1.2.1 CITY-STATES IN MESOPOTAMIA
SECTION INFORMATION
OBJECTIVE:
Students will be able to describe how the earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia, organized into city-states, and developed into the world’s first empire.
Students will be able to evaluate the purpose and importance of the first written law codes
MAIN IDEAS:
Interaction With Environment, the earliest civilization in Asia arose in Mesopotamia and organized into city-states.
KEY TERMS:
Fertile Crescent | Mesopotamia | city-state | dynasty | cultural diffusion | polytheism | empire | Hammurabi
WHY IT MATTERS:
The development of this civilization reflects a settlement pattern that has occurred repeatedly throughout history.
INTRODUCTION
The first major civilization to emerge in the ancient world were the city-states of Mesopotamia— the Land Between the Rivers. Imagine what it would be like to live thousands of years ago without electricity, modern ease of food and medicine, and a generally living in a volatile (*liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.) world.
READING | LISTENING | WATCHING | RESEARCHING
You may choose one or more of the following methods to understand the content of this section:
OPTION 1: Read from our textbook from World History: Patterns of Interaction, Chapter 2 Early River Valley Civilizations: Section 1, City-States in Mesopotamia, p. 66-77 in your ebook provided to you by the school in the Books App on your iPad.
You may also read the textbook right here in Canvas with the following slides.
*I have also provided HERE (to be added), an audio recording of the reading of the textbook for those who would like to interact with the content in that manner for those who prefer or would like to supplement with the audio.
OPTION 2: Listen to the reading of the assigned text. This can be done in conjunction with reading to support your reading or listen to the selection on it own.
OPTION 3: Instead of the reading (or in addition to the reading for those interested), you can watch my lecture on the material below. I have also provided a blank PDF Note template if you would like to follow along with the video and take notes. Download the notes by clicking HERE. Download HERE.
OPTION 4: You can also avoid the textbook and lecture all together for a fun take on the same content by watching John Green Links to an external site. and the AWESOME Crash Course videos Links to an external site.. Below is the relevant video from the crew at Crash Course.
OPTION 5: You can of course strike out on your own and find resources, readings, videos, and whatever else on the wild web or from that crazy uncle whose always watching History Channel. I'm never one to crush the pioneer spirit. If blazing your own trail and finding your own sources of information interests you, please make sure that you understand the Objective, Main Idea, and Key Terms.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
When you are done reading, watching, listening, or researching, click NEXT on the bottom right or go back to the MODULE to proceed to 1.2.1 Comprehension Check. You can take the quiz as many times as you like and there is no time limit. It is just a tool to help you better understand the material.