Mesopotamia

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki8S5I83Ccc

This cartoon video is a very simple overview of what we will cover in the first 2 units.

Great intro to what life was like and how the people depended on the river.

From Nomads to Farmers

Mudhif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh_NbU7n3Rg

First City States

The farmers began to grow more than they needed.

Some people were able to begin trading instead of farming.

Began to create trade centers known as villages.

These villages became cities and choose rulers that controlled the city and the farmland around the city.

This is called a city-state. It also created a caste system

Food

Shelter

Homes Rectangular mud

brick homes Flat roofs Mud is a good

insulator

Brick Making

All you need is mud, molds, and sun. Unfortunately bricks can break down. To waterproof them you need Bitumen

Bitumen

Naturally occurring asphalt (tar) Found along the hillside of the Euphrates River It worked to seal, cement, and waterproof It is sticky, black, smelly, and has the viscosity of cold

molasses.

ClothingSheep skin or woolMen wore kilt like

skirts and women wore dresses.

Jewelry was often worn.

Women braided their hair and men often had beards

Both wore makeup

Making Fabric

Sheer the Sheep Wash the wool Card the wool Spin the wool Weave the threads Create clothing

Entertainment

Fun Storytellers Festivals Music Board Games Dice Jump ropes Tops Art Poetry

Game of UR

Lyre

Made with animal gut strings

Tuning pegs at the top

Wooden soundbox covered in silver

Religion

Each City-state had its own God.

Polytheistic Priests would

make sacrifices

The Ziggurats

Assignments Map, Report, Net, and Questionaire

Week 1 Map Work Please label all bodies of water and rivers, mountain ranges, deserts,  color it to be geographically accurate. Place map in clear plastic sleeve and use a permenant marker to mark modern country boundaries and major cities.   Week 1 Questionaire Fill in any questions on the questionaire that you might have missed.   Mini Report/Technical Writing A visual aid is a great thing.  It can be a picture, diagram, shadowbox, lego, minecraft, sketchup or anything you like. Short 1-2 page technical writing on your topic. I drew the pieces of paper out of the bowl in this order so here are the assignments for each child: Short Technical Writing on this item and how it is made, used, or played etc. A visual effect for you to show when you speak next week.  Let's make this super fun and exciting.   Music of the Lyre, Clothing, laying out an ancient Mesopotamian City, Foods of Ancient Mesopotamia (maybe making flat

bread or something like that)  We can also use Greek yogurt with honey?, Brick Homes and Brick Making, Bitumen, Reed Houses, Irrigation, Ziggurat, Game of Ur

  Next week we mention Gilgamesh so if you can get a copy and start on it great.  You guys rock!  So glad you are all in this

adventure with us.  Remember to check you tube for help with the how to part of the assignment.  Can't wait to see what the kids come up with.  Remember this is FUN!

Make your fishing net. Use the Youtube link on the Resources Pages.