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Christiana Byrne EEL 301 B Assured Reading Assignment-EXTRA CREDIT Name of Text: Glencoe World History (Florida Edition) Publisher: McGraw-Hill Year: 2005 Unit of Study/Chapter: Chapter 2 (Western Asia and Egypt): Section 1 (Civilization begins in Mesopotamia) Pages: 37-44 Timeframe: 2 Days Overview Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia Mesopotamia—the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—was the birthplace of several of the earliest known civilizations. Rainfall was sparse and unpredictable, but occasional floods had deposited layers of fertile silt. Irrigation and drainage techniques made regular farming possible; food supplies prompted social and economic changes that led to the emergence of civilization. As early as 3000 B.C., Sumerians engaged in widespread trade and built walled cities that had economic and political control over the surrounding countryside. Like other Mesopotamians, Sumerians believed gods and goddesses controlled the universe and owned the cities, which were administered by priests and priestesses. Eventually power passed to kings. The Sumerians also created the cuneiform of writing and invented tools and devices such as the wagon wheel. The Akkadians eventually overran the Sumerian city-states and created the first empire in world history. A return to city-states and other rulers followed. One of these rulers, Hammurabi, is remembered for his strict code of law. Vocabulary: Each day before beginning in-class reading, students will use the glossary in their textbook to define the following words. Students will write the definitions in their notebooks. Then volunteers will rephrase each definition in their own words and share it verbally with the class. After vocabulary is completed students will be called on randomly to read parts of the reading selection for the day. Day 1: City-state- a city with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside Ziggurat- a massive stepped tower on which was built a temple dedicated to the chief god or goddess of a Sumerian city Theocracy - government by divine authority Empire- a large political unit, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories Day 2: Patriarchal- dominated by men Polytheistic- having many gods Cuneiform- “wedge-shaped,” a system of writing developed by the Sumerians using a reed stylus to create wedge shaped impressions on a clay tablet. Comprehension Questions After having read section one, students should be able to answer the following comprehension questions: 1. How did geography affect the civilizations in Mesopotamia? 2. Explain why the city-states were considered to be theocracies. 3. Why was it so easy for Sargon and his army to invade the city-states? 4. Discuss at least five aspects of Mesopotamian society as revealed by the code of Hammurabi. 5. Explain which type of government-separate city-states or an empire-would have been most advantageous to the people living in Mesopotamia. Assignments All students will complete assignment 1, and then students may choose two additional assignments from the list. They also have the option of completing another assignment as extra credit. 1. Identify each of the following: Sumerians, Akkadians, Sargon, Hammurabi, and The Epic of Gilgamesh. 2. Explain what the Mesopotamians believed was the difference between god and mortals. 3. Draw a map of ancient Mesopotamia and label: The Tigris River, Euphrates River, Mesopotamia, Fertile Crescent, Uruk and Babylon. 4. Create a chart showing the achievements made by the Sumerians and list the effects of these achievements on our lives today. Example: Achievements Effects on our lives today 5. Develop a set of laws based on the Code of Hammurabi that would apply to your community today. Explain why your code differs from that developed by Hammurabi, or why it is similar.