1. Mesopotamia: The Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia
7th Grade World History
I will be able to identify and explain how maps help us understand the
development of early culture
I will be able to define the 7 Elements
of culture
The “River” as a metaphor for life –This is higher level thought
Mesopotamia: The Geography of Ancient Mesopotamia
c – 1200 BC/BCE
Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, social, and religious structures of the civilizations of Mesopotamia.

2. I WILL be able to teach others how maps affect culture
The seven elements of culture
Social Organization
Customs and Tradition
Language
Art and Literature
Religion
Some form of government
Economic systems of trade and barter
Maps are COOL.
I WILL be able to teach others how maps affect culture

3. What is Culture?
Culture – the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a people’s way of life
Only humans rely on culture rather than instinct to ensure survival.

4. What do you have to know to get this joke?
What language do you see? (Sociological)
Where tools do you see? (Technological)
What stories do you see? (Ideological)
Who would get this joke?

5. Cultural Diffusion – YES, you need to know and apply this;
When two people from different cultures encounter each other, ideas tend to be exchanged which can become brand new ideas or adaptations of other ones.
This exchange of ideas and beliefs between two different cultures is referred to as cultural diffusion.
Examples of this can be Hispanic individuals making Italian pizza, Chinese people making Mexican food, Asian cultures following Roman Catholicism.

6. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Cultural Relativism – the practice of evaluating a culture by that culture’s own standards.

7. Historical Map of Mesopotamia – I Notice, I wonder

8. Direct instruction: Finish Powerpoint
Wednesday
September 9
Do Now: Which of the 7 Elements of Culture do YOU think is the most important? WHY?
Learning target: I WILL explain why “The fertile crescent is considered “The Birthplace of Civilization?”
Direct instruction: Finish Powerpoint
Are we good with the Vocab
Student Production: In small groups. Each group will discuss, answer and present ONE of the seven questions
Exit Slip: I’m still not sure about…..

9. Fertile Crescent – What additional information can you identify in your book?
Identify the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and Persian Gulf.
Identify Caspian Sea and Black Sea, Dead Sea, and Sea of Galilee.

10. Important Vocabulary Mesopotamia floodplain silt arid drought irrigation surplus
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flooded and the Mesopotamian farmers learned how to irrigate to become successful farmers.

11. The region of Mesopotamia is known as the “fertile crescent
The region of Mesopotamia is known as the “fertile crescent.” The rivers provided water and a means of travel.
*the floods were unpredictable * the source of the rivers was in the mountains of what is today Turkey and Kurdistan.
In ancient times, it was easier to travel by boat than to travel on land. There were few roads and boats could carry heavy loads and be moved downstream by river currents.

12. Farmers learned how to take steps to control the water
supply of early Mesopotamia. The silt left from the flooding
of the rivers was deposited on the land and made the
land fertile. In this arid land, the farmers were able to
grow a surplus of crops. Irrigation allowed the early
people of Mesopotamia to survive and trade for other
Items that they needed and wanted.
Mesopotamia was a land of few
resources. Homes were built out
of reeds and dried mud and straw
bricks. Mesopotamians had to use
their surplus farm products to trade
for items they needed and wanted.

13. Walled Cities Because of few natural barriers, the Mesopotamians were often conquered of attacked by other groups of people. So they built brick walls around their towns and villages.
The walls were sometimes as much as
25 feet thick. The walls had guard
towers and were often surrounded by
an open ditch or a water-filled moat.

14. Because of their SURPLUS of crops, the Mesopotamians were
able to specialize their jobs. Not everyone had to be a farmer!
Mesopotamians traded for:
Gold
Ivory
Ebony
Precious Stones
Wood
Stone
Copper
Tin
In return they traded:
Grain
Dates
Other farm products

15. Explain the importance of:
Mesopotamia
silt
arid
Drought
The rivers of Mesopotamia were important because….
Mesopotamians watered their crops by …..
Because of the lack of resources….

16. What did the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers provide for ancient
Mesopotamians?
How did the Mesopotamian farmers obtain the right amount
of water for their crops?
How did the lack of natural resources affect Mesopotamians?