Mesopotamian Civilization-Resource Sheet

The Mesopotamian Civilization
Resource Material (For the purpose of additional information not meant to be

learned for assessment)
Mesopotamian Civilization
Google Video on “The Mesopotamian civilization” – Class 6
2. Video on Ancient Mesopotamia 101- National Geographic
Information from Frank Modern Certificate – History & Civics – Class 6

It is an advanced state of human society when high levels have been achieved in
the field of agriculture, urbanization, government, art and science.
Approximately 5,000 years ago, the first complex and politically centralized
civilizations began to develop independently along a number of river valleys
throughout the southern half of Asia and northern Africa.
The Mesopotamian Civilization growing up along the rivers Tigris and Euphrates
These civilizations developed on the river banks. This was because the rivers :
* supplied continuous flow of water for farming and human consumption.
*Helped in the growth of trade and commerce by providing means of transport.
*Provided important means of transport and communication.
*Along with climate, vegetation and topography shaped the development of
these early civilizations.
Mesopotamian Civilization
Mesopotamia, which in Greek means the land between two rivers, lay in the
triangular valley between the rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. It was called the
Fertile Crescent. Mesopotamia included Sumer in the south, Babylon in the north-
east and Assyria in the north.
Map Of The Mesopotamian Civilization
The earliest culture to develop in the area was the Sumerian civilization, which
flourished around 3,500 BCE. Some other civilizations that flourished in this region
were the Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations. Because a number of civilizations
flourished in this region, Mesopotamia is also referred to as the Cradle of
Civilization.
Characteristics of the Mesopotamian Civilization:
Political Structure
The Mesopotamians believed in the Divine Right Theory i.e. kings and queens
descended from the gods. But unlike the ancient Egyptians, they never believed
that their kings were real gods. Most kings named themselves as King of the
Universe or the Great King.
Mesopotamian Kings
Occupation
Agriculture was the main occupation of the Mesopotamians. The people
depended on the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, for water for
agriculture. They built a highly developed irrigation system to make sure that
there was constant water supply. Mesopotamians were the first to cultivate
wheat. They also grew barley, pulses and fruits. Due to the presence of rivers,
fishing also developed as an occupation.
Farming was the most important occupation of the people of the Mesopotamian
Civilization.
The Mesopotamians controlled floods by constructing dams and aqueducts. Early
settlers used wooden ploughs to soften the soil before planting crops. In order to
increase agricultural yield, the ox-drawn plough was invented. Wagons with
wheels were used to transport goods.
They domesticated animals such as cow, goat, sheep and donkey.
Dams made by the people of Mesopotamian civilization.
Leisure Time
People now found time for leisure activities, and sports like hunting, boxing and
wrestling became popular. Other games that were played were polo and a kind of
rugby.
Hunting was an important form of Leisure for the people of Mesopotamian

