Contextualization

Mesopotamia, in Greek, means the 'land between rivers'. This region, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in the current territory of Iraq, was the birthplace of great civilizations such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Much of what we know today about city administration, writing, legislation, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, among others, has its roots in these civilizations.

Mesopotamia is especially important for History, as it is considered the cradle of the first great cities, the place where writing was developed for the first time, and the emergence of the first Code of Laws, known as the Code of Hammurabi. This important document is a fundamental piece for us to understand the evolution of human legislation and justice.

Introduction

In this project, we will explore Mesopotamia. In particular, how the civilizations of this region were organized, their forms of government, culture, society, and beliefs. We will also analyze how the region served as the cradle for urbanization and the formation of the first cities, their technological and scientific achievements, and the main contributions of these civilizations to humanity.

Learning about Mesopotamia allows us to understand the development of the first complex human societies, as well as the foundation of concepts that are still important to us today, such as laws, economy, urban planning, writing, religion, among others.

Our journey through Mesopotamia will not only be a journey to the past, but also an opportunity to reflect on how the decisions made by these ancient civilizations continue to impact our lives today.

To assist in our studies on Mesopotamia, we can use the following resources:

• Book 'The History Begins in Mesopotamia' by Jean Bottero.
• The website History has articles and videos about the history of Mesopotamia.
• The Youtube channel Canal Nostalgia has a video about the history of Mesopotamia.
• The website BBC has a collection of images, maps, and drawings about Mesopotamia.

Let's start this journey? Join us on this adventure in one of the most fascinating and important regions of human history!

Practical Activity: 'Creating a Mesopotamian City'

Project Objective

The main objective of this project is to allow students to understand, in a practical and playful way, how cities in Mesopotamia were structured and what their main characteristics were. Students will plan and create a model of a Mesopotamian city using recyclable materials.

Detailed Project Description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5 members, should create a three-dimensional model of a Mesopotamian city, taking into account all the aspects learned during the classes. Each city must contain at least a palace, a temple, houses, walls, gates, irrigation canals, plantations, and roads. And students must be able to explain the importance of each structure for the city and its social differences.

Necessary Materials

• Cardboard boxes
• Glue
• Scissors
• Colored paints
• Brushes
• Corrugated cardboard
• Modeling clay
• Pencils and paper for preliminary drawings

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. First, each group must conduct a detailed research on the cities of Mesopotamia. Based on the research, discuss and decide which elements should be present in the model.
2. Next, create a sketch of the city on paper, drawing where each element will be located.
3. Once the sketch is completed, each group member will be responsible for building one or more structures for the city.
4. After all structures are completed, place them in the order that was drawn in the sketch.
5. Finally, paint and finish all the details of the model.

At the end of the project, students must produce a detailed report of all project stages. The report should include:

1. Introduction: Describe the theme, the project's objective, and why it is important.
2. Development: Explain the theory about Mesopotamia, the preliminary drawing of the city, the methodology used, and discuss the structures built.
3. Conclusion: Summarize the main points of the project and what were the learnings and discoveries made during the process.
4. Bibliography: List all sources used during the project.

The evaluation will take into account the model built, the research conducted, the collaboration among group members, the report, and the final presentations, where each group will present their city and explain the characteristics and functions of each structure.