The geography and civilizations of Mesopotamia, and the development of legal systems and language
Mesopotamia unit contains 3 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Mesopotamia Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
Mesopotamia: Geography and Environment
Students use maps and readings to become acquainted with the geography of Mesopotamia and the factors that made it a fruitful home for early civilization. Then they explore the climate, topography, and flood patterns of the region. Finally, they connect Mesopotamia’s water issues to modern history and create a poster or brochure.
The Development of Mesopotamian Civilization
Students explore the great civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia: Sumer, Akkad, the Assyrian Empire, and the Babylonian Empire. In Scenes 2 and 3, a video and several websites provide information from which, in Scene 4, small groups will prepare a report on the civilizations.
The Development of Language and Law
Students learn about the foundational contributions of Mesopotamia and nearby Phoenicia to Western law and language. They read, interpret, and discuss parts of Hammurabi’s code. Then, they follow developments in writing from pictograms to cuneiform to the alphabet.
