The Land Between the Rivers

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The Land Between the Rivers

• Geography-Resources
• Homes
• Food
• Clothes

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Land and Climate in Mesopotamia

• I. LAND AND CLIMATE
• A. Characteristics - rolling hills
• 1. tillable soil, light rain
• 2. intense sun, relentless wind
• B. No natural barriers
• 1. Armenian (Zagros) hills lie to
• north
• 2. Arabian desert to south

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Good Effects Bad Effects
Encourage Trade Easy Access to Invader
Spread Ideas Communication Flooding
Transportation
See approaching people
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Prediction Ideas of this culture
could be easily spread to others and
easily conquered by others.
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Resources Needs
Clay Stone Wood Mts from the north
Water Cedar Wood From Lebanon
Cloth Metals From Persia
Grain- Wheat and Barley Spices, Dyes, Jewels From India
Reeds, Palms
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FOOD IN SUMER

• I. People in ancient Sumer ate
• A. bread from wheat
• B. cereals from emmer, wheat,
• and millet (a grass)
• C. barley (grew well in saline soil) was
• used for
• 1. flour
• 2. porridge
• 3. the basis of an ancient beer
• 4. the first basis of money

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Emmer Wheat
Wheat Grain
Barley Fields
Wheat Fields
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FOOD IN SUMER

• Other Foods (mentioned on clay tablets)
• Few Meats (wealthy) like sheep, goats, lamb,
  cattle - salted
• Fish, shellfish, birds, turtles
• Honey, Syrups
• Seeds, nuts (pistachio)
• Dairy products - sour
• Fruits (apples, pears, plums, figs, raisins,
  pomegranates, dates, melons, cucumbers)
• Onion, Garlic, Leeks
• Soups/Stews -

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Figs
Pomegranates
Dates
Stew
Pistachios
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Foot Sowing Plow
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• Farming was the oldest and largest occupation.
  The oldest literature is a
• Farmer's Almanac that is over 5000
• years old.

Clay Sickle
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Earlier Sumerian Homes These were huts made from
two of their main natural resources mud and reed
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Homes In Sumer

• I. General Design
• A. Flat roofed, one-story high
• B. Walls more than 10 feet high
• C. Built of mud, white-washed in and out
• D. Several rooms built around an open
• courtyard

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• II. Interior
• A. Furniture made of wood
• B. Reed mats, skin rugs, wall hangings
• C. Utensils made of stone, bronze or
  copper
• III. Upper class homes
• A. Two-story kitchen/reception room,
  
• bedrooms, bathrooms, private chapel
• B. Burial crypt under house

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Clothing Styles in Sumer

• I. Basic parts of ancient Sumerian clothing
• A. Skirts (called karnakes)
• 1. Some had fringe in layers that kept the
  material from unraveling. The larger or more
  layers of the fringe, the higher the social
  status of the person.
• B. Shawls ( of sheepskin)
• C. Headdress

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• II. Women wore skirts and shawls with
  turbans on their heads. Wealthier or royal had
  elaborate headdresses.
• III. Men wore shorter skirts and shaved their
  heads. Outsiders wore beards. Sometimes priests
  also had beards. Soldiers wore short leather
  skirts and tight-fitting copper helmets.
• Draw a picture of Women's clothing and Men's
  clothing below (make sure to label parts)

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Statues
We learn from
Steles
Artifacts
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Carnelian
Instruments
Lapis Lazuli
Games
Jewelry
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Ask yourself How is my way of life alike and
different from life in Sumer?