1. Bell Ringer #13
What were the two major empires of Mesopotamia? What were their contributions to early civilizations?
Remember to answer in complete sentences!

2. The Legacy of Mesopotamia
Chapter 2, Section 3

3. Rules!
Take one minute to write down as many school rules as you can! (Don’t begin until I give you the go ahead.)

4. Hammurabi’s Code Code: organized list of laws.
Hammurabi: Ruled Babylon from about 1792 to 1750 B.C.
Set down rules for everyone in his empire to follow.
Hammurabi’s Code told the people of Babylonia how to settle conflicts in all areas of life. (First organized, recorded set of laws ever found.)

5. Hammurabi’s Code Continued
Followed an, “eye for an eye” approach. (What does this mean?)
The higher the class of the victim, the greater the penalty.
A person who accidentally broke the law was just as guilty as someone who meant to break the law.
Why are written laws so important?
Hammurabi’s Code

6. The Art of Writing: Ancient Scribes
Long before Hammurabi issued his code, the people of Sumer developed a system of writing.
Scribes held positions of great respect in Mesopotamia – Only a few people could write so it was one of the most valuable skills in the ancient world.
Cuneiform: groups of wedges and lines used to write several languages of the Fertile Crescent.

7. How was writing invented?
Writing developed over time
Began by using symbols – progressed to cuneiform
Sumerians developed it independently
They did not borrow ideas from the writing systems of other civilizations
Had to decide how symbols should be placed in rows, that each row would be read from left to right, and that a page be read from top to bottom.

8. Cumpton’s Code!
1. Read with your partner the copy of, “Hammurabi’s Code”
2. On your sheet of construction paper write down FIVE laws that we should have here in the classroom using Hammurabi’s, “eye for an eye” approach. (Keep all laws “G” rated!)
3. We will decide as a class what rules to list under our new, “Cumpton’s Code”
4. When you have finished, begin working on the second worksheet independently.