Ahmed Dregia 11-12-09 - 11-19-09
Mesopotamia Mini Research Report Final Draft
Have you ever wondered, “Where did our customs, traditions, and inventions come from? Where did our food, weapons, and recreation activities come from? Where did civilization itself come from?” The best answer I have for you is Mesopotamia, a beautiful region with wide deserts and rich soil. “Mesopotamia” is Greek for “land between the rivers.” The region is called Mesopotamia because it is located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Tigris and Euphrates flow down through Syria and Iraq, into the Persian Gulf. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? If you like it, keep reading. Then again, if history utterly bores you, you can put this down and go do something else.
Mesopotamia is made of different regions. The regions all have different types of geography, just like the United States. Northern Mesopotamia is made of mostly hills and plains. The land in the Northern area is fertile because of the rivers that flow from the mountain, which bring down soil to the land. Southern Mesopotamia is made of wide, flat plains. The rivers flow right through the Southern region, so farmers used this as an advantage by inventing irrigation systems that bring water from the rivers to the crops, keeping them healthy. Who knew people were so smart such a long time ago?
We write on paper every day, but how did our ancestors write? Well first they started using pictograms, or pictographs, which are little pictures that represent meanings, often used today in graphs. After that, they invented a system of writing known as cuneiform, which were wedge-shaped letters. The scribes used cuneiform to keep track of things and write literature.
During 1792-1750 B.C., King Hammurabi ruled over Mesopotamia. He was an emperor, and his empire was named the Babylonian empire. It was named after the Sumerian city-state of Babylon. There was something very significant about him, though. He created the first code of laws. He inscribed the laws as stone in the cities of the Babylonian Empire. Hammurabi also sent governors to manage the city-states, a smart move in my opinion. Nebuchadnezzar II also ruled over Mesopotamia during 604-562 B.C. It’s a good thing that Hammurabi invented laws. Otherwise, who knows what it would be like with crime everywhere.
Sure this is all great, but what role did the women play? Well, the women were respected well compared to other places in that time. They married who they pleased, and if the groom died recently before the marriage, they’d marry a relative of the man. They are trained to be woman while they are young. They learn to cook, make beverages, and weave clothing after a young age. What privileges for a woman considering the time all this took place!
The civilization that is known as Mesopotamia is the source of all major civilizations, and it still lives today. In modern Iraq, much of the homes, traditions, and customs are very similar compared to 5000-7000 years ago. The next time you see your car wheel, for the wheel was a famous Mesopotamian invention, or write an essay at school, think about who made things like these possible. Think about this amazing region, which may live on always and forever.