The 5 Themes To Ask About A Culture

Sumer/MesopotamiaAncient Egypt

Israelites

By Rachel Boyd

Sumer / MesopotamiaLocation: Ur= 31°N 48°ERelative Location-

•In Between the Tigris and Euphrates river

•Present day Iraq

Region/Human Environment InteractionPhysical Characteristics Euphrates and Tigris River,

Plains, Plateaus, Persian Gulf, Marshes, Trees

Natural Resources Euphrates, Tigris, Clay, Bronze, Copper, Stone, Tin

Climate/Growing Season/Land use-They had heavy spring floods and very hot summers-The land was used for FarmingChange to the Environment-To change, they built irrigation systems, canals, dams,

and gates to help water crops and control flooding

Economics / Movement

Goods/Trade• Goods were made by hand and simple tools• Some goods that were produced were jewelry,

pottery, weapons/tools, instruments, fabric, and even board games

• Goods were traded in the local Market Place for other items needed

• The Mesopotamians did not have money, but they traded and kept records of the trades

• To transport goods they used the first wheel and sailboats

Political Science/GovernmentRulers

They were governed by a king. The first kings were strong Military leaders for the people needed more protection and they chose leaders who have accomplished many things, and were strong. The kings were then selected by the next male heir, except when another kingdom conquered their land. Some of their leaders include Hammurabi, Sargon, and Gilgamesh.

Laws The laws they obeyed were Hammurabi’s laws or they would be punished

Knowledge/Education/The Arts

New Knowledge that developed:Wheel, a better calendar, advanced writing system, and an irrigation system, the plow.

What can we learn about them from their culture, art, writing, ect…They had a stable economyThey wasted no time on projectsSome of Today’s laws are based on their laws

Religion/Philosophy

Belief about gods:

• They worship over 3000 gods

• Their belief is Polytheism- belief in many gods

• They believed that their gods controlled everything

• They believe that the meaning of life is to please the gods and worship them

• Their beliefs affect their lives for they spent a big portion of their day worshiping them and their gods affect everything they do.Also they used their arts skills and sculpting skills not to show how good you are, but in honor of the gods

Sociology

They had many families in their countryThey had slaves who were often prisoners of warThe Mesopotamians had 3 social classes that included:

King, Government, Priests, & Wealthy PeopleFarmers, Fishermen, & Artisans(Women Weavers)

Slaves Their daily live consists of pleasing the gods, farmers tending crops and livestock, the women taking care of the family and the chores(unless wealthy), and some people traded at the Market

Ancient Egypt

Location: Cairo- 30°E 30°NRelative Location-

Near the Mediterranean and Red SeaAbove SudanIn Africa

Region/Human Environmental Interaction

Physical CharacteristicsBlack silt, Nile River, desert land, cataracts, papyrus

plants, marshlands, farm land, deltaNatural Resources Gold, copper, granite, limestone, basalt, quartzite,

cotton, linen, mud, Nile River, PapyrusClimate/SeasonsDry, arid and hot, very little rainThe seasons are: Flood season, Planting season, Harvest seasonAdapting to the environmentThe Egyptians lived near the Nile and used it as a

transportation systemThey wore heavy clothing to protect them from the sun

Ecomonics/MovementGoods/Trade

Goods were produced by hand and simple tools such as chisels.Some goods that were produced were jewelry, food, baskets, cloth, weapons, ect…Goods were transported by boat along the Nile, or by wheel.Goods were traded for other items that were of equal worth for they did not have money.

Political Science/ MovementThe people obeyed the Pharaoh and the gods

and goddesses The Pharaoh had many advisors, but ended up making the final decisionThe Pharaoh made up many laws for the Egyptians to follow, or they would be punishedThe Pharaohs were chosen for they were usually the eldest son of the current reigning Pharaoh

Knowledge/Education/The ArtsSome new knowledge that they developed were:

-First medical records-48 diseases/symptoms & cures

-Advanced writing system- hieroglyphics-One of the most architecturally advanced civilizations-Tomb paintings, temples, pyramids,

etc…We can learn that they are very religious, and all their art and sculptures and statues are made for their Pharaoh and gods and not for fame. The Egyptians were very eager into making it into the Underworld

- shown in tomb paintings

Religion and PhilosophyThey believe that they have many gods and goddesses (including their Pharaoh) that each have a special job They believe that the meaning of life is to please and worship the gods and to live a good life so they may make it into the afterlife.Their religion affects their lives for they must be careful and do only the things that are right so they may enter the afterlife.

Ex: worshiping gods, doing good deeds, etc…

SociologyThere are many families in Egypt

The Egyptians did have slaves that mainly worked for their Pharaoh or were used in battle

The Egyptians had 8 classes:Pharaoh- who was thought of as a godPriests- they were only ones allowed in temples with the PharaohRoyal family- wives, children, relatives…Officials- responsible for the taxes, royal store houses, and cropsArtisans- carpenters, painters, jewelers, stone masons, and brick

makersFarmers- most Egyptians were farmers, grew crop to supply food Slaves- served the pharaoh, fought as soldiers, and worked as

servants

Daily Lives- hunting, doing chores, worshiping their gods, obeying the pharaoh, and trading for items needed.

