframe: 2 Days
Overview
Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia—the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—was the birthplace of
several of the earliest known civilizations. Rainfall was sparse and unpredictable, but
occasional floods had deposited layers of fertile silt. Irrigation and drainage techniques
made regular farming possible; food supplies prompted social and economic changes that
led to the emergence of civilization. As early as 3000 B.C., Sumerians engaged in widespread trade and built walled cities that had economic and political control over the
surrounding countryside. Like other Mesopotamians, Sumerians believed gods and
goddesses controlled the universe and owned the cities, which were administered by
priests and priestesses. Eventually power passed to kings. The Sumerians also created the
cuneiform of writing and invented tools and devices such as the wagon wheel. The
Akkadians eventually overran the Sumerian city-states and created the first empire in
world history. A return to city-states and other rulers followed. One of these rulers,
Hammurabi, is remembered for his strict code of law.
Vocabulary:
Each day before beginning in-class reading, students will use the glossary in their
textbook to define the following words. Students will write the definitions in their
notebooks. Then volunteers will rephrase each definition in their own words and share it
verbally with the class. After vocabulary is completed students will be called on
randomly to read parts of the reading selection for the day.
Day 1:
City-state- a city with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside
Ziggurat- a massive stepped tower on which was built a temple dedicated to the chief
god or goddess of a Sumerian city
Theocracy - government by divine authority
Empire- a large political unit, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples
or territories
Day 2:
Patriarchal- dominated by men
Polytheistic- having many gods
Cuneiform- “wedge-shaped,” a system of writing developed by the Sumerians using a
reed stylus to create wedge shaped impressions on a clay tablet.
Comprehension Questions
After having read section one, students should be able to answer the following
comprehension questions:
1. How did geography affect the civilizations in Mesopotamia?
2. Explain why the city-states were considered to be theocracies.
3. Why was it so easy for Sargon and his army to invade the city-states?
4. Discuss at least five aspects of Mesopotamian society as revealed by the code of
Hammurabi.
5. Explain which type of government-separate city-states or an empire-would have been
most advantageous to the people living in Mesopotamia.
Assignments
All students will complete assignment 1, and then students may choose two additional
assignments from the list. They also have the option of completing another assignment
as extra credit.
1. Identify each of the following: Sumerians, Akkadians, Sargon, Hammurabi, and The
Epic of Gilgamesh.
2. Explain what the Mesopotamians believed was the difference between god and mortals.
3. Draw a map of ancient Mesopotamia and label: The Tigris River, Euphrates River,
Mesopotamia, Fertile Crescent, Uruk and Babylon.
4. Create a chart showing the achievements made by the Sumerians and list the effects of
these achievements on our lives today. Example:
Achievements
Effects on our lives today
5. Develop a set of laws based on the Code of Hammurabi that would apply to your
community today. Explain why your code differs from that developed by Hammurabi, or
why it is similar.