2. Intro
Civilization in Mesopotamia
developed about six thousand
years ago(5300b.c.).
Mesopotamia is located on a
fertile crescent, and is located
mainly in Iraq.
Today, much of Mesopotamia
is under sand.
Mesopotamia means “land
between rivers”
3. Social Structure
Priests
There are four main classes
in Ancient Sumer Upper Class
The priest were the highest
then the highest then the
upper class, after that the
lower class, at the bottom
are the slaves.
The priests were in charge
of making every one behave
Slaves
as the gods would like
The slaves came from
different towns from were
Lower Class
the Sumerian conquered
before.
4. Marriage
In Ancient Mesopotamia
wives were bought and
sold( picture to right is
marriage market).
Wives were capable of filing
a divorce(below picture).
Marriages were arranged by
the bride and the grooms
family.
The western civilization has
learned its ways of marriage
from ancient Mesopotamia
especially the Babylonians.
5. Family Life
In a Family men had more
power than women.
Boys were taught their
family trading business
Girls stayed home and
learned how to housekeep
and cook for the family.
One right that a women
have is that they can get a
divorce.
Men were the masters of the
house.
6. Childbirth
Death to infants during birth
was very common due to
having no doctors at times.
Mesopotamians wore
amulets and potions while
giving birth and well after
giving birth.
The amulet was meant to
chase away the god
Lamashtu (pictured
beside)from stealing babies
after birth.
There were about two to four
children born to each
husband.
7. Childhood
Rich boys were taught how
to read and write in school.
In the lower class, boys
were taught there fathers
and family trade like
fishing.
Girls, rich and poor stayed
home with their mother to
learn housekeeping and
cooking.
Girls were also taught to
take care of children.
8. School
Record keeping was very
important to ancient
Mesopotamians, they wrote
everything down.
There written language was
called cuneiforn.
Schools were attached to
temples, and only boys had the
privilege of going to school.
Students had to do a perfect job
or they were beaten as
punishment.
Most students wanted to go to
school in spite of punishments.
9. Housing
The upper class lived in
large homes that were
wide and nearly three
stories high.
The materials used to
make houses was sun-
dried brick, because there
was little wood and stone.
The roofs were flat, so
that it was like a fourth
floor.
The most important floor
in the house is the first
floor.
10. Food
The average person in
Mesopotamian ate about two
meals a day except for the rich
who ate three.
Lots people ate unleavened
bread, and drank large amounts
of beer(up to a whole gallon a
day).
Meat was expensive so most
people ate vegetables and stews
There were cakes for special
occasions were also made with
butter, raisins, dates, flour, and
cheese.
A popular treat was the Kafta
kabob ( in picture to right).
11. Religion
The Mesopotamians religion
was the first to be recorded.
Mesopotamians believed in
gods and goddesses that had
their divine natural forces.
There were four creator gods
Anu sky god, Enlil storms
and helping people, Nin-
khursag earth goddess, Enki
water god and patron of
wisdom.
Priests in Mesopotamia were
responsible for sacrifices and
ritual that they thought the
gods needed.
12. Celebrations
Mesopotamians
celebrated Akitu which is
the earliest new year’s
festival.
Every month the
Mesopotamians had a
ceremonies to determine
the six important factors
The Mesopotamians
celebrated the Moon,
solstices, and equinoxes.
13. Death
ancient Mesopotamians
For
death and sickness were
terrible sins.
In ancient Mesopotamia they
buried the bodies though no
matter what no attempts were
made to preserve their bodies.
For Mesopotamians the
reason of life was to serve the
gods so when you died you
were worthless.
A major sin that could
sentence people to death was
“Making Offerings To The
Dead”.
Male worshiper (praying for afterlife)
14. Art
Sumerians made jewelry The Assyrians used art
from gold and lapis, but for military achievements
they weren’t good at and daily life.
molding stone sculptures.
They also carved and
Sumerians also created painted.
beautiful mosaics that had
colourful patterns, helmets,
harps, jewelry, and
decorated tablets.
The Babylonians made
massive sculptures
including huge gates, all of
the sculptures were for
special events honoring
gods.
15. Music
Music in Sumerian was used
in religious and civic life
and wherever music was,
dancing was usually near.
Musicians were rich because
they went to school.
Instrument that
Mesopotamians use include
harps, lyres, lutes, reed
pipes, and drums.
Singers tried to express
emotion through their song.
16. Extra Facts
The Mesopotamians King Hammurabi is
written language is called famous for the Code of
cuneiform, which was Hammurabi which is one
shapes and symbols. of the earliest set of laws
found. (created in 1780
Cuneiform was created in BCE) It had about 200
5000 BCE, which was laws in it.
about when Sumer stated
to downfall.
Thanks to Cuneiform our
Era knows more about
Mesopotamia.
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