The technology of writing and money

With the power of writing, Hammurabi gave Mesopotamia a set of rules to live by, with clear consequences for breaking those rules. This helped make everyone accountable, a clear set of rules for all to live by. How would written rules help those with little power? 

Here is a list of those rules put forth by Hammurabi 

Browse through the list. Blog the answers below

1. If Erika's locker was robbed and we don't catch the robber, then what do we have to do?

2. How much would Liam have to be paid for working in the fields for a whole year?
3. What must a man do to separate from a woman with who he hasn't had children?
4. If Huddy punches his dad, what is the penalty that Huddy must pay?
5. What role does gender and wealth play in these rules?

6. The concept of money also began in Mesopotamia. Explain how without money what you might have to do to purchase  onion rings at A&W and then walk down to 7-11 to purchase a slurpee.
7. Share a rule from above that you found to be  interesting
8. Create your own rule, in a similar style, and share it in the blog posting below.
9. The 2nd picture is Cuneiform writing, the earliest form of writing, dating back to about 3200 BCE. Writing was a huge advancement.  It was done by wedges, as its Latin name tells us. The writing was done on clay slabs. The 1st picture has to do with cuneiform, take an educated guess what the object in the picture was used for.

Blog your answers below. 

Writing and Money

New to us, but old to early people, are the everyday tools and skills used to survive. 

With the power of writing, Hammurabi, the Babylon king who conquered what was Mesopotamia, gave the kingdom a set of rules to live by, with clear consequences for breaking those rules. This helped make everyone accountable, a clear set of rules for all to live by, though the rules did not treat everyone fairly. 

Here is a list of those rules put forth by Hammurabi 

Browse through the list. Blog the answers below

1. If Mariah's locker was robbed and we don't catch the robber, then what do we have to do?

2. How much would Joshua have to be paid for working in the fields for a whole year? (hint, look in the 250s)

3. If Aiden accuses Christina of cheating at volleyball, and Christina can swim in the river, what happens? If Christina can't swim in the river, what all happens?

4. The concept of money also began in Mesopotamia. Explain how the concept of money makes it easier to buy a onion rings at A&W and then a slurpee at 7-11.

The Law

Make some rules in the style of King Hammurabi. Make note of the style of the code. If . . . Then . . .

With your group, create at least 5 codes in your assigned category.

Communication

The ability to communicate is thought to be a contributor to the great leap forward, and later the downfall of the Neanderthals. How would a phonetic alphabet increase our knowledge? What is happening in society now with communication that has lead to a huge increase in available information? Blog your answers below

Early Civilizations

Before moving onto Greece, we need to firmly place in our heads the location and timeline of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Put the three pictures below into Notability. Be sure you are aware of where the 3 rivers are and the pattern of settlement. Do the blog posting two below this titled Timeline Ancient Egypt. Also check Edmodo.

Mesopotamia and the start of agriculture

The advent of agriculture changed how people lived. It is widely believed that this change started in Mesopotamia, the site of modern day Iraq, and is often called the Cradle of Civilization and the Fertile Crescent. Look at the map of the Fertile Crescent. Many parts of the world, such as where we live, is good farming land. The huge advantage that Mesopotamia had was access to crops and animals that can be easily farmed and domesticated.

Consider some of the crops and animals that they had access to and what this meant to changing their lifestyle from a hunter and gatherer to a farmer.   

Like where we live, ancient farmers in Mesopotamia had to deal with flooding and drought. They came up with an interesting solution. Click here and try your hand at being a Mesopotatmia farmer.