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Book:Kids Travel Guide to the 10 Commandments 

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Book:Kids Travel Guide to the 10 Commandments 

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Takes kids on a journey to learn the 10 Commandments.

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Kids' Travel Guide to the Ten Commandments: Thirteen Lessons on Right and Wrong

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The Hardcover of the Kids' Travel Guide to the Ten Commandments: Thirteen Lessons on Right and Wrong by Carol Mader, Group Children's Ministry Resources |

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Children's Book:Who Built The First Human Civilization?

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Children's Book:Who Built The First Human Civilization?

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Explores the factors (government, laws, people, etc) of the first civilization.

https://www.amazon.com/Built-First-Civilization-Ancient-Mesopotamia-ebook/dp/B0768PPR7X

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Primary Source: Ancient Map of the Fertile Crescent 

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Primary Source: Ancient Map of the Fertile Crescent 

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Primary Source shows the ancient map of the fertile land (crescent for the Early Empires.
http://www.crystalinks.com/mesopotamia.html

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Video (5:23)elaborates on the fertile land for crops.

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Traces the history of how civilization developed around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

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The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers by Melissa Whitcraft | Scholastic

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This book traces the historic origins of how ancient civilizations developed around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and how modern-day civilization is affected

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Book: The Great King Hammurabi and His Code of Law 

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Book: The Great King Hammurabi and His Code of Law 

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The story of Hammurabi introducing his code of laws.

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Great King Hammurabi and His Code of Law - Ancient History Illustrated Children's Ancient History

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It was a time of great societal unrest that the Great King Hammurabi decided to step forward and craft is Code of Law. His Laws included hundreds of laws with...

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Primary Source: Photo of a Sumerian wheel

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Primary Source: Photo of a Sumerian wheel

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Actual photo of wheel built by Sumerians and portrays how the wheel has evolved over time.

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In today's world, technology is developing at an unprecedented rate. The latest gadget today is tomorrow's antique. As a result of this rapid development of technology, we often take things for granted. One of these is the wheel. Take a look around, and you will see wheels everywhere, be it as tyres, or in everyday machinery. The wheel has even been imbued with symbolic meanings, most famously, perhaps, as a metaphor for the never ending cycle of life.

One may be tempted to think that the wheel is just a humble or even primitive invention compared to some of the fancy gadgets that we have today. Nevertheless, the wheel (specifically as a means of transportation) was actually invented at a relatively late point of human history. The oldest known wheel found in an archaeological excavation is from Mesopotamia, and dates to around 3500 BC. This period was known as the Bronze Age, which is a relatively late chapter in the story of the development of human civilisation. By this time, human beings were already planting crops, herding domesticated animals, and had some form of social hierarchy.

One of the reasons why the wheel was invented only at this point in history is due to the fact that metal tools were needed to chisel fine-fitted holes and axles. This leads to the next reason - the wheel was not just a cylinder rolling on its edge. It was a cylinder that was connected to a stable, stationary platform. This wheel-axle concept was a stroke of genius, but making it was a challenge. The ends of the axle, as well as the holes in the centre of the wheels had to be nearly perfectly smooth and round. Failing to achieve this would result in too much friction between these components, and the wheel would not turn. Although the axle had to fit snugly in the holes of the wheels, they had to have enough room to allow them to rotate freely. Given the complexity of the wheel-axle combination, it may be unsurprising that the wheel was not initially invented for transportation purposes. Instead, it has been claimed that wheels were first used by potters. Remember the 5,500-year-old wheel for Mesopotamia? It seems that it was a potters' wheel (the use of wheels for pottery making may date even further back into the Neolithic). It seems that the use of wheels for transportation only happened 300 years later.
The earliest wheels are believed to have been used for pottery making. Photo source .
Although the world's oldest wheel has been found in Mesopotamia, the earliest images of wheeled carts were found in Poland and elsewhere in the Eurasian steppes. Some have suggested that due to the immense challenge that the invention of the wheel posed to mankind, it probably happened only once, and spread from its place of origin to other parts of the world. However, others believe it developed independently in separate parts of the world at around the same time. For example, The Ljubljana Marshes Wheel is a wooden wheel that was found in the capital of Slovenia in 2002 and was dated to 3150 BC. At present, the birthplace of the wheel is said to be either in Mesopotamia or the Eurasian steppes. Although Mesopotamia has the oldest known wheel, linguistic evidence is used to support the claim that the wheel originated in the Eurasian steppes.
References Bellis, M., 2014. The Invention of the Wheel. [Online]
Available at: http://inventors.about.com/od/wstartinventions/a/wheel.htm Gambino, M., 2009. A Salute to the Wheel. [Online]
Available at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel-31805121/?no-ist Slaughter, J., 2014. History: Invention of the Wheel. [Online]
Available at: http://www.notap.gov.ng/content/history-invention-wheel Wikipedia, 2014. Wheel. [Online]
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel Wolchover, N., 2012. Why It Took So Long to Invent the Wheel. [Online]
Available at: http://www.livescience.com/18808-invention-wheel.html
Although the wheel has revolutionised the way early human beings travelled and transported goods from one place to another, the wheel was not a perfect invention. For instance, camels were a much more efficient form of transportation in the desert environment when compared to the wheel. It has also been claimed that between the 2 nd and 6 th centuries A.D., the camel supplanted the wheel as the primary mode of transport in the Middle East and North Africa. Nevertheless, the wheel was still used for domestic purposes, such as for irrigation, milling, and pottery making. This shows the various uses of the wheel, and its importance to mankind. I guess we ought to change our perspective about the wheel, and not view it as a basic invention by 'primitive man'. Instead, we should view it as one of the great achievements of human society.

