Transcript 2 - Mesopotamia - mr

AIM: How did geography encourage the rise of civilization in
Mesopotamia?
Review:
(1) I am a group of people working together to create an
civilization
organized society _________________
(2) I am the geographic feature where early people settled
River valleys
_______________
(3) I am two features of a civilization that helps to bring
Writing system & ______________
infrastructure
people together ____________
WHAT DO YOU THINK: Discuss the importance of water to
the people of the Middle East. How has climate and
topography of the Middle East effect how people lived?
1. What three rivers
run through the
Fertile Crescent?
The Nile,Tigris &
Euphrates Rivers
2. Which two river
valley civilizations
are shown on this
map?
Egypt & Mesopotamia
3. In what present
day country is
Mesopotamia
located?
Iraq and Syria
*NOTES*
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA (4000 B.C.)
“land in between the rivers”
Why was this a perfect place for the 1st civilization?
1. Fertile Crescent - large arc of fertile land in
the Middle East
2. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers made it possible for
farming
3. Cattle, pigs, goats & sheep were accessible
*NOTES*
WHAT CHALLENGES DID PEOPLE FACE IN
MESOPOTAMIA?
1. Unpredictable floods destroyed
crops, homes & people
2. Some areas were marshy and
unsuitable for farming
3. This land was vulnerable to
attack and invasion
Religions have attempted to build their sanctuaries on
prominent heights. Since no such natural heights were
available in the flat flood plains of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq),
ancient priests and kings determined to build ziggurats, square
or rectangular artificial stepped temple platforms. Functionally,
temples were placed on raised platforms to give them
prominence over other buildings in a city, and to allow more
people to watch the services performed at the temple.
Symbolically, however, the ziggurat represents the cosmic
mountain on which the gods dwell. The priests ascent up the
stairway to the temple at the top of the ziggurat represents the
ascent to heaven. The great ziggurat at Khorsabad, for
example, had seven different stages; each was painted a
different color and represented the five known planets, the
moon, and the sun.
WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE REVEAL ABOUT THE
RELIGIOUS BELIEF OF PEOPLE IN MESOPOTAMIA?
ZIGGURATS
Environment and Religion
It is important to understand that the Tigris and the
Euphrates Rivers were unpredictable and dangerous.
Floods could cause tremendous damage and often the
rivers did not flood enough for the farmers. Also, the
region was often attacked.
Interestingly, the Nile River in Egypt was much more
calm and predictable. Floods and droughts did occur,
but not with the same frequency or violence as the
Tigris and Euphrates. Egypt is well protected by the
Sahara Desert as well.
What effect – if any – do you think the natural
environment had on Mesopotamian vs. Egyptian
religious beliefs?
BABYLONIAN ZIGGURAT
*NOTES*
THE MANY PEOPLE OF MESOPOTAMIA:
1. Sumerians (ancient Sumer’s city-states)
(3000 B.C. - 1800 B.C.)
2. Babylonians (Babylonian Empire)
( 1800 B.C. - 1200 B.C.
3. Assyrians (Assyrian Empire)
(1200 B.C. - 539 B.C.)
4. Persians (Persian Empire)
(539 B.C. - 330 B.C.)
Please grab your textbooks and read pages 42-45
Work in partners to answer two main questions:
• How did the people living in Mesopotamia
develop writing?
• What breakthroughs in knowledge or invention
were these people responsible for?