Reading and Writing Workshop
Exploring Mesopotamia Through Reading & Writing
*Each session includes reading material, discussion points, and a creative writing exercise to engage participants.
Essential Questions:
Objective: Understand how Mesopotamia's geography influenced the rise of civilization.
Reading Material: The Outline of History by H.G. Wells (Chapter 16: The Early Civilizations)
Public Domain Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35461/35461-h/35461-h.htm
Discussion Points:
Imagine you are a Sumerian farmer in 3000 BCE. Write a journal entry about a day in your life, describing how the rivers impact your daily routine.
Session 2: The Rise of Sumer – First Cities and Innovations
Objective: Explore the development of cities, trade, and innovations in Sumer.
Reading Material: Ancient Times, a History of the Early