Featured image : A depiction of an onager-drawn cart on the Sumerian "battle standard of Ur" . Photo source: Wikipedia.

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The revolutionary invention of the wheel

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In today's world, technology is developing at an unprecedented rate. The latest gadget today is tomorrow's antique. As a result of this rapid development of technology, we often take things for granted. One of these is the wheel. Take a look around, and you will see wheels everywhere, be it as tyres, or in everyday machinery.

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From the Sumerians to today, this video demonstrates the evolution of the wheel and how it has changed over time.

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The evolution of the wheel throughout the centuries. From the ancient Sumerians to the Waterstone Wheel Faucet.

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Activity: Creating a wheel and/or chariot activity

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Activity: Creating a wheel and/or chariot activity

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This connects to the wheel activity in lesson plan.  Students will build wheels and test modifications.

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Week 6: We studied the Assyrians and built a battering ram, chariot and a siege tower.

The Assyrians were masters of war. Sargon II paid his army and supplied them with armor, food and horses. Horses were so valuable that killing them was highly discouraged. Instead they were captured. Sennacherib lead the Assyrians to destroy the city of Babylon and enslave the Jews using his highly trained horsemen, siege towers, chariots and battering rams.

Chariots, battering rams and siege towers all make use of simple machines.

There are three different types of simple machines.

Lever

Inclined Plane, Screw, Wedge

Wheel and Axle, Pulley

Chariots contain wheels and axles. During the time of the Assyrians the wheels of the chariot were moved from the rear of the vehicle to the center. This great advancement allowed the Assyrians to place an additional man in their chariots which gave them a significant battle advantage.

Battering rams also contain wheels and the ram mechanism is a lever. A lever helps people do work through the use of a pivot point. In this case the load is hung from two ropes to enable the operator to move it more easily.

Siege towers sometimes contained battering rams and wheels. This one does not. They were used to breech city walls.

There are many different versions of siege towers, battering rams and chariots which were used in the numerous battles between the Assyrians, Hittites and Babylonians. It was fun to combine history and science as we explored these weapons of ancient warfare.

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Week 6: We studied the Assyrians and built a battering ram, chariot and a siege tower. The Assyrians were masters of war. Sargon II paid his army and supplied them with armor, food and horses. Horses were so valuable that killing them was highly discouraged. Instead they were captured.

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A nearpod presentation for students to follow on the Code of Hammurabi and what it entails.

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No mobile devices in your classroom? No worries! You can enjoy Nearpod from any web browser :) Create, engage, and assess your students in every lesson!

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This is the Code of Hammurabi and can be used to show the history of Hammurabi and the code he instilled.

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Including Assyria, Babylon, and Sumer for students to see locations of each and how they intertwined over the years.

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The Story of Abraham

The travel patterns described in Genesis are consistent with what historians and archaeologists have uncovered from the Near East in ancient times.

The story of Abraham starts with a journey. Abraham lived in a very interactive society. Wandering clans, or tribes, of extended families were never far from settled urban areas.

