Download Achievements of Mesopotamia Handout

Social Studies 9R – Mr. Berman
Aim #1: What factor was most important in making Mesopotamian civilization a
success?
I.
Geography
A. Mesopotamia was located on the Fertile Crescent in the present day Middle
East (today Iraq).
B. It was between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In late spring, these rivers
overflowed and deposited fertile silt (sediment) into the land.
1. How do you think Mesopotamia benefited from being between these two
rivers?
2. What do you think were the biggest disadvantages of being between these
two rivers?
II.
Government in Mesopotamia
A. A group of people called the Sumerians created the first civilizations in
Mesopotamia around 3000 B.C.
B. They lived in city-states → Cities that had their own independent
governments (examples include Ur and Erech). They were protected by
walls.
C. The governments in the city-states were originally controlled by priests.
Later, they were taken over by military leaders who started dynasties
(governments where power is passed down within one family).
3. Was Mesopotamia united by one government? Explain
4. Name three important responsibilities that rulers in Mesopotamia had in
order to make their city-states successful (think back to the responsibilities
of early governments that we talked about in our last unit)?
III.
Culture in Mesopotamia
A. Sumerians had a polytheistic religion (they worshipped many gods).
B. They showed devotion to their gods and goddesses by building ziggurats
(massive pyramid shaped structures that were part of a Sumerian temple).
C. Cultural Achievements:
i. They invented cuneiform, the world’s first writing system (this was
a form of picture writing in which wedge shaped impressions would
be made on clay tablets).
ii. They invented the first wheel, sail and plow in human history.
iii. They created a number system based on 60.
iv. They made early discoveries in geometry and astronomy.
v. They wrote The Epic of Gilgamesh, the first great work of literature in
human history.
5. Which of Mesopotamia’s cultural achievements do you think had the most
significant effect on global history, and why?
6. Concluding Question: Which of the following factors was most important
in making Mesopotamian civilization a success: geography, government,
religion or technology? Why?