BJDWiki

Mesopotamia Work Bree is Purple Jason is Pink Darby is green

Writing called cuneiform developed in 2400 B.C. Latin word for ledge children used a stylus/reed to write written on clay each spring clay washed down from the mountains earliest examples of cuneiform show it was used to record info. about the goods exchanged first they had as many as 2,000 symbols to stand for ideas and sounds later signs reduced to about 700 of them was based on an earlier form of writing that used pictographs PICTOGRAPHS-symbols that stand for real objects ex. a snake, water scribes used reeds to write when the clay dried the marks became permanent

urban focus The urban focus was called a ziggurat these served as temples there were prayers facing inward each city state had its own god and ziggurat they beleived the gods lived in the top of the ziggurat only priests were allowed in this part of the temple markets prayers and sacrifices were made there goods were stored in the courtyards near the ziggurat and sold there

food supply sold surplus food improved cultivation technology to increase surplus surplus means exra food not needed for the farmer to eat

religious structure form of worship religious beliefs influenced every part of daily life sumerians tried to please the gods in all things ex. growing crops, settling disputes bound them together in a common way of life sumer. expressed their religious beliefs by building religious towers - ziggurats king's duty to build and maintain the ziggurats located near temples made out of mud bricks so large could be seen from 20 miles away some ziggurats as high as 8 stories high, 200 ft wide believed gods lived in ziggurats (built speacial temples at the top for them) outside was a long staircase so gods could climb down to earth kings and priests stood inside the towers to ask for gods' blessings sumerian statues too expressed religious beliefs many statues were detailed and lifelike sumerians believed gods were happy when people showed them love, devotion, or obedience many kinds of religious ceremonies often musicians played there some ceremonies offered a human sacrifice

work load

the work load for people in mesopatamia was very steady because they stopped traveling and stayed in one place they began as a farming community inventing irragation many workers dug these channels farmers grew crops and took care of there animals as they do today once there had begun being surpluses of food it allowed for people to specialize in other trades artisans were a result of this surplus they were people very skilled at a trade such as shoe makeing or building of course artisans would need merchants to sell there goods unlike today people in the upper classes of mesopatamia were randomly chosen to be judges for a case and were not paid

social structure the social structure is sorta divided into rings in the inside you have the center of the city were royalty and priests reside then the upper class were merchants artisans and government officials they had 2 story houses and a balcony then there was the middle class made of unskilled workers fishers and farmers on the far outer parts of the city state they had there slaves and poor men

Hi All - This is Mr. Krause. Great job on the reseach. Do you have a theme for the podcast? Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

HI Mr. krause thanks we need a lot more research though andi think for the theme we are gonna do jeapordy were the perosn wins a trip to ancient mesopatamia

Artistic and Intellectual Activity Mesopotamian art often reflected belief in kings art was primarily made for the temple or kings most artifacts were statues of gods, found in the ruins of temples most figurines were male gods, but some were female much of the mesopotamian art inspired bits of Greek art and architucture gates for the entrance of the city-state were made with sun glazed bricks and animals decorating them artisans are people in mesopotamia who made things such as pots from clay, jewelery, and clothes. Mesopotamia made adjustments to the wheel for easier plowing and getting around, which we use today they also created the plow, to easily farm the levees were created so the flooding rivers would not flood there land, but water there crops. Inventions 60 sec minute 60 minute hour plow revolutionized the wheel at around 3500 b.c. water powered clock called "clepsydra" created sailboat to exchange manpower for windpower developed writing... called cuneiform came up with the concept of glass, arch column and dome kings also conquered other city-states and made empires all under the same military, but different gods.

Script Bree: (in commercial voice).....So please head on down to Hammurabi's enforcement office, if you need a new law today!

Jason: welcome back to jeapordy were we are down to our last question!

Jason: what is the urban focus of ancient Mesopotamia and give me at least 3 details

All: jeapordy music ...

Darby:The urban focus was called a ziggurat these served as temples there were prayers facing inward and each city-state had its own ziggurat they beleived the gods lived in the top of the ziggurat which sorta explains the prayers. Only priests were allowed in this part of the temple. Other things took place there such as markets prayers and sacrifices.

jason:hmm ..... you are CORRECT!!!!! tell her what she won bree !

Bree: You have won a trip too ancient Mesopotamia, thats right you will see amazing things like the devolopement of writing called cuneiform developed in 2400 B.C. Cuneiform is the Latin word for wedge interestingly children used a stylus, a wooden reed, to write on clay, each spring clay washed down from the mountains supplying them with enough clay to last through the year. Earliest examples of cuneiform show it was used to record info. about the goods exchanged first they had as many as 2,000 symbols to stand for ideas and sounds, later signs reduced to about 700 of them. So make sure you bring you're stylus!

