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CHAPTER 3: EGYPT AND MESOPOTAMIA Ok, so now that the Ice Age has ended, humans are starting to settle down. Then what? Well, people are gathering together and starting to form villages. Some of those villages are even becoming cities. And eventually, some of these cities will become countries or states. The first 2 Countries or States that we will be learning about are: 1. Egypt 2. Mesopotamia 1. First of all, what is a State? - Well, a State is a community that can get people to work together by mobilizing a lot of labor. For this you need leaders and of course the laborers to do the work. This can be done in 3 different ways: A. Get slaves to do it B.Get peasants to do it C. Get Freshmen to do it Every State also had its own distinctive CULTURE. But what is CULTURE? A. Location B.Art C. Architecture D. Literature E. Religion F. Laws G. Slavery H. Myths or stories I. Trade J. Cities and Urban Planning ANCIENT EGYPT Location: Egypt is located in the Northern part of Africa, near the Nile River. It is also halfway in the Sahara Desert. It’s a very poor country with the Mediterranean Sea above it, and the Red Sea to the right. Population: 80 million Capital: Cairo Religion: Mostly Muslim Writing: Hieroglyphics (No alphabet) Monumental Architecture: The Pyramids of course Who built the Pyramids? Slaves (and aliens) Religion: 1. First of all, ancient Egyptians were ‘polytheistic’. This means that they believed in many, many gods. For example: Ra– God of the sun Isis – Goddess of magical power and healing, Osiris – God of the underworld Set – God of storms Shtrakhman-God of Awesomeness In addition, many Egyptians thought that the Pharaoh, was RELATED to the Gods, and had their permission to rule. Today, Egypt is primarily Muslim and thus monotheistic, meaning they only believe in one God. Culture: 1. MUMMIFICATION: They would take your brain out through your nose and then put all of your organs in clay jars. Yum! This would ensure that you would have your body nice and clean for the afterlife. Oh, and they would also put all your jewels and maybe even your cat in your tomb! (Meow!) Social System: Egypt had a very strict hierarchy: - The Pharaoh - Generals and wealthy Egyptians - Regular Egyptians - Workers - Slaves from other lands - Sophomores Economy: Egypt traded with a country in Africa called Nubia, which was to the South. Today, it’s modern day Sudan which is located near Ethiopia. 1. Egypt constantly invaded Nubia to get slaves and other workers. 2. They even stole Nubian archers for the Egyptian military Literature: the Egyptian Book of the Dead. (Teaches you how to mummify High School students) Art: A lot of hieroglyphics all over the Pyramids, tombs, and even coffins. They also used a plant called papyrus to make paper. They would then use hard thin plants for pencils and paint brushes. MESOPOTAMIA - Located in the Middle East, where Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan are today. - It’s some of the best and most fertile land in the world. That’s why people settled there. They grew dates, wheat, barley (Egypt had the first beer), fruits and vegetables. - The main civilizations were the Sumerians and the Babylonians. THE SUMERIANS Writing: - Invented the very first human writing, called cuneiform. - They also wrote the first book, called the Epic of Gilgamesh. - The words were carved onto stone tablets. (Paper was not invented yet!) - The book is about…..the Gods, what else?! Trade: Actually traded with India near the Indus River (The Indus rover is where India gets its name) Religion: The were also polytheistic. 2 of the Gods were Enki (god of water and mischief), Inanna (Goddess of love and warfare). Architecture: Also had huge religious temples, but they were called ‘Ziggurats’ and were not in the shape of a pyramid. Social Class: - Priests were on top of the Social System (of course) - Government officials and warriors were next (of course) - Farmers and merchants - Slaves (of course) THE BABYLONIANS (Took over after the Sumerians) Art and Architecture: - Built the ‘Hanging gardens of Babylon’. - One of the 7 Wonders of the World. - Can U name 3 of the modern or ancient ‘Wonders of the World’? A) B) C) Religion: The Babylonians were also polytheistic. The Middle East will not become mono-theistic until Islam takes over in the year 700 CE. Law: The Babylonians were responsible for the very first system of codified or standardized laws, called the Code of Hammurabi. - This is where we get “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” - They were also carved on stone tablets just like the Sumerian book ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’. Of course Mahatma Gandhi once said, If its true that we should have an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, “Then the whole world will be blind and toothless!” - These legal codes almost always reflected the existing social hierarchies. For example, slaves did not get equal treatment under the law, and neither did women. - These laws also made it easier for states and rulers to actually rule over the people because the laws were systematic and carved in stone. - The only rule Shtrakhman has: Don’t speak while someone else is speaking. Also, bow down when addressing him! CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENTS 1. What is the definition of a State? 2. What are the 3 ways to get people to do labor? 3. What are the 9 characteristics of ‘culture’ 4. Choose 3 examples of culture and apply them to America. What would they look like? A) B) C) EGYPT AND MESOPOTAMIA 5. Where is Egypt located? 6. What does ‘polytheistic’ mean? 7. What can you say about Egypt’s social or caste system? 8. Who did Egypt trade with? 9. What happens during mummification? 10. Where is Mesopotamia located? 11. Define the following terms: - Cuneiform - The Epic of Gilgamesh 12. Would you say that the Sumerian Social Class was the same as or different from that found in Egypt? 13. Explain what the Law Code of Hammurabi is: *Skip the ‘Chart’ assignment and move on to the Hieroglyphics and Sumerian language assignments. PART 2 PART 1: READ ‘THE LAW CODE OF HAMMURABI’ (PAGES 119-121) AND EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING CRAZY LAWS: LAW #2 LAW #199 LAW #22 LAW #110 LAW #229 LAW #143 LAW #8 LAW #148 Opinion Question: Do you think people should go to jail for not paying their financial debts? _______________________________________ _______________________________________ ____________________________________ PART III Use the ‘Hieroglyphic’ worksheet in the back of this packet to write a 4-line poem about ancient Egypt in ancient Hieroglyphics. It should be done on construction paper which is on the table next to the art supplies Here is my poem: The sands of time blow fierce, Slow but steady indeed. You try to hold on, But no tomb can hold your things. PART IV: Use the ‘Cuneiform’ worksheet to write a Sumerian poem about life in Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago. Here’s my poem: Sun or rain The reeds still grow. Work and pain, slavery is all I know. HOMEWORK ESSAY QUESTION THE DEATH PENALTY Should the Death Penalty be legal or not? You must do your own research and come up with at least 2 factual reasons why or why not. Think about the following: - Morality - Cost - Innocence - Eyewitness testimony, DNA - The Constitution - Etc. Typed/ 14 font Single Spaced 1 page minimum