Life in Mesopotamia Pt2

Life in Mesopotamia Pt2

Measurements, Religion & Slave Labor

Open Ended

Why is it important for people to measure things? Have you ever measured anything?

Mesopotamian Measurements

Measurements

• Land was very valuable in Meso. even more so as the population grew. 

• To measure land accurately, Sumerians used a system of measurements based on the number 60

• the Sumerians standardized measurements— everyone in Sumer used the exact same units of measure.

Uses of Measurement

• Farmers used measurements to mark their territory

• City government used measurements to record crop production.

• Builders used measurements to make clay bricks of identical size and shape.

Uses of Measurement

• The Sumerians even used units of 60 to measure time. They created a calendar and counted 360 days in a year.

Multiple Choice

The Sumerians used a system of measurements based on the number ____________.

• 24

• 50

• 60

• 100

Multiple Choice

True or False: everyone in Sumer used the exact same units of measure.

• True

• False

Open Ended

Why do you think the Sumerians standardized measurements of 60?

Religion in Mesopotamia

Polytheism & Zigguratts

Religion

• Mesopotamians developed religious beliefs to help make sense and explain the world around them

• Meso's were Polytheists = believed in many different gods

• They believed these gods controlled things like weather and the motion of the sun, moon, and stars

Religion

• believed that natural disasters, such as flooding or drought, were signs that the gods were displeased.

• Mesopotamians built temples called ziggurats

• priests gave offerings of food, jewelry, and other valuables to please the gods

Be sure to pay attention during the video!

• https://youtu.be/aCqB9PHl72w

Open Ended

What is 1 thing you learned, found interesting or surprised you from the video?

Slave Labor

Slave Labor

• Building a ziggurat was a massive project that required hundreds, if not thousands, of men to build

•  Mesopotamians used slave labor to build the immense places of worship

Slave Labor

• slaves were part of the social structure in Meso

• many slaves were prisoners of war, some people sold themselves into slavery to pay off their debts

• Some of these slaves were able to buy back their freedom over time.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Mesopotamians relied on slave labor to help build ziggurats

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Fill in the Blank: Many slaves in Mesopotamia sold themselves into slavery to help pay off their ___________ (owing money to someone else)

• Prisoner

• Debt