Darby: Will i learn about other things too like there religious structure ?!?! From what i understand each city state had its own god and these gods lived in the ziggurat an the mesopotamians beleived they were put on earth too serve the god and made sacrafices and prayed constantly.u can see the religion must have affected the mesopata

Bree:Yes it is Darby, yes it is! Now, as a specia﻿l gift to ALL our audience, you get a tablet copy of Gilgamesh! And you get a copy! And you get a copy! Copies for everyone!!!!!Thank you! we will be back right after this short break!

Bree: (commercial voice): Tired of breaking you're back, struggling to harvest and plant seeds? Well now there is the magic plow! complete with TWO wooden handles. That's right! I said TWO wooden handels! And if you call now, we'll even thow in a place to latch up your oxen! Call now! To 1800-not-a-real-number! ( offer applies until next flood season.)

Jason: Our wonderful cast has spend many days trying to get a winner to go to Ancient Mesopotamia, and, by golly we've done it! Darby will be able to get to Ancient Mesopotamia in an all expense paid time machine to see the wonderful scenery and culture of Ancient Mesopotamia!

Bree: I made the time machine myself hehe..!

Jason: Whatever, you know I did help, but whatever, I'm only the host.

Jason: The show will return after these further anouncements

 Bree: (commercial voice) Are you tired of having to build and re-build walls over and over again? Well, don't fall a victim for Gilgameshs' tyrant behavior and vote for me, Enkidu. I'll make I'll make sure to enjoy, love, a take care of themselves nature. :D

(AFTER THE SHOW/BEHIND THE SCENES) Bree: A key thing for you too know about mesopotamia is they have social classes. The social structure is sort of divided into rings in the inside you have the center of the city were royalty and priests reside. Then the upper class were merchants artisans and government officials they had 2 story houses and a balcony. Next there was the middle class made of unskilled workers fishers and farmers. On the far outer parts of the city state they had there slaves and poor men. all the houses surrounded the ziggurat so it was easy access for the people

Bree: Mesopotamian had beautiful art. Art often reflected belief in kings, art was primarily made for the temple or kings most artifacts were statues of gods, found in the ruins of temples. The gates for the entrance of the city-state were made with sun glazed bricks and animals decorating them

jason: i know only a thing or two about Mesopotamia, but wasn't the ziggurat where things like school and trade took place

darby: yeah, the ziggurat was a main location for things like school, trade, religious ceremonies, and sacrifices

bree: u know the Mesopotamians had over 3000 gods

darby: why'd Mesopotamians believe in gods anyway????

jason: wasn't it because there were forces of nature they couldn't control

bree: yep, they thought these "forces" were too powerful to control so they believed them as gods that lived in the ziggurat and only priests could go in

Darby: so when do i get there on the time machine, how will I get back?

bree: don't be silly I'm coming with you and when we need or want to come home, I'll click my magic heels and before you know it, we will be traveling through time back to the backstage of Jeparody, and then we will fly you home...in present day, of course!

darby: really?

shuaib: sure, you'll go with bree, shes a great person to be around, trust me. She'll make any vacation fun with the bit of humor and knowledge of how to get around and blend in with people and their culture using the five themes of Geography.

Darby: won't that take along time

bree: oh yeah i guess you'll have to take a plane

FIVE MINUTES LATER Darby: wow i'm here, man this gate is huge, and so detailed now that im here i might as well settle in

Commoner????: Hello welcome to mesopotamia how may i help u

darby: yes please where do i stay for the night?

Commoner????: well that all depends what's your occupation?

darby: lets see back at home i was a jeweler

commoner????: we don't hav jewelers here just gov. officials, priests, artisans...

darby:( interrupting ) thats what a jeweler is, an artisan,or a person who creates pieces of art like jewelery

commoner:oh i never head of a jeweler before

Darby: so is it true u guys ivented all the stuff like sailboats and utilized the wheel?

commoner: yes there very helpful especially if your lazy like me

darby: ha it still makes life easier in our time right bree?

bree: sure does!

c ommoner: we also invented time and math do you still use those in your time ?

Bree: yeah we do its amazing how much you did for civilization!

Darby: well its getting late so im going too turn in for the night. Bree were are we staying ?

bree: right over here come on... well by commoner nice too meet you.

commoner: Bye hop you enjoy your trip too mesopotamia