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Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
• Originated around 5000 BC –
one of the oldest known
civilizations.
• Modern day location: Iraq;
Syria (north-east); Turkey
(south-east); Iran (southwest).
• Mesopotamia is a Greek word
which translates to ‘between
the rivers’ (Tigris and
Euphrates rivers – located in
Iraq).
Location
Visit the following interactive map of the Middle East from
the ancient period to the present day.
http://ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu/diglib/social/mideast/atlas/inde
x.html
• Use the site to see where Mesopotamia was located. Think
about the present day name for Mesopotamia. What do
you know about what is happening there now?
• Click to see a timeline of the history of this place. How far
back does it go?
Mesopotamia
• North Mesopotamian geography consists of hills and
plains, the land is quite fertile. View this interactive
map to obtain a visual of the land:
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/ca/books/bkf3/imaps/
• Early settlers farmed the land and used timber,
metals and stone.
• South Mesopotamian geography consists of marsh,
wide, flat and barren plains.
• Early settlers had to irrigate the land for their crops
and relied strongly on neighboring countries for
trade.
YouTube clip
Watch the following clip and record the main
points and important facts in your workbook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EPqobSsD8
Inventions
The people of Ancient Mesopotamia invented the
following items that still exist in some form in our
modern society:
•
•
•
•
•
the wheel
plow (crop cultivation)
sailboats
writing
Pyramids (ziggurats)
Inventions
Choose one of the Mesopotamian inventions
and brainstorm a list of ways that it is still in use
today…
Farming
• It did not rain much in Mesopotamia, so the people
soon learned that if you irrigated the land, crops
grew quickly.
• These early people built canals to bring water to the
land from the rivers.
• They planted wheat, barley, dates, and vegetables
including cucumbers, onions, apples, and spices.
Farming
Refer to the information in the books to find
out more about farming.
Can you find any pictures to represent the
farming methods?
Draw one of these pictures in your workbook.
Trade
• Mesopotamia was a region which did not have many natural
resources. Therefore, the people who lived there needed to
trade with neighboring countries in order to acquire the
resources they needed to live
• Grain, oils and textiles were taken from Babylonia to foreign
cities and exchanged for timber, wine, precious metals and
stones.
• Grain was quite bulky and was best transported on a boat,
whereas precious stones were likely to be small, so they could
be transported on foot or by donkey
Social Class
HIGH
• The King - Pinnacle of the social order. Were ‘divinely
ordained humans’ as believed by the Sumerians, or literal
‘gods on earth’ as the Assyrians believed.
• The Priests - They were the upper-class of society
• The Scribes - They were the educated class, sons of the
wealthy.
• Merchants and Artisans
• The Commoners-The labouring lower-class of the kingdom85% were in farming.
• The Slaves - were the bottom of the social hierarchy.
LOW
Religion
Use the books to learn about religion during ancient
Mesopotamian times. Use the following questions as a base
to take notes but you should also include other information
you found interesting/important.
1. What was the name of the religion in Mesopotamia?
2. When did the religion begin and does it still exist?
3. What beliefs are/were important in this religion?
4. Was there a god involved? If so, explain how it/they were
worshipped.
Rule of law
• Laws were created by king Hammurabi
• First written code of laws.
• Code was inscribed on a six-feet high stone tablet, posted in a public area.
• Code was written in the local language Akkadian so any literate person
could read it.
• Some new concepts in the code:
• More fair than previous legal systems.
• An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.
• Presumed innocent until proven guilty.
• Accused can provide evidence for their defense.
Important Kings of Mesopotamia
Gilgamesh
• Legendary first King of Mesopotamia, 2700 BC.
• Had the first walled city in Mesopotamia built.
Hammurabi
• Ruled in Babylon, 1792 - 1750 BC.
• First written code of laws.
• Code was inscribed on a six-feet high stone tablet, posted in a public area.
• Code was written in the local language Akkadian so any literate person could read it.
• Some new concepts in the code:
• More fair than previous legal systems.
• An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.
• Presumed innocent until proven guilty.
• Accused can provide evidence.
Narim-Sin
• He ruled in Mesopotamia, 2260 - 2223 BC.
• First Mesopotamian king to claim he was a god.
• A famous victory stele was created to commemorate him, Gombrich.
• The victory stele is currently kept in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
Mesopotamia Timeline
Date
5000
BC
4000
BC
3300
BC
3200
BC
2330
BC
1900
BC
1792
BC
Event
The first people move in
People called the Sumer moved into the land called Mesopotamia. They planted crops and
began farming the land.
The Sumer build temples to their gods
The Sumer people built temples called ziggurats to worship their gods. They began building
large and powerful cities.
The written language is invented
The Sumer people began using pictures for words, and they would draw the pictures to write
sentences.
The wheel is invented
As the people became smarter and learned more, they invented more items. They invented
the wheel to make their vehicles roll.
Mesopotamia gets new rulers
The Sumerian people were taken over by the Akkadians. The Akkadians established the
Akkadian Empire.
Another change of power happens
The Assyrians came in and defeated the land's rulers, making Mesopotamia come under
Assyrian rule.
Babylon moves into power
Hammurabi, the Babylonian king, took power of Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamia Timeline
Date
1750
BC
1250
BC
705 BC
668 BC
550 BC
522 BC
490 BC
333 BC
Event
The Babylonians lose their power
After the death of King Hammurabi the land fell apart. It was taken over by the Kassites in 1595.
The people begin to use iron in their inventions
The Assyrians eventually took back the land of Mesopotamia. They began using iron to make
stronger weapons and chariots.
The capital city is named
Nineveh became the capital city of the Assyrian's land.
The great library is built
After Nineveh was named the capital, the rulers of the land built a huge library there.
The Persians take over Mesopotamia
Under the king Cyrus the Great, the Persians took control of the land. He allowed the Jewish slaves
to return to their land of Israel.
The land is divided into states
Darius I became the ruler and he divided the land into different states. He called them satraps.
The Greeks take rule of Mesopotamia
While still under the lead of Darius I, the Greeks moved in and took rule.
Alexander the Great is leader
The famous Alexander the Great moved through the land and took control. It was the end of
Mesopotamia's seat as the world's powers.
Mesopotamia Timeline
Using the timelines, choose the three
events that you consider most significant
and explain in 2-3 sentences why they are
most important.
Become an expert… share your knowledge
Key features of
ancient societies
What did you find
out?
Resources
Farming
Trade
Social classes
Religion
Rule of law
Draw this table into your book and complete about your ancient civilisation!