Mesopotamia was an early civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq. Writing developed around 3500 BC with cuneiform script recorded on clay tablets. Temples called ziggurats were built as multi-layered towers for gods and administrative offices. One of the earliest works of literature is the Epic of Gilgamesh, which tells of the king of Uruk and the great flood. The Code of Hammurabi established the first codified set of laws around 282 BC with principles of retaliation and presumption of innocence. Later Assyrian and Babylonian empires constructed grand palaces and gates such as the Ishtar Gate decorated with images of dragons

1. MESOPOTAMIA
KEY VOCABULARY

2. MESOPOTAMIA
• CIVILISATION
• IRAQ
• TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES
• GREEK WORD
• LAND BETWEEN THE
TWO RIVERS

3. CUNEIFORM
SCRIPT
• CLAY TABLETS
• SCRIBES
• PICTOGRAPHS
• REED STYLUS
• TAXES AND COMMERCE
• SUMERIANS
• 3500 BC

4. ZIGGURAT
• TEMPLE
• ADOBE BRICKS
• BUILDING
• STAIRCASES
• TERRACES
• GOD/GODDESS
• PRIEST
• ADMINISTRATIVE
OFFICES, SCRIBES,
ARCHIVES

5. GILGAMESH
• KING OF URUK
• SUPER HERO
• ENKIDU
• FRIEND
• INMORTALITY
• OLDEST EPIC POEM
• THE GREAT FLOOD

6. HAMMURABI CODE
• 282 LAWS
• KING OF BABYLON
• SHAMASH, BABYLONIAN GOD
• PUNISHMENTS
• “AN EYE FOR AN EYE”
• INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
• BLACK STONE

7. ASSYRIAN
PALACES
• NORTH MESOPOTAMIA
• TOOK OVER MESOPOTAMIA
AND EGYPT
• HUNTING
• WAR
• BRUTALITY
• PALACES
• KING ASHURBANIPAL
• LION
• SWORD
• ARROW

8. ISHTAR GATE OF
BABYLON
• BABYLON
• ISHTAR, GODDESS OF LOVE
• KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
• GATE
• 15 METERS HIGH
• PERGAMON MUSEUM IN
BERLIN

9. HANGING
GARDENS OF
BABYLON
• BABYLON
• QUEEN AMYTIS
• KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
• VEGETATION
• WATERFALLS
• QUEEN AMYTIS MISSED HER
HOMELAND IN THE MOUNTAINS
• BABYLON LIES NEAR THE DESERT