Ancient Mesopotamia

Unit Highlights

In this unit, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to explain the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia. Students will be able to:

  • Describe Mesopotamian geography and explain how geography allowed for the development of Mesopotamian civilization.

  • Explain the relations between religion and the social and political order in Mesopotamia

  • Evaluate the significance of Hammurabi’s Code.

Flocabulary

Unit Vocabulary

  • Ancient Mesopotamia

  • City-State

  • Civilization

  • Euphrates River

  • The Fertile Crescent

  • Hummurabi

  • Hummurabi's Code

  • King

  • Polytheism

  • Silt

  • Tigris River

Activity 1: Ancient Mesopotamia Pre-Test

Using your prior knowledge, brainstorm, list, and/or draw what you know about Ancient Mesopotamia in a thinking map. Complete this assignment on the Thinking Maps Learning Community or on paper. You may include:

  • Information you know or kind of know about Ancient Mesopotamia.

  • Guesses about Ancient Mesopotamia.

  • Questions you have about Ancient Mesopotamia.

  • Information you would like to know about Ancient Mesopotamia.

  • What comes to mind when you think of Ancient Mesopotamia.