National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Life in Old Babylonia: The Importance of Trade
In this lesson plan, young scholars will consider "Life in Old Babylonia: The Importance of Trade." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Read Works
Read Works: California and Mesopotamia: Similarities and Differences
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the similarities and differences between California and ancient Mesopotamia. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
![Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Cities [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Cities [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Cities [Pdf]
In this lesson learners will discover the varied occupations of ancient Mesopotamia.
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: Comparing Mesopotamia to Modern Day Iraq [Pdf]
For this lesson learners will use knowledge of Mesopotamian artifacts, culture and history to relate to current events in Iraq.
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: The First Farmers [Pdf]
For this lesson our class can try an experiment to show how constant irrigation, with repeated evaporation of water that left salts in the soil, eventually ruined much farming land in southern Mesopotamia.Students can fill a clear glass...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Grade 6 Social Studies: Ancient Egypt
This sample task contains a set of primary and authentic sources about the impact of geography on the development of civilization in Ancient Egypt.
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: Math and Measurement: Cuneiform [Pdf]
In this lesson students create and post a chart of the cuneiform symbols for numerals and create their own charts. Then students use the cuneiform numerals to answer questions.
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: Visit a Mesopotamian House [Pdf]
In this lesson students understand how the ancient Mesopotamians lived.
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: Warfare and Empire [Pdf]
In this lesson students discuss how the changing natural environment can become a source of conflict between some groups within a society. Discuss with students how using the rivers for irrigation caused conflict between the Sumerian...
University of Chicago
Ancient Mesopotamia: Daily Life [Pdf]
In this lesson students will understand why customs and lifestyles differ in various cultures and time periods
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Art of the First Cities
Learn about art history in Mesopotamia and its surrounding regions, circa 3000 B.C. Explore the history of the region through various topics including cities, rulers and religious vestments.
Steven Kreis, PhD
The History Guide: Ancient Western Asia Mesopotamia
This history site offers a wonderful lecture on Mesopotamian civilizations and culture. Includes links within the lecture to in-depth explanations of important ideas and people such as Cuneiform and Hannibal.
Penn Museum
Penn Museum: Iraq's Ancient Past Ur's Royal Cemetery
A fascinating exhibition on early Mesopotamia which looks at the city of Ur located in Sumer, which is now part of Iraq. It discusses the history of Ur and its excavation. Most of the exhibition talks about the Royal Cemetery of Ur,...
The British Museum
British Museum: Explore World Cultures: Assyrians
Learn about the ancient Mesopotamian culture of the Assyrians and the art that they produced in this gallery of relevant object images from the British Museum, each with a detailed description of the work.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Art History: Ancient Near East
A short introduction to the ancient Near East, followed by sections providing an in-depth coverage. Includes links to additional information.
Other
The Royal Game of Ur
An article which describes a board game found in a tomb located in Mesopotamia and dating back to around 2600 B.C. Directions for the game and gameboard are provided.
Tom Richey
Slideshare: 8 Features of a Civilization
Scroll a slideshow featuring characteristics of civilizations to aid in understanding the early developments like Mesopotamia or Sumer.
Exploring Ancient World Cultures
Exploring Ancient World Cultures: The Near East
Great site explores many legends and texts from the ancient Near East. Provides interesting focus on the common themes found in ancient world literature.
United Nations
Unesco: Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, now a World Heritage Site in Iran, was first built in the 5th century BC, and is still partly operational today. The complexity of this site is testament to the engineering genius of the...
Other
Macrohistory: Class, Power, and War Among the Sumerians
The oldest known civilizations developed in the area known as the Fertile Crescent. What was life like living during this time? Read about Sumer and learn about the earliest form of writing, how they governed, how they treated women, and...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Uruk
Nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the world's first major city sprang up in a fertile region of land called Mesopotamia. This article discusses the kings, writing, monumental temples and palaces, specialized occupations,...
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Assyrians
Ancient Assyrians were inhabitants of one the world's earliest civilizations, Mesopotamia, which began to emerge around 3500 B . C . The Assyrians invented the world's first written language and the 360-degree circle, established...
New Advent
Catholic Encyclopedia: Hammurabi
This synopsis of Hammurabi?s life and accomplishments has some references to the Bible in its description of the laws in Hammurabi?s Code. The New Advent is a Catholic organization. Nonetheless, the article contains interesting...