1. Page 35 #1A and 3B Do Now Take out the HW:
Copy the definitions for polytheism and myth from page 30 onto your vocab sheet.
In your Do Now section:
Why did early people create religion?
What is the purpose of religion?

2. Homework Review 1a. Describe the geography of Mesopotamia.
Two rivers create rich farmland to grow crops.
Surrounded by mountains and deserts.
1b. How did the geography help cities grow?
The rivers and the silt in the river created rich soil.
Rich soil -> grow surplus of food.
People settled in one area.
Population increase.

3. VOCAB
MYTHS
a traditional story; in some cultures, a legend that explains people’s beliefs
POLYTHEISM
the belief in many gods

4. Why did religions develop?
Sumerian Religion
Why did religions develop?
Why should we study the religions of different people and cultures?

5. First Thing… Sumerian Religion
During the video, answer the question:
How did the Sumerians honor their gods?

6. Learning Activity
Describe the topic
Purpose of this part of their religion
(Explain why the Sumerian made/performed this “thing”)
Picture
With your group, you are going to visit six stations.
At each station, you will examine one part of Sumerian religion.
Read about each aspect of the religion and complete the chart below.

7. The Sumerians were not able to explain these things
Topic
Describe the topic
Purpose of this part of their religion
(Explain why the Sumerian made/performed this “thing”)
Ziggurats
  Ziggurats were pyramids made of terraces, or steps, one on top of the other. These steps were connected by ramps and stairs.
 Ziggurats were the temples for the Sumerian people.
All religious, social, and trade activities all took place at the ziggurats.
 The Sumerians believed that the gods descended to Earth using the ziggurat as a stairway.
The gods
 The people of Sumer worshipped many gods and goddesses.
 The ancient people were not able to understand things that happened around them.
The Sumerians were not able to explain these things
so the people thought there must be greater forces controlling things like the weather (gods)

8. The myths also promised rewards to people who served the gods well.
Religious ceremonies
 Temple priests washed the statues of gods before and after each meal were offered.
Music sounded and incense burned as huge plates of food were laid before them.   
 The Sumerians believed that failure to honor the gods brought floods, droughts, disease, and enemy attacks.
Myths
 The Sumerian people told stories that helped them explain the things they saw around them.
  Many of these myths explained the powers of the gods.
These myths also warned that the gods would punish people who angered them.
The myths also promised rewards to people who served the gods well.

9. Priests
 The primary duty of the priests was to honor the gods, but different groups of priests conducted other types of temple business.
 The community needed to keep the gods happy and the evil spirits at bay! 
Religious
Statues
 These statues were placed in Sumerian temples and in the Sumerian’s homes every day for protection.
 The Sumerians had a great fear for the gods and thought their fate depended on them.
As a result, much of their daily lives were devoted to pleasing and honoring the gods.

10. Do Now Copy the HW: WHIL due tomorrow Ch. 2 Section 1 quiz Monday
Open to page 30.
Copy the definitions for city-state and scribe onto your vocab sheet.
Please leave the laptops alone for now.

11. scribe A professional writer Why would these guys be important?
What types of things would they write?

12. City-state
a city that is also a separate, independent
state

13. Sumer
A region, or area, in southern Mesopotamia where many of the first cities developed

14. Short Video on Sumer
Write down 2-3 things you learn about life in a Sumerian city-state.

15. My visit to a Sumerian city-state
Textbook: Page 33- “A Brief Tour of a Sumerian City”
(Google “Ducksters Sumerian daily life”)
Follett Destiny- web path express “Sumerian Daily Life”
Imagine that you are transported back to Sumer with your iPhone! You want to share what you see and learn about Sumer with your “Histagram” followers! Draw a photo and write a 2+ sentence describing each of the following:
1. ____ Social classes
2. ____ Marketplaces and trade items
3. ____ Sumerian houses
4. ____ Entertainment or clothing

16.  add location
 draw descriptive “photo”
 2+ sentences explaining the photo and main idea

17. Do Now Copy the HW: Ch. 2 Section 1 quiz Monday
Take out the WHIL due today.
Once I check it please put it in your HW section.
Take out your Histagrams from yesterday, and if you need, get a laptop.

18. My visit to a Sumerian city-state
Textbook: Page 33- “A Brief Tour of a Sumerian City”
(Google “Ducksters Sumerian daily life”)
Follett Destiny- web path express “Sumerian Daily Life”
Imagine that you are transported back to Sumer with your iPhone! You want to share what you see and learn about Sumer with your “Histagram” followers! Draw a photo and write a 2+ sentence describing each of the following:
1. ____ Social classes
2. ____ Marketplaces and trade items
3. ____ Sumerian houses
4. ____ Entertainment or clothing

19. Checking our “Newsfeed” on Histagram
Like a museum walk, you will have ____ minutes to explore your newsfeed.
Bring post-its with you.
As you look/read your classmate’s “posts,” be sure to:
Write two questions
Should be about the topic
Could ask the “post”er to further explain their photo or experience
Write two comments:
Connect your life to Sumerian life
Add something you learned about the topic

20. Social Classes Rulers and priests Administrators
Craftspeople and merchants
Laborers
Slaves
Higher social classes lived near the temples and government buildings

21. Marketplaces and trade items
Mesopotamians needed to trade to get what they needed
Traded food, clothing, jewelry, wine, and other goods between cities
Started to use metal coins (gold, silver) as “money”

22. Sumerian houses Made of mud brick Square houses
Built around a central courtyard
Houses were warm in winter and cool in summer
Flat roofs = little rainfall

23. Entertainment or clothing
The people enjoyed music (flutes, harp, drums)
Sports
Boxing
Wrestling
Board games
Dice games
Children played with toys
Art
Poetry
Clothing
Makeup
Clothes made from sheepskin
Men wore kilts and women dresses