These traveling clans consisted of many different levels of family, servants, slaves, livestock, animals, and all other possessions. Some of these clans were very wealthy and powerful, and contained large populations.

They bought and sold goods with local merchants and peoples, then picked up and moved on to the next location. These wandering clans tended to travel along routes with ample water. These routes ran near rivers, brooks, streams, lakes, etc.

However, caravan routes also ran East to West, leading directly through the heart of the Arabian desert. These routes connected Mesopotamia directly to Canaan.

Though much shorter in distance, these caravan routes were much more dangerous and less traveled than the routes leading northward, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The book of Genesis describes the story of Abraham and his father, Terah , as traveling along one of the northward routes along the Euphrates.

Abraham was not a settled man, nor was he a wanderer. Rather, he was a combination. This fact is alluded to in the terms that are associated with Abraham.

He is called an Aramean, Hebrew, Aramu and Habiru. These terms are commonly used to describe seminomads; people that live outside the typical structure of settled civilization.

Over time, these terms merged together to form the catch all word, Arab.

The book of Joshua tells how the Israelites ancestors - Terah, Nahor, Abraham - lived "beyond the Euphrates", and served other gods.

It has already been noted that Terah was a known idolater. The narrative in Genesis suggests that perhaps Terah was the initial receiver of God's call to leave Mesopotamia.

Yet, Terah failed to obey God, and stopped in Haran. Terah could not break from his idolatrous beliefs, and clung to the polytheistic system of religion in Babylon.

His settlement in Haran is seen by God as a sign that Terah will not step out in faith and obey. Thus, the next chapter of the story of Abraham begins with God's call for him to leave his "father's household", and head for the land of Canaan.

Share Your Thoughts On the Story of Abraham

What insights do you have into the lives of Terah and Abraham? Please give us your thoughts, opinions, questions, and comments by clicking on the link above!

Even the most prolific of the Bible Archaeologists, William F. Albright, struggled with dating the story of Abraham.

Much of the ancient dating rests on the Egyptian Pharaoh lists, provided by such historians and scholars as Manetho, an Egyptian priest whom wrote during the Hellenistic Age, circa 250 B.C. These lists allow us to trace Egyptian history as far back as 3000 B.C.

A similar resource rests in the writings of a Babylonian priest named Berossus. Berossus gives a Mesopotamian king-list similar to the Egyptian lists, and others have been discovered throughout the course of time.

These lists, and other ancient sources, have helped scholars and Bible historians date the story of Abraham with relative certainty. Though the exact date of his life is still unknown, the general time of his life is widely agreed upon.

It is interesting to note that similar records are found in Genesis. Two lists are given; one containing names from the antediluvian world, the second containing names from the post-diluvian world. Each list contains ten names. The earliest Mesopotamian king-lists contain 8 names. However, Berossus' list contains 10. Paul Johnson argues in his book, A History of the Jews, that perhaps the connection between the two is Abraham, who brought the tradition with him.

Indeed, the story of Abraham starts in Mesopotamia. It is quite possible that many of the traditions and stories in Sumerian mythology, are parallel accounts of the Bible stories they share so much in common with. There is a clear and obvious similarity between ancient Mesopotamian stories of the flood, and the Genesis flood. The ancient Mesopotamian city of Eridu, near Ur, has been tied with the Biblical Eden.

Some scholars claim the Enkidu of Mesopotamian myth stories, is the same as Enoch of Genesis. It becomes clear the story of Abraham is heavily influenced by his Mesopotamian background. Abraham, as the link between the two, is not unreasonable at all.

Through the lists obtained from such scholars as Manetho and Berossus, and with archaeological finds, such as the ancient tablets from Ebla and Mari , the following dates have been prescribed to Mesopotamian kings;

Sargon, and the Old Akkadian Period from 2360-2180 B.C.; Ur-Nammu, and the Third Dynasty of Ur, from to the end of the second millennium, or start of the first; Hammurabi, dated to the exact period from 1728-1686 B.C.

Scholars have dated the story of Abraham in Genesis as occurring in the period between Ur-Nammu and Hammurabi. This period falls in the Middle Bronze Age, from between 2100-1550 B.C.E. The story of Abraham and the other Patriarchs are widely agreed upon to have happened in this window.

Albright, after years of study and wavering, finally concluded that Abraham existed between the 20th and 19th centuries B.C.

