Teacher's Guide for CALLIOPE Mesopotamia--the land of firsts

October 2006

Teacher's Guide prepared by Celestine Smith Candida

Fabulous Ur, pages 6-10

1. How did the Sumerians irrigate their crops?
2. What did Sir Leonard Woolley discover during the excavation of Ur?
3. Describe an average worker's house in Ur.
5. What items did the Sumerians import from other countries?
6. What did the Sumerians have in common with the Egyptians?
7. What roles did the gods play in Sumer?
8. What was the role of the king in Ur?

1. Why was Enkidu created?
2. What was the outcome of the battle between Enkidu and Gilgamesh?
3. Why did Ishtar make Enkidu die?
4. How did Enkidu's death affect Gilgamesh?
5. How was Gilgamesh to be tested for immortality?
6. What did Gilgamesh learn?

1. How are today's scientists and historians using the "past" to help them understand the present?
2. What crops did the Mesopotamians grow?
3. What was used as medicine during this period of time?

1. Explain how Sargon captured the city-states of Mesopotamia.
2. Compare the Akkadian and Assyrian expansions of Mesopotamia.

1. Discuss the achievements of Nebuchadnezzar and how they improved Babylon.
2. What was the purpose of the Hammurabi Code?

1. Have students choose one of the myths to re-enact.
2. Have students write and illustrate their own creation myths.

1. When did organize warfare begin in Mesopotamia?
2. How did historians know organized warfare existed in Mesopotamia?
3. How were canals used as weapons?

1. Explain why each of the following archaeologist is important:

* Paul-Emile Botta
* Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson
* Sir Austen Henry Layard
* Hormuzd Rasam
* Robert Koldewey

Report writing: Use the magazine as the basis for more in-depth research on the following:

1. Sir Leonard Woolley
2. Sargon
3. Enheduannon
4. Ashurnasirpal II
5. Sennacherib
6. Ashurbanipal
7. Nabopolassar
8. Nebuchadnezzar II
9. Shubruk-Nahhuntl
10. King Frederick V
11. Claudius James Rich

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Updated: 3/21/10 11:49 pm
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