Israelites

Jerusalem- 32˚ N and 35˚E

Relative Location- -Near the Mediterranean Sea-beside Egypt-below Syria

Region/Human Environmental InteractionPhysical CharacteristicsJordan River, Hills, Plains, DesertNatural ResourcesGrain, wheat, barley, fishClimate/Growing SeasonHot with little rainGrowing season was most of the year

They used their natural resources for food and trade

Economics/Movement

Goods were either grown or manmade with simple toolsSome goods were pottery, cloth, weapons, jewelry, cropsThe goods were exchanged at Trading Routes and MarketsInstead of money they traded items they had for other items they neededThey were transported by boat or animal

Political Science/GovernmentThey were governed by kings

The Kings were chosen some by skill and some by royal bloodSome great Kings that ruled the Israelites were David, Saul, and Solomon The laws that the Israelites followed were the 10 CommandmentsBesides the kings, the Israelites followed God’s rules too

Knowledge/Education/The Arts

Some new knowledge they made were :Monotheistic religion (Judaism) The TorahSacred WritingsTemples

That shows that they were very religious and wanted to please and love God

Religion and PhilosophyThe Israelites believed in one GodThey believe the meaning of life is to please and worship GodThey believe that God is All-Knowing and present everywhereThe Israelites made a promise to God that if they follow His laws and love Him, He would love and protect themTheir belief affects their lives for they are careful about what they do or say so they do not upset God

SociologyThe Israelites live in groups such as the FamilyThey did have slaves, but not manyThe Israelites thought of each other as equalsTheir daily lives consist of:-Work (whatever their jobs are)-Worship God-Mothers do chores and watch the children-They trade at a Marketplace when they need to

Citations

Ancient Egyptian Market. Panhistoria. 31 May 2009 <http://www.geocities.com/takhaetmentuhotep/market/sellingfood.jpg>.

Azure Green. 31 May 2009 <http://www.azuregreen.com/images/P/SP160.JPG>.

Egypt. Max Energy Limited. 31 May 2009 <http://www.solarnavigator.net/geography/geography_images/egypt_river_nile.jpg>.

The Egyptians-Egyptian Writing. 31 May 2009 <http://www.egyptweb.norfolk.gov.uk/images/egypt6a.jpg>.

The Race for Ancient Egypt's Treasures. 16 Nov. 2006. FairFax DIgital. 31 May 2009 http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/11/15/egypt_narrowweb__300x392,0.jpg.

The World Factbook. 31 May 2009 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/eg-map.gif>.

CitationsBiblical History of King Solomon's Temple. 31 May 2009

<http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/images/King_Solomon.jpg>.Israel-Origins and Evolutions. 31 May 2009

<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/images/israel04.jpg>.Mummy Case Markings. Google. 31 May 2009

<http://www.unmuseum.org/egods.jpg>.Slavery in History. Kongsberg. 31 May 2009

<http://www.visitandlearn.co.uk/topicalfactfiles/images/slavery3.jpg>.The Jordan River. 31 May 2009

<http://www.admin.technion.ac.il/iaeste/gallery/JordanRiver.jpg>.ArcImaging Urartu Photo Album. 3 Nov. 2000. 31 May 2009

<http://arcimaging.org/GeisslerRex/HasankeyfTigrisRiver20001.jpg>.Jerusalem, Israel- Temple Mount. 31 May 2009

<http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2720278372_784300f030.jpg?v=1217526295>.

Mesopotamia and Ancient Persia. 31 May 2009 <http://www.taxson.net/iraq/MAP_MESOPOTAMIA.jpg>.

Mesopotamia and Ancient Persia. 31 May 2009 <http://www.taxson.net/iraq/MAP_MESOPOTAMIA.jpg>.

The Book of Joshua. 31 May 2009 <http://www.workersforjesus.com/manna.jpg>.Langevin, Sharon. Judaism. 15 Feb. 2007. 31 May 2009

<https://wiki.brown.edu/confluence/download/attachments/19219/judaism.gif>.

Citations

Ancient Mesopotamia- Trade and Commerce. 31 May 2009 <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/meso10.gif>.

Babylon Nurtures the Jewish Priesthood. 31 May 2009 <http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/IMAGES/flood.gif>.

Cuneiform. Google. 31 May 2009 <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/meso08.gif>.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COLLECTION: MESOPOTAMIA. 7 Feb. 2007. 31 May 2009 <http://oi.uchicago.edu/i/highlights/OIM_A30553_c.gif>.

Standing male worshipper. 31 May 2009 <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_40.156.jpg>.