Chapter 3: Ancient Mesopotamia
The Internet offers a range of social studies resources, including Web sites of museums, government agencies, educational institutions, and the news media. Listed below are links to some outstanding ancient history Web sites. Use them to learn more about the themes, ideas, and events in the lessons and the Connect to Today feature in this chapter.
Lesson 1: Geography of Mesopotamia
- Ancient Mesopotamia
- An overview of the geography, history, and culture of ancient Mesopotamia, prepared for both students and teachers by Pennsylvania State University.
- http://itss229.ed.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/meso/mesopotamia.html
- Mesopotamia: Geography
- This British Museum site provides a good summary of the geography of Mesopotamia in text, photos, and maps.
- http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html
Lesson 2: The First Civilization
- Ancient Sumer
- An interesting interactive site on Sumerian history and culture, produced by eighth-grade students in Queensland, Australia.
- http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/sumer/2002.htm
- Ziggurats
- A very good interactive site from the British Museum that describes the role of the ziggurat in Mesopotamian life and shows the function of various areas of these temples.
- http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/ziggurats/home_set.html
Lesson 3: Life in Sumer
- Writing
- Good interactive discussion of the development of writing in Mesopotamia, from the British Museum.
- http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/home_set.html
- Sumerian Religion
- This Minnesota State University site briefly describes Sumerian gods and their role in Sumerian life.
- http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/middle_east/sumer_religion.html
- About Cuneiform Writing . . .
- A good overview of the invention of cuneiform writing with illustrations from the University of Pennsylvania.
- http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/Games/cuneiform.shtml
Connect to Today: Mesopotamian Inventions
- Agricultural Revolution: Technology
- This Washington State University site provides a brief summary of the technology of the agricultural revolution, including the invention of the plow in Mesopotamia.
- http://www.wsu.edu/gened/learn-modules/top_agrev/5-Technology/technology1.html
- Clay, Pottery, and the Potter's Wheel
- A brief discussion of early Near Eastern pottery and the development of the potter's wheel.
- http://www.carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/NEAREAST/pottery.html