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AP World History: Life in Mesopotamia

AP World History: Life in Mesopotamia. Presentation Outline. Geography of Mesopotamia Cuneiform writing system Advances in the sciences Art and literature Religion Social hierarchy and government. 1) Geography of Mesopotamia.

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AP World History: Life in Mesopotamia

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  1. AP World History: Life in Mesopotamia

  2. Presentation Outline • Geography of Mesopotamia • Cuneiform writing system • Advances in the sciences • Art and literature • Religion • Social hierarchy and government

  3. 1) Geography of Mesopotamia • Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, located today in modern day Iraq • Considered the “cradle of Western civilization” • An organized civilization which began around 3200 B.C.E • The ancient cities of Ur and Babylon were located in Mesopotamia

  4. Question: 1) Why do you think this ancient civilization developed between these two rivers?

  5. 2)Cuneiform writing system • The first society/group to inhabit the region were the Sumerians • They developed a sophisticated system of writing using characters which were inscribed on clay tablets and preserved • The Sumerian language had about 550 characters and was used for thousands of years n the Middle East

  6. Question: Why was a written language essential for the development or advancement of a Sumerian civilization?

  7. 3) Advances in the sciences • The Sumerians developed a number system based on the unit 60 • They divided the hour into 60 minutes • They had basic knowledge of geometry, and divided the circle into 360 degrees • They had a system of weights and measurements • They had a basic understanding of astronomy through observations using the naked eye

  8. Question: Why were these inventions so historically significant? • The Sumerians also created the wheel and the plough

  9. 4) Art and Literature • The Sumerians wrote poetry and stories • The Epic of Gilgamesh tells of a hero, the sole survivor of a flood which devastated ancient Mesopotamia • Sculptures and murals showed a sophisticated amount of detail • Much artwork was devoted to depicting Sumerian gods

  10. 5)Religion • The Sumerians’ belief system was polytheistic (belief in many gods) • They believed that there were gods of the sea, earth, sky, etc. • Unlike the earliest humans of the Neolithic period, the Sumerians gave their gods names, prayed to them, and offered them sacrifices • They also buried their dead in ceremonies

  11. 6) Social hierarchy and government • The Sumerians developed the first known government system with monarchs and priests at the top of the social hierarchy, followed by farmers and merchants, and then slaves at the bottom • Each group has its own role in society • Taxes were imposed and collected to help build and maintain city walls and roads

  12. The ancient Sumerian city of Ur

  13. Hammurabi’s Code • The first written legal code in human history recorded on tablets about 1772 B.C.E by the Babylonians, another group which emerged in the Mesopotamia region • The legal code was reproduced for all citizens to see

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