Civilization
Art and Crafts
The Mesopotamian people developed the art of metal and copper-working, glass
and lamp-making, pottery-making and weaving. They used copper, bronze and
gold, and later iron.
Palaces were decorated with expensive metals. Copper, bronze and later on iron
were used for armour as well as for weapons such as swords, daggers, maces and
spears.
Mesopotamian Artists and Craftsmen
Mesopotamian art and craft.
Architecture
The study of ancient Mesopotamian architecture is based on archaeological
evidence. The most notable architectural remains from early Mesopotamia are
the temple complexes at Uruk, Ur, Assyria and Babylon.
Mesopotamian buildings had arches, domes and columns – these structures
contributed greatly to development in the field of architecture.
The ziggurats or temple towers were massive pyramid-like structures made from
sun-baked bricks. They looked like man-made mountains soaring high above the
earth. Each ziggurat had several stories and apart from the temple at the top,
they were used as schools, observatories, granaries and centres for trade.
On the outside, ziggurats were decorated with marble, precious stones and tiles.
The ziggurat at Ur is considered to be one of the earliest structures.
Architecture of Mesopotamian Civilization
Script
One of the greatest contributions of the Mesopotamian civilization is the
invention of writing. They were the first to write on soft-clay tablets using a
wedge-shaped stylus or pen made from reed, bone or metal. Their script is known
as the cuneiform script. Cuneiform literally means wedge-shaped, due to the
triangular tip of the stylus used for impressing signs on wet clay since pictures
were used as words, the script is also called a pictogram. The clay tablets that
were used for writing were baked in a fire and hardened and each tablet was like
the page of a book.
The cuneiform script has been deciphered and is the main source of information
about the Mesopotamians.
Cuneiform Script
Science
During the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, the Babylonian astronomers developed a
new approach to astronomy. They studied the stars and the sky, and could predict
eclipses and solstices. They worked out a 12-month calendar based on the cycles
of the moon. They divided the year into two seasons – summer and winter.
The Mesopotamians used a numeral system. This is the source of the current 60-
minute hour, 24-hour day, as well as the 360 degrees circle. They also divided a
week into 7 days.
The first wheeled vehicles were invented by the Mesopotamians around 3,500
BCE – a contribution without which the world would not have been the same.
Wheeled Vehicle invented by the People of the Mesopotamian civilization
Trade
The wealth of the cities of Mesopotamia came from the merchants and crafts-
people. Mesopotamia did not have many natural resources, so they traded mostly
in grain and textiles in exchange for stone, timber and metals.
The Mesopotamians did not use coins. Standards based on the weight of silver
and grains were established for trade. The Tigris and the Euphrates rivers were
the means of transport and communication. The Mesopotamians traded goods as
far as Africa, Asia and Europe.
Decline
The Mesopotamian civilization was perhaps the earliest of the river valley
civilizations. Many of the features of modern civilization can be traced back to the
Mesopotamian age. Yet, this civilization declined and faded out. The forces of
nature defeated human effort. The Euphrates changed its course – people lost
their means of livelihood and moved away. Sandstorms and winds buried this
great civilization beneath a desert.
Information from Longman History & Civics – Class 6

Art and Craft
A stable food supply through agriculture allowed people to engage themselves in
other activities. The discovery of seals, metal objects, gold and silver ornaments,
statues and pottery tell us about Mesopotamian expertise in arts and craft.
* People acquired specialized skills in pottery, weaving and metal work.
* Bleaching, dyeing, preparation of paints, cosmetics and perfumes were also
carried out.
* The Mesopotamians made cylinder seals which required considerable skill. The
seals were engraved with images.
Architecture
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II is one of
the seven wonders of the ancient world. Some of its unique features are :
*It was built on the top of stone arches which were 23 metres above the ground.
*It was watered by the Euphrates using a complicated mechanical system.
* It had a mountain-like series of terraces filled with plants.
These achievements indicate the high technological and architectural
advancement of the Mesopotamians in the ancient times.
Religion
The chief Mesopotamian gods were Anu ( the God of sky), Enlil (the God of wind),
Enki ( the God of earth) and Ninhursaga ( Mother Goddess).
Mesopotamian God
Write down the answers in your Exercise Copy
Thinking questions:-
1. Imagine you are a mason constructing the ziggurat at Ur in Mesopotamia.
Relate your experiences with emphasis on the methods of construction.
2. Imagine yourself to be one of the Mesopotamian scribes who have invented
the cuneiform. Share your experiences highlighting the nature of the script, its
use and the methods of writing it.
Watch Videos for extra information in the following sites
1. Video on Ancient Mesopotamia in National Geographic channel
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVf5kZA0HtQ
3. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/mesopotamia
4. https://www.ducksters.com/history/mesopotamia/ancient_mesopotamia.p
hp

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How did the rivers influence the development of Mesopotamian civilization?

What were the main occupations of the people in Mesopotamia?

The Mesopotamian Civilization

Resource Material (For the purpose of additional information not meant to be

Information from Frank Modern Certificate – History & Civics – Class 6

Hunting was an important form of Leisure for the people of Mesopotamian

Mesopotamian Artists and Craftsmen

Mesopotamian art and craft.

Architecture of Mesopotamian Civilization

Information from Longman History & Civics – Class 6

Watch Videos for extra information in the following sites

1. Video on Ancient Mesopotamia in National Geographic channel

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