The names mentioned in the Abrahamic narrative correspond with many names located throughout northwestern Mesopotamia, particularly Haran and the surrounding neighbors.

It is reasonable to make an assumption that the patriarchal narratives and traditions were born in this region.

The story of Abraham and his arrival in Canaan, along with the other Genesis patriarchs, have been associated with northwestern-speaking Semitic peoples.

These people came after the Amorites, but perhaps were Amorite in lineage. Abraham, Isaac , and Jacob are Israelite, as well as Amorite, names.

Best selling author Bruce Feiler (Walking the Bible) explores the spiritual roots of Abraham through the eyes of each of the major three world faiths; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All three trace their origins to father Abraham. Feiler highlights the traditions and legends each religion associates with Abraham, and compares Abraham in the Bible to Abraham in the Quran. This book is a must for those seeking to understand Abraham. Click on the link below to visit amazon.com and Abraham!

Genesis 11:10-26 traces Abraham's lineage back to the ante-diluvian Patriarch Noah. Abraham is a direct descendant of Shem, Noah's son .

As stated earlier, Shem was the son of Noah through whom God's promised "seed of the woman" would be transmitted to further generations.

The story of Abraham, thus, reaches back to the time before the Biblical flood. In fact, some chronologies place Abraham's birth a mere 300 or so years after the flood. These chronologies, however, are highly debatable.

Abram, his original name, was the one through whom God would bring forth His nation of Israel. The first mention of Abram in the Bible takes place in Genesis 11:26.

Abram has two brothers we are aware of, Nahor and Haran. Haran, verse 28 tells us, died before "his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur." Thus, we learn our first bit of background information concerning the story of Abraham.

Abram's family came from Ur, though, one can assume Haran lived elsewhere. Haran, it is reasoned by some scholars, lived in Haran, the city named after him.

The Genesis narrative tells us Haran died while Terah was still alive, and while he was visiting his father in Ur. Thus, when God calls Terah, his family includes extended members from Haran's household, left over in Ur after their father's death.

Nahor, Abram's other brother, marries Haran's daughter Milcah. Sarai, the wife of Abram, was also a daughter of Haran, yet, from another wife. She was only a half-sister to Abram.

Haran left behind one son that we are aware of, Lot. Lot became closely attached to his Uncle Abram, and left Ur for the land of Canaan as well.

Seemingly, Abram became Lot's guardian when his father died. As Terah and family left Ur behind, surely they felt a sense of loss and remorse. This was their home.

Ur, in this era of history, was a great city. Ur was an extremely popular and busy seaport in its day. It was a city of wealth and comfort. There was a magnificent library at Ur, and luxurious temples and royal palaces were found throughout the city.

It was a city of greatness. Terah and his family were leaving all of this behind, to venture into a land they knew nothing about.

This fact in itself fits with God's plan for the establishment of His people. Deuteronomy 7:7 talks about God's people.

"The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples."

Mesopotamia produced some of the greatest empires in the history of the world. The Sumerian Empire, Akkadian Empire and the Babylonian Empire left their hand prints on history.

The story of Abraham involves these empires as well. For it is out of their world which Abraham emerged. He had been shaped and influenced by these empires over the course of his life.

Yet, there was something special about Abraham, besides his lineage. God saw it, and called him.

The Amorites dominated Mesopotamia for a span of 200 years. The Egyptians had ruled for over a 1,000 years by the time Abram migrated there.

These were the powers of the ancient world. Canaan was a land of no significance. It was simply a buffer zone between Egypt and the powers to the East. The people of Canaan were truly the "fewest of all the peoples" in the ancient world.

The land of Canaan was approximately 600 miles due west of Ur. Instead of striking out westward, into the heart of the Arabian Desert, the clan travels northward, along the Euphrates.

As stated earlier, there were caravan routes, and trade routes, leading through the heart of the desert, directly into Canaan. These routes, however, were much more dangerous, and less traveled.

Terah, instead, heads northwest, up the Mesopotamian valley, along the Euphrates River.

Archaeology has shown that these migrations were common in antiquity, and most traveled along the rivers and valleys, substituting comfort and security for the more direct, yet, more dangerous route through the desert.

Genesis 11:31

"And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram'swife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there."

It is interesting to note that Haran, like the city of Ur, was a city dedicated to the worship of the moon god Sin. Haran was located on an important trade route connecting Canaan in the west, with Syria in the east.

