Download Unit 2: Mesopotamia Overview Unit Indicators

Unit 2: Mesopotamia Overview
In this ten-day unit, students will focus on the river valley civilization of Mesopotamia. Students will
compare language, government, trade systems, architecture, religion, and forms of social order with
other river valley civilizations.
This is the first and only time that students will learn about early river civilizations. Although it is the
first time that students have been taught about the fundamental beliefs and diffusion of Eastern religions.
In World Geography, students will study the fundamental beliefs of the Eastern religions, their diffusion
throughout the world and their impact on cultural beliefs of various societies.
In this sixth grade unit, students will focus on the river valley civilization of Mesopotamia. Students will
compare language, government, trade systems, architecture, religion, and forms of social order with
other river valley civilizations. Emphasis is placed on the origin, principles, and spread of Judaism and its
philosophies.
Within this unit, time has been included for teachers to allow for differentiation, review, and assessment.
Enduring Understanding
Essential Questions
The first humans were hunter-gatherer nomads
who continually traveled in search for food but
as they developed better ways of doing things,
they began to develop into the world’s first
civilizations. Establishing written languages,
governments, and specializations of labor, these
societies developed customs that still endure
today.
Overarching- Why is Mesopotamia called the Cradle
of Civilization?
1. How did physical geography affect the
development of Ancient Mesopotamia?
2. How did religion affect Ancient Mesopotamia?
3. What role did government play in Ancient
Mesopotamia?
4. How did Ancient Mesopotamia use technology to
meet community and personal needs?
SC Academic Standards 2011
Standard 6-1: The students will demonstrate an understanding of the development of the cradles of
civilization as people moved from a nomadic existence to a settled life.
Unit Indicators
6-1.3 Compare the river valley civilizations of the Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), the Nile
(Egypt), the Indus (India), and the Huang He (China), including the evolution of written
language, government, trade systems, architecture, and forms of social order.
6-1.4 Explain the origins, fundamental beliefs, and spread of Eastern religions, including Hinduism
(India), Judaism (Mesopotamia), Buddhism (India), and Confucianism and Taoism (China).
*Be sure to access the content-area reading and writing priority standards within ACPS Curriculum.
Indicator
Know
Understand
Do
6-1.3
-how the river valley
civilizations of the Tigris and
Euphrates, the Nile, the Indus,
and the Huang He compare
-the critical components common to most
civilizations and serve as a basis for
comparing the standing and/or
advancement of civilizations
-the evolution of written
language
-the significant commonalities and
differences in writing systems
(pictographs/symbols vs.
Create a T-chart
that compares
Hammurabi's
Code to current
laws and
punishment in
the United
States
-the different forms of
government
-the trade systems for each
civilization
-similarities and differences in
architecture
-the different forms of social
order
Teacher
Background
Resources
Mesopotamia Government
sounds/symbols
- the significant commonalities and
differences in social order
- the significant commonalities and
differences in architecture
- the significant commonalities and
differences in how societies were
divided (hierarchy, labor)
- the significant commonalities and
differences in the development of
government (particularly law codes)
-the most notable examples within each
civilization (ziggurats, pyramids,
temples, hieroglyphics, cuneiform,
Hammurabi’s Code
Create a map
that contains the
major
civilizations of
the River
Valley region
Classroom
Lesson
Mesopotamia
Lessons
Mesopotamia
Lessons
Mesopotamia
Lessons
-how to locate these civilizations on a
map
-the impact of the natural environment
on the development on each
civilization (role of rivers, trade
routes, deserts and mountains)
-that as surplus production of goods arose
within each civilization, trade networks
developed that not only provided
additional goods and resources to each
civilization, but also assisted with cultural
diffusion
Indicator
Know
6-1.4
- the origins, fundamental
beliefs, and spread of Eastern
religions (Hinduism, Judaism,
Buddhism, Confucianism,
Taoism)
Teacher Background
Teaching Judaism
-why major trading routes developed
along waterways
Understand
-understand the significance of the origin,
principles and spread of these religions
and philosophies
-that Yahweh (God) created a covenant
with Abraham in which he and his
descendants would receive the land of
Canaan
Do
Create a
comparison
chart of the Ten
Commandments
and how they
are reflected in
our society
Lesson Plans
-the founders were Abraham (Father of
the Hebrews) and Moses was the law-
Judaism
giver and author of the first books of
the Torah
-Judaism is the first major monotheistic
religion based on one God what is all
knowing, powerful, merciful, and just
-the Hebrews believed they are a chosen
people and possess a unique relationship
with Yahweh
-that the relationship between Yahweh
and his chosen people is symbolized
through the land of Israel
-God revealed his law through Moses and
the Ten Commandments
-the Torah contains the sacred writing
of Judaism
-the Torah teaches that Yahweh rewards
people according to their deeds, that a
Messiah will one day restore the nation of
Israel, and that there is an afterlife
-Judaism is mainly practiced by the
Hebrew people and today there are still
adherents of Judaism throughout the
world due to the conquest of Jewish lands
and the dispersal of the Jewish people by
conquering empires










nomad
city –state
Ensi
ziggurat
law code
pictograph
cuneiform
polytheism
monotheism
agriculture
-Judaism is not a religion that actively
seeks to convert others
Domain-Specific Vocabulary
 surplus
 irrigation
 innovation
 divine kingship
 Torah
 Yahweh/Jehovah
 diaspora
 covenant
 descendants
 barter
Teacher Background: Government and Justice System
Mesopotamia Staff Room: Background, Discussions, Worksheets, Follow-ups
Lesson
Key to Civilizations: Handout
River Valley: Tigris-Euphrates
Mesopotamia: Law and Government Lesson
Mesopotamia: Timeline Middle East History Interactive
Mesopotamia: Writing Lesson
Mesopotamia: Interactive Archaeological Dig
Gilgamesh: The Cedar Forest
Gilgamesh: Power Point Lesson
Hammurabi's Code: DBQ
Trade Routes: Interactive Story
Mesopotamia: Source List
Judaism: Information Sheet and Facts
Jewish Beliefs: Religion Facts
Torah: Basics
Five Books of Moses: Basic Understanding