Mesopotamia

I. MESOPOTAMIA: Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon

Mesopotamia is a cultural/geographic enclave located between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers; hence the name, mesos (middle, in between) - potamos (rivers).  Many civilizations, city states and empires developed in this area throughout history. The two videos below explain the rise of the Sumerians, one of the first cultures to develop in the area as well as the Akkadians and Babylonians.


VIDEO 1: Mesopotamian Civilization




Video 2: Early Dynastic Period and Hammurabi.





II. TECHNOLOGICAL and CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS.

You can learn more about the history, inventions and discoveries of the civilizations that rose this area by watching these two videos (the narrator takes a little bit to get used to). You will also learn some basics about Hammurabi's Code of Laws.

VIDEO 3. Inventions and Discoveries in Ancient Mesopotamia (Part 1).




VIDEO 4. : Inventions and Discoveries in Ancient Mesopotamia (Part 2)




III. ART, WRITING, BELIEFS and LITERATURE.

You can learn some more about Mesopotamian Art by watching these last two videos. The first one deals with the art of both Mesopotamia and Egypt. Just watch the first half (up to 2:01). The second one is a great summary of all that you have learned above and explain in some detail the development of writing in the area as well as some creation myths and the Epic of Gilgamesh.

VIDEO 5: TICE ART - Mesopotamian and Ancient Egyptian Art




VIDEO 6. : Discovery - Mesopotamia The Development of Written Language