The city is still in existence today, and quickly became an important city of antiquity. It was here that Terah settled. It was here that Abram's family had strong ties to the land.

Haran carried the name of Abram's brother. A nearby city, Nahor, also carried the name of another of Abram's brother, Nahor.

Passages throughout Genesis imply Nahor had family still living in the region, and Abram, as well as the later Patriarchs, were fully aware of their presence.

It is interesting to note that in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 7, Stephen is preaching on the story of Abraham in front of the Sanhedrin.

He states that Abraham received God's call while "he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran".

Perhaps this suggests that Abram and Terah had both received divine inspiration to leave Ur for Canaan, and both had initially responded in faith.

Terah, however, found the prosperity of Haran, and the familiar familial connections, too tempting to leave behind. He died in Haran, at the supposed age of 205. Terah's disobedience, led to the Lord's instruction to Abram in Genesis 12:1.

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee".

The land that God would show Abram was the land of Canaan; the land settled by the descendants of Noah's cursed son, Ham. Thus, the families of Ham and Shem again were to come into contact with one another.

In the opening verses of chapter 12, God promised Abram his name would be blessed, and through him God would make a great nation.

Throughout the story of Abraham God constantly is reassuring Abraham that He will be faithful, and multiply Abraham's descendants. Abraham faced a tremendous amount of pressure and unknowns.

He needed the constant reassurance from God. God, as He always does, provided Abraham with exactly what he needed.

God also promised protection upon Abram, blessing those that blessed him, and cursing those that cursed him. So, in verse 4, Abram is said to have departed from Haran, "as the Lord had spoken unto him."

The story of Abraham was to reach its climax in the land God would show him. Accompanying Abram and Lot on the journey were Abram's wife, Sarai, ten years younger than Abram.

Along with his wife, Abraham took all of the possessions, including servants and slaves, he had gathered in Haran. Lot brought his family as well, and all of his possessions. Abram's travel party would have been fairly large.

The trek to Canaan from Haran was approximately a 400 mile journey to the southwest. Though Abram knew generally where he was heading, he knew no specifics.

Trade routes from Haran to Damascus, and from Damascus south into the Canaanite countries, had been well established by this time, so the general direction of travel was known.

The exact route Abram took from Haran to Canaan is not known. The most direct route from Haran would have led directly through the desert to Damascus, via the Tadmor Oasis. This route was a dangerous and risky venture to say the least.

A safer, alternative route followed the main branch of the International Coastal Highway. This route led through the ancient cities of Carchemish, Aleppo, Ebla, home of the Ebla Tablets, Qatna, and into Damascus. From Damascus, the King's Highway led into the Trans-jordan (Syria and Jordan).

The story of Abraham was to take on a new element in the land of Canaan. He and Sarah, together, would be called upon to establish a new nation.

Share Your Thoughts on Abraham

Are you interested in Abraham? What are your thoughts concerning his life? Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike share a common bond with Abraham. Share your thoughts and comments on Abraham and his remarkable life!

What Other Visitors Have Said

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An easy to read history of Israel from ancient old testament times to today.
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2. Apr 16, 17 03:34 PM
I consider myself a Yahshuan (Son of Yahweh). I renounced Christianity about 30 years ago. The name, Jesus, is erroneous for the simple fact that in
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3. Apr 16, 17 03:34 PM

The people who try to claim they are God's Chosen People a.k.a. the jews are none other than the seed of the Serpent and are Canaanite imposters. The jews
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The Story of Abraham The travel patterns described in Genesis are consistent with what historians and archaeologists have uncovered from the Near East in ancient times. The story of Abraham starts with a journey. Abraham lived in a very interactive society. Wandering clans, or tribes, of extended families were never far from settled urban areas.

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This activity has students explore the Fertile Crescent by analyzing it, watching a video, and doing the activity on farming and irrigation.

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This is a FUN and ENGAGING activity that details the importance of the Fertile Crescent within ancient Mesopotamia. This activity is a DIGITAL version that can be used with your 1:1 devices through Google Drive.

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Interactive Site: Trade in Ancient Mesopotamia 

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Interactive Site: Trade in Ancient Mesopotamia 

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This Prezi explores the ideas of imports and exports that took place in Mesopotamia.

