Ms. Kimball History- 6th Grade Week 2 4/14- 4/17 Mesopotamia ​Name: ______Class: ______Date: ______

Instructional Guide: ​In order to complete this instructional activity you may utilize the articles listed and/or use available external resources.

Student Instructions: 1. Read the content summary. 2. Read the provided articles highlighting key information. 3. Answer the questions using complete sentences. 4. If prompted by the teacher, complete the extension activity.

Time: ​2-4 days

Intended Grades: ​6-12

Content Summary: Ancient Mesopotamia is where humans first formed civilizations. Mesopotamia means “the land between rivers” because of its location in the Middle East between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The fertile land and fresh supply of water led to the growth of civilizations. Many great empires existed in Ancient Mesopotamia, including the Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian. The inventions and advancements of Ancient Mesopotamia changed the course of history. Written language, math, the concept of time, the wheel, and new forms of government and law all came about in Ancient Mesopotamia. The ​Epic of Gilgamesh​ is one of earliest surviving works of literature. During the Babylonian Era, King Hammurabi greatly expanded his empire by a constant series of wars. Hammurabi also created the first formal law code, known as the Code of Hammurabi. His law code was historic because it ensured that every citizen had the right to the same justice. The Babylonian Empire was attacked by invaders and the Neo-Babylonian Empire was overthrown in 539 BCE by the Persians, who ruled the region until Alexander the Great rose to power. Ms. Kimball History- 6th Grade Week 2 4/14- 4/17 Questions: 1. In 3-5 sentences, describe the important achievements of the Mesopotamian civilization. 2. In 3-5 sentences, describe the social and political characteristics of Mesopotamian civilization. 3. In a paragraph, explain the short-term and long-term impact of the development of language and writing. 4. In a paragraph do you think written legal codes such as the code of Hammurabi, maintain or challenge social structure?

Extension Activity: Code of Laws: ​Imagine you are a ruler of a country. Using Hammurabi’s code as an example, what would your code of laws include and why?

The articles included in this lesson are: ● The History of Mesopotamia ● Culture and Society in Ancient Mesopotamia ● World Leaders: Hammurabi ● Primary Sources: The Code of Hammurabi