Station #1-The INVENTION of the first WRITING SYSTEM
The First System of Writing
The Sumerians were the first people to develop a system of writing. The Sumerian writing system, called cuneiform, was developed around 3300 BCE, at about the same time the Egyptians were developing hieroglyphs. Unlike Egyptian hieroglyphs, which used symbols to represent sounds as well as entire words, the cuneiform symbols were only used to represent sounds. Although it looks nothing like most modern systems of writing, cuneiform is considered the first alphabet.
Sumerians wrote on clay tablets. They pressed a stylus carved from the triangular stem of a reed into soft clay, creating wedge-shaped impressions. Cuneiform means "wedge writing." When the writer, called a scribe, was done, the clay was allowed to dry. The hardened tablets were not easy to transport, but they were very strong—strong enough to last for over 3,000 years! Archaeologists have found thousands of these tablets, many of them in surprisingly good shape.
The Impact of Writing
The development of writing impacted all aspects of Sumerian life. Farmers could record which crops they grew each year and record plans for future planting. Merchants were able to keep detailed records of their transactions. Laws could be written down and standardized across large areas. Records of legal disputes and the resulting settlements could also be kept.
Reading and writing cuneiform was difficult. Children had to go to school to learn it. Schools were usually located in temples. Teachers would write a passage on one half of a clay tablet, and then the student would copy the teacher's symbols onto the other half.
The Sumerians used cuneiform writing in almost every aspect of their daily lives. They kept lengthy and careful records of every item they bought, from land and livestock to shoes. They used it to write letters, epic stories about gods and heroes, and prayers to the gods. They even created dictionaries, as well as essays about math and science. Because they did so much writing, and because so much of it has survived, we know a lot about who the Sumerians were and how they lived.
Station #1- Writing Activity
Name: ______Block: ______Date:______
Write Your Name in Cuneiform!
Directions: Cuneiform is the world’s first system of writing. Looking at the chart below, you are going to write your firstand last name using cuneiform. You can then write your age in cuneiform as well. Make it colorful and creative!
/ 1 / / 2 / / 3 / / 4/ 5 / / 6 / / 7 / / 8
/ 9 / / 10 / / 11 / / 12
/ 13 / / 14 / / 15 / / 16
/ 17 / / 18 / / 19 / / 20
/ 30 / / 40 / / 50 / / 60
If you brought Playdoh: You can flatten it out into a tablet first. Use your pencil tip to write you first name, last name, and age.
If you do not have Playdoh: You will use an index card as your tablet. Using a pencil first write you first name, last name, and age. Then, go back and trace over it with markers or crayons.
Station #2-The INVENTION of LAW
The Law of the Land
In the winter of 1901 to 1902, French archaeologists digging in Susa, Iraq, made an incredible discovery: a huge block of stone engraved with the earliest complete legal code in human history. This code would come to be known as the Code of Hammurabi.
Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who is believed to have reigned in the 1700s BCE. Not only was he a powerful military leader who greatly expanded the size of his kingdom, but he was also a shrewd and "hands-on" ruler. Hammurabi built a strong central government and personally supervised tasks such as building, irrigation, and tax collection. However, he is most well known for the code of law he created.
Mesopotamians believed that the Code of Hammurabi was not created by the king, but rather that it was given to him by Shamash, god of the sun, who was associated with justice.
Many historians believe that Hammurabi’s Code was created by recording a number of the legal decisions he had made throughout his reign. His decisions were based on old Sumerian laws that had existed for centuries. No written record of those laws has been found.
It is believed that the copies of the law code were placed in important locations throughout Babylon, so that people would know the law and be aware of their rights. Most aspects of life were covered by parts of the code.
Clear Rules, Clear Punishment
Hammurabi's Code lays out a clear and specific structure of laws and punishments. These laws not only protected innocent people who had been harmed, but they also prevented criminals from being given a punishment that did not fit their crime. For instance, under the code, a thief might have his own property taken away instead of being put to death. The idea of having the punishment match the crime, both in type of punishment and severity, is known today as the principle of "an eye for an eye." Even though the code standardized laws throughout the land, a person’s social status made a difference in how the laws were applied. For example, there was a greater penalty for striking a man of a higher social class than there was for striking a man who was equal to you.
Station #2- Law Activity
Crime Committed / Law Says / Guilt or Not Guilty / Punishment1. What should be done to the builder who builds a house that falls and kills the owner?
2. What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and put downs her husband?
3. What should be done to a man who keeps food for himself instead of sacrificing it to the gods?
4. What should be done to the man who does not keep his word?
5. What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts?
6. What should happen to a boy who slaps his father?
7. What should happen when one man accuses another man of committing a crime and it is found that the man really did not commit the crime he is accused of?
Using the paper already glued into your notebooks, you are going to each take turns being on trial for a crime. The crown is to be worn by the King, and each person gets at least one turn being King Hammurabi. You rotate after each crime. You will record the group’s results on the paper in your notebook.
Station #3 – POPPLET OF THE CIVLIZATIONS IN MESOPOTAMIA
This unit you learned about Ancient Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria. In this station you are going to create a Popplet on your group’s iPad that could be used to teach someone who has never heard of these civilizations before. Popplet is an app that creates word bubbles or graphic organizers. In the center you will put the title of this station. Then, you are to create a bubble for the name of each civilization and three facts about each. You can use your timeline, notes, or readings from Discovery Education to complete this task. At the end, come up with three review questions in a separate bubble that another group must answer.
Example:
Station #4 – REVIEW KABOOM
KABOOM DIRECTIONS
ONE person from your team is going to be the leader of the game. This means that they keep track of everyone’s points, make sure that tin is passed in the correct order, and start the timer on the iPad for each question. You can also use your interactive notebook to also check and expo markers to keep track of scores on the desks.
In your tin, there are review questions. Play rock, paper, scissors to see who goes first [the person who wins goes first]. You will rotate in a circle so each person gets a turn. When it is your turn, you reach in the tin without looking and pull out ONE piece of paper. On this paper you will see either a question to answer or the word KABOOM. If it is a question, you have ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER IT CORRECTLY! If you answer the question correct you get a point. If you paper says KABOOM it erases all your points and you lose that turn. DO NOT put the test questions or KABOOM slips back in the tin. When it is time to switch tins with another group, place all slips of paper back inside and shake it up. [Make sure the lid is on!] Challenge your team to get through as many questions as possible!!!
The person with the most points wins either candy or a homework pass!! HAVE FUN REVIEWING!