Daily Life in Mesopotamia

By: Brien and Fin

Intro

Civilization in Mesopotamia developed about six thousand years ago(5300b.c.).

Mesopotamia is located on a fertile crescent, and is located mainly in Iraq.

Today, much of Mesopotamia is under sand.

Mesopotamia means “land between rivers”

Social Structure

There are four main classes in Ancient Sumer

The priest were the highest then the highest then the upper class, after that the lower class, at the bottom are the slaves.

The priests were in charge of making every one behave as the gods would like

The slaves came from different towns from were the Sumerian conquered before.

Lower Class

Slaves

Upper Class

Priests

Marriage

In Ancient Mesopotamia wives were bought and sold( picture to right is marriage market).

Wives were capable of filing a divorce(below picture).

Marriages were arranged by the bride and the grooms family.

The western civilization has learned its ways of marriage from ancient Mesopotamia especially the Babylonians.

Family Life

In a Family men had more power than women.

Boys were taught their family trading business

Girls stayed home and learned how to housekeep and cook for the family.

One right that a women have is that they can get a divorce.

Men were the masters of the house.

Childbirth

Death to infants during birth was very common due to having no doctors at times.

Mesopotamians wore amulets and potions while giving birth and well after giving birth.

The amulet was meant to chase away the god Lamashtu (pictured beside)from stealing babies after birth.

There were about two to four children born to each husband.

Childhood

Rich boys were taught how to read and write in school.

In the lower class, boys were taught there fathers and family trade like fishing.

Girls, rich and poor stayed home with their mother to learn housekeeping and cooking.

Girls were also taught to take care of children.

School

Record keeping was very important to ancient Mesopotamians, they wrote everything down.

There written language was called cuneiforn.

Schools were attached to temples, and only boys had the privilege of going to school.

Students had to do a perfect job or they were beaten as punishment.

Most students wanted to go to school in spite of punishments.

Housing

The upper class lived in large homes that were wide and nearly three stories high.

The materials used to make houses was sun-dried brick, because there was little wood and stone.

The roofs were flat, so that it was like a fourth floor.

The most important floor in the house is the first floor.

Food

The average person in Mesopotamian ate about two meals a day except for the rich who ate three.

 Lots people ate unleavened bread, and drank large amounts of beer(up to a whole gallon a day).

Meat was expensive so most people ate vegetables and stews

There were cakes for special occasions were also made with butter, raisins, dates, flour, and cheese.

A popular treat was the Kafta kabob ( in picture to right).

Religion

The Mesopotamians religion was the first to be recorded.

Mesopotamians believed in gods and goddesses that had their divine natural forces.

There were four creator gods Anu sky god, Enlil storms and helping people, Nin-khursag earth goddess, Enki water god and patron of wisdom.

Priests in Mesopotamia were responsible for sacrifices and ritual that they thought the gods needed.

Celebrations

Mesopotamians celebrated Akitu which is the earliest new year’s festival.

Every month the Mesopotamians had a ceremonies to determine the six important factors

The Mesopotamians celebrated the Moon, solstices, and equinoxes.

Death

For ancient Mesopotamians death and sickness were terrible sins.

In ancient Mesopotamia they buried the bodies though no matter what no attempts were made to preserve their bodies.

For Mesopotamians the reason of life was to serve the gods so when you died you were worthless.

A major sin that could sentence people to death was “Making Offerings To The Dead”.

Male worshiper (praying for afterlife)

Art

Sumerians made jewelry from gold and lapis, but they weren’t good at molding stone sculptures.

Sumerians also created beautiful mosaics that had colourful patterns, helmets, harps, jewelry, and decorated tablets.

The Babylonians made massive sculptures including huge gates, all of the sculptures were for special events honoring gods.

The Assyrians used art for military achievements and daily life.

They also carved and painted.

Music

Music in Sumerian was used in religious and civic life and wherever music was, dancing was usually near.

Musicians were rich because they went to school.

Instrument that Mesopotamians use include harps, lyres, lutes, reed pipes, and drums.

Singers tried to express emotion through their song.

Extra Facts

The Mesopotamians written language is called cuneiform, which was shapes and symbols.

Cuneiform was created in 5000 BCE, which was about when Sumer stated to downfall.

Thanks to Cuneiform our Era knows more about Mesopotamia.

King Hammurabi is famous for the Code of Hammurabi which is one of the earliest set of laws found. (created in 1780 BCE) It had about 200 laws in it.

Fact Bibliography

"Ancient Mesopotamia: This History, Our History. Life in Mesopotamia." Ancient Mesopotamia: This History, Our History. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.lib.uchicago.edu/mesopotamialife/index.php>.

"Art, Music, Crafts - Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids ." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids - Sumer, Babylon, Assyria . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/art.html>.

"BookRags.com | Study Guides, Lesson Plans, Book Summaries and more." BookRags.com | Study Guides, Lesson Plans, Book Summaries and more. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.bookrags.com/history/ancient-mesopotamia-family-and-social-trends/sub1.html>.