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Trade in Ancient Mesopotamia Fun Facts While many people still worked as farmers in the country, in the city a person could grow up to work in a number of different jobs such as priest, scribe, merchant, craftsman, soldier, civil servant or laborer. Bibliography

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This is a short fast video of the history and journey of Nebuchadnezzar as king.

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Activity: Printable Ancient Mesopotamia Cards

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Activity: Printable Ancient Mesopotamia Cards

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Cards allow for students to test their knowledge on people like Hammurabi, Nebuchadenezza II, etc. They match the picture of the historical figure to the correct biographical information.

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The primary thing I've learned in studying Ancient Mesopotamia with my 6 year old is that I'm really glad I don't live in Ancient Mesopotamia. There doesn't seem to be anything warm, nurturing, or cradle-like about the cradle of civilization. Ancient Mesopotamian leaders seem to have been predominantly harsh and exacting if not outright cruel and vengeful. I made these Montessori-style, split cards featuring important figures from Ancient Mesopotamian history primarily for myself rather than for my 6 year old. (It's hard to keep everybody straight!)

I'm sure at some point in the future, we'll study these people and this era in more depth, but for now, these cards combined with my free, printable Ancient Mesopotamia Definition Cards will give my child a point of reference when it comes to this period of world history. I'm not sure in the long run how much he'll retain, but when he sees them again in his future, hopefully they won't be entirely unfamiliar.

We primarily studied this time period using the relevant sections from The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History, which is turning out to be a great book for teaching history to preschool through early elementary aged kids (maybe even older). I may add more people in the future, but for now, this set includes the following Ancient Mesopotamian historical figures:

Gilgamesh

Puabi

Sargon of Akkad

Naram-Sin of Akkad

Gudea

Hammurabi

Ashurnasirpal II

Tiglath Pileser III

Sennacherib

Ashurbanipal

Nebuchadnezzar II

The self-correcting, Montessori-style cards allow kids to test their own knowledge by trying to match the picture of the historical figure to the name and biographical information. At the suggestion of a reader, I've also added the option of matching just the name to the biographical information, so there are lots of different ways to learn. The control cards are provided so that kids can check their answers. As a bonus, I've also made small labels to be added to world history timelines for kids who would like to visualize the progression of history. My own free, blank world history timeline can be found here.

See my Ancient History page for a list of posts on other cultures such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Sign up for my newsletter to stay up-to-date as this list of free resources grows.

Recommended Age Range: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Time Required: ~30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Free printable, less than $2 in used supplies (even less if you choose not to laminate the cards)
Materials: Supplies & Tools:

laminator

paper cutter or scissors

Instructions:

1. Print Ancient Mesopotamian cards, associated control cards, and Ancient Mesopotamians for History Timeline (optional).

2. Laminate the split and control cards for extra durability if desired and cut them out.

3. If using, add your Ancient Mesopotamians for history timeline labels to your blank world history timeline.

Have fun learning about famous Ancient Mesopotamians!

Click here for more Ancient History activities and printables for kids.

Related Links

History Resources for Kids
Social Science Activities
All Learning Activities

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Free Printable Ancient Mesopotamia Historical Figure Cards

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The primary thing I've learned in studying Ancient Mesopotamia with my 6 year old is that I'm really glad I don't live in Ancient Mesopotamia. There doesn't seem to be anything warm, nurturing, or cradle-like about the cradle of civilization. Ancient Mesopotamian leaders seem to have been predominantly harsh and exacting if not outright cruel and vengeful.

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This is a very basic interactive site where kids can click on links to take them to other resources about this time period.

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"I (Nebuchadnezzar) laid the foundation of the gates down to ground water level and had them built out of pure blue stone. Upon the walls in the inner room of the gate are bulls and dragons and thus I adorned them with luxurious splendour for all mankind to behold in awe."

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Overview of the empires and the significance between each. Also shows how each of these impacted one another.

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Four Empires of Mesopotamia...in five minutes or less

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Students will fill map using highlighters and/or color while labeling empires, Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Fertile Crescent, and the Mediterranean Sea.

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blank map of ancient mesopotamia - Google Search | SS Work | Pinterest | Ancient mesopotamia, Social studies and Homeschool

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blank map of ancient mesopotamia - Google Search

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Students can use Google Earth on provided technology to see where Mesopotamia is on the Earth and explore the places within.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here.

Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

Learn more about Google Earth.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.