Task #1: Cuneiform

Your first task is to write your name in cuneiform. If you are working in a group, this task must be completed individually. To do this you will go to the site Write Like A Babylonian http://www.penn.museum/cgi/cuneiform.cgi On this page, you will type your name and initials in the appropriate location. Your monogram in cuneiform should appear. Your task is to copy the wedge-shaped writing onto a piece of paper. Be careful to accurately copy your cuneiform monogram as neatly and clearly as possible. You are going to use this monogram to create a cover page for your web quest project. You will design your monogram to fill the page. You should use color and make your cuneiform monogram large enough to fill the space provided. Quality, color, creativity, and accuracy are important. On the backside of the paper you must print your whole name.

Next go to the web site About Cuneiform Writing…
http://www.penn.museum/games/cuneiform.shtml
Answer the following questions. Write your answers in the space provided on your worksheet. Include the worksheet in the packet of materials with the cuneiform cover.
1. Who created the first cuneiform over 5000 years ago?
2. What was cuneiform written on?
3. What were the two characteristics necessary to becoming a successful scribe?
4. Write a paragraph in which you speculate what the importance of written language is to civilization. How did it preserve knowledge, improve communication, and help improve government?

Task #2: Mesopotamian Achievements

Go to "It Happened First in Ancient Mesopotamia" http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_2955000/2955531.stm
In this article are a number of “firsts” that Mesopotamians achieved. Select two of these and DESIGN (do not make) a visual that depicts each of the achievements and how each could have been used. Your visual should have labels, be colorful, and be accurate. Add this page to your packet of information with the cuneiform cover.

Task #3: Daily Life

For this task you are to use the following website to research Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. You are to create a chart with the 3 groups listed below, describing how they are similar and different. http://www.buhlerschools.org/index.aspx?NID=1495 Design a chart of the three social classes in Sumeria. Include example of occupations for each class.
-Aristocracy
-Working Class
-Slaves

Task 4: Work of a Scribe

Go to http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/writing/home_set.html
Click on story. Read all the pages. Click on the word Explore. Read all the pages. Be sure to click on the colored words to understand the terms. Click on the word Challenge. Read all the pages and colored terms.
Define the following terms: pictogram, cuneiform, scribe, and excavation.
Under Explore allow your team ten minutes to complete the Never Ending Puzzle. At the end of ten minutes print out what you have successfully put together and add to your cuneiform packet.

Task #5: Mesopotamian Government

As people began moving towards bigger cities and the population in Mesopotamia was growing, the need for structure was evident. Using the following website, research the origins of Mesopotamian governmental systems and why they were necessary.

http://www.buhlerschools.org/index.aspx?NID=1500

1. Define the following words:
a. Ziggurat:


b. priests:


c. lugal:



2. For each major role of Mesopotamian government leaders, describe their major responsibilities.

King
1.
2.
3.
4.

Priest
1.
2.
Bureaucrats
1.
2.

After completing Task #5, go to the following website and play the Ziggurat game.

http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/ziggurats/challenge/cha_set.html

Task #6: King Hammurabi

Hammurabi was a great king of the Babylonian Empire. He was responsible for leading Babylon to many military victories, but was more well known for another great accomplishment. You will learn about it in Task #6.

You are to play the role of King Hammurabi's Council of Advisors. Hammurabi has many issues to address now that cities in Babylon are growing, and he needs your help.
Click on the following link and follow along with Hammurabi (Mr. E) as the speech is read. Work together with your table to come up with solutions for Hammurabi's dilemmas.

http://edsitement.neh.gov/sites/default/files/worksheets/HammurabiDeclare.pdf

Task #7: King Hammurabi Part II

Hammurabi's Stele: The following link has a picture of Hammurabi's Stele. It is the original and is housed in Paris in the Louvre Museum. Some people believe there are others in existence. It is made of basalt, a hard volcanic rock, and is more than 7 feet tall.

http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/ED/TRC/MESO/law_largewindow.html

While examining the stele, discuss and answer the questions from the following site with the people at your table.

http://edsitement.neh.gov//sites/default/files/worksheets/Hammurabi_Activity02.pdf

After you have analyzed the stele and discussed and answered the questions, go to the following website.

There are 4 questions that will pop up, you are to answer them in your own words.

http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/ED/Hammurabi.html