"Cuneiform, Ancient Written Language - Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids ." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids - Sumer, Babylon, Assyria . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/cuneiform.html>.

Gill, N.S.. "Religion of Mesopotamia - Ancient Mesopotamian Religion." Ancient / Classical History - Ancient Greece & Rome & Classics Research Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/nemythology/a/mesopotamiarel.htm>.

"Homes - Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids ." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids - Sumer, Babylon, Assyria . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/homes.html>.

Lover, Festival. "The Ancient Akitu Festival of Mesopotamia." Festival Lover on HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://festivallover.hubpages.com/hub/Ancient-Akitu-Festival-of-Mesopotamia>.

"Mesopotamian Food." digâ„¢ - The archaeology magazine for kids!. N.p., n.d. Web. 18

Apr. 2012. <http://www.digonsite.com/drdig/neareast/19.html>. "Music of Mesopotamia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free

encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Mesopotamia>.

Naranjo, Roberto. "eHistory.com: Marriage in Ancient Mesopotamia and Babylonia." eHistory at OSU | Welcome to eHistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/articles/articleview.cfm?aid=58>.

"Priests, Upper & Lower Class, Slaves - Ancient Sumer for Kids ." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids - Sumer, Babylon, Assyria . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/classes.html>.

"Time." British Museam. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/time/home_set.html >.

"death -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/154412/death/>.

"death :: Mesopotamia -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/154412/death/22185/Mesopotamia>.

Fact Bibliography

Kofta Kebabs Recipe - Allrecipes.com." Allrecipes.com - recipes, menus, meal ideas, food, and cooking

tips.. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://allrecipes.com/recipe/kofta-kebabs/>. " Mesopotamian Art - BooksOfArt.com." BooksOfArt.com » Books Of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012.

<http://booksofart.com/ancient-art/mesopotamian-art/>. "Ancient Mesopotamia." Worldology. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012.

<http://www.worldology.com/Iraq/ancient_mesopotamia.htm>. "Annunaki (Mesopotamian Gods)." index (main). N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012.

<http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/sumerg.htm>. "Cuneiform, Ancient Written Language - Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids ." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids -

Sumer, Babylon, Assyria . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/cuneiform.html>. "Euphrates River in Southeast Turkey, one of the rivers mentioned in old testament." ANCIENT ANATOLIA

AND ASIA MINOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ancientanatolia.com/Pictures/Gallery01/image40.htm>.

"File:Mesopotamia male worshiper 2750-2600 B.C.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mesopotamia_male_worshiper_2750-2600_B.C.jpg>.

"Lamashtu." The Theistic Church of Satan. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <theisticchurchofsatan.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=55791487>.

Lover, Festival. "The Ancient Akitu Festival of Mesopotamia." Festival Lover on HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://festivallover.hubpages.com/hub/Ancient-Akitu-Festival-of-Mesopotamia>.

"Marriage market." Wikimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Babylonian_marriage_market.jpg >.

Picture Bibliography

"Mesopotamia in the Making - Flowers for the Teacher." Flowers for the Teacher - Journaling with an ICH

approach. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://flowersfortheteacher.posterous.com/mesopotamia-in-the-making>.

"Priest picture." SOZO. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxi1jwbX0PRSIJD1Uw5CL7FmhzP2DHC0JuSr_HVIiwen7HrFfLrQ>.

Publishing), Chelsea House (An imprint of Infobase, New York, and 2009. "S T R A V A G A N Z A: FAMILY LIFE IN ANCIENT SUMERIA." S T R A V A G A N Z A. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.ca/2011/12/sumerian-family-life.html>.

Publishing), Chelsea House (An imprint of Infobase, New York, and 2009. "S T R A V A G A N Z A: FAMILY LIFE IN ANCIENT SUMERIA." S T R A V A G A N Z A. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.ca/2011/12/sumerian-family-life.html>.

"Ribollita – Hearty Tuscan Vegetable Soup, Siena, Italy — A Food Centric Life." A Food Centric Life — Healthy Recipes. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://afoodcentriclife.com/ribollita-%E2%80%93-hearty-tuscan-vegetable-soup/>.

"Tibetan Homes - Life on the Tibetan Plateau." Life on the Tibetan Plateau. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://kekexili.typepad.com/life_on_the_tibetan_plate/2007/08/tibetan-homes.html>.

"Untitled Page." Cross Sound Insteunements. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://www.crosssound.com/CSarchives/INSTRUMENTS/instrumentsall.html>.

"Women - Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids ." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids - Sumer, Babylon, Assyria . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/women.html>.

there,  my father's warrior brother.  He told us the most devastating news...my courageous father has lost his life.  The realization was, we knew this could happen, and but we could do nothing but cry in disbelief.  My father was my idol. "Akar a Mesopotamia Slave." Akar a Mesopotamia Slave. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://akaramesopotamiaslave.blogspot.ca/>.

Picture Bibliography