Download EXAMPLE PowerPoint on Mesopotamia.ppt

By: Bruce
Wayne and
Peter Parker
Grade 6 & 7
Division 2
Intro

 Civilization in Mesopotamia
developed about 6000
ago(5300b.c.).
 Mesopotamia is on a fertile
crescent, mainly in Iraq.
 Today, much of Mesopotamia
is under sand.
 Mesopotamia means “land
between rivers”
Social Structure

 Four main classes in
Ancient Sumer:
 Priests, upper class, lower
class & slaves
 Priests in charge of
making everyone behave
 Slaves came from
different towns in
Sumeria
Priests
Upper Class
Slaves
Lower Class
Marriage

 In Ancient Mesopotamia
wives were bought &
sold.
 Wives could file for a
divorce.
 Marriages were arranged
by the bride and groom’s
family.
 The West learned its ways
of marriage from ancient
Mesopotamia.
Family Life

 In a Family men had
more power than women.
 Boys were taught their
family trading business
 Girls stayed home—
learned to housekeep &
cook for family.
 Men were masters of the
house.
Childhood

 Rich boys were taught to
read and write in school.
 Lower class boys were
taught a family trade like
fishing.
 Girls, rich and poor stayed
home with their mother to
learn housekeeping and
cooking.
 Girls were also taught to
take care of children.
School

 Record keeping was very
important to ancient
Mesopotamians, they wrote
everything down.
 There written language was
called cuneiform.
 Schools were attached to
temples, and only boys had the
privilege of going to school.
 Students had to do a perfect job
or they were beaten as
punishment.
 Most students wanted to go to
school in spite of punishments.
Housing

 The upper class lived in
large homes that were
wide and nearly three
stories high.
 The materials used to
make houses was sundried brick, because there
was little wood and stone.
 The roofs were flat, so
that it was like a fourth
floor.
 The most important floor
in the house is the first
floor.
Food

 The average person in
Mesopotamian ate about two
meals a day except for the rich
who ate three.
 Lots people ate unleavened
bread, and drank large amounts
of beer(up to a whole gallon a
day).
 Meat was expensive so most
people ate vegetables and stews
 There were cakes for special
occasions were also made with
butter, raisins, dates, flour, and
cheese.
 A popular treat was the Kafta
kabob ( in picture to right).
Celebrations

 Mesopotamians
celebrated Akitu which
is the earliest new
year’s festival.
 The Mesopotamians
celebrated the Moon,
solstices, and
equinoxes.
Art

 Sumerians made jewelry
from gold and lapis, but
they weren’t good at
molding stone sculptures.
 Sumerians also created
beautiful mosaics that had
colourful patterns, helmets,
harps, jewelry, and
decorated tablets.
 The Babylonians made
massive sculptures
including huge gates, all of
the sculptures were for
special events honoring
gods.
 The Assyrians used art
for military achievements
and daily life.
 They also carved and
painted.
Music

 Music in Sumerian was used
in religious and civic life
and wherever music was,
dancing was usually near.
 Musicians were rich because
they went to school.
 Instrument that
Mesopotamians use include
harps, lyres, lutes, reed
pipes, and drums.
 Singers tried to express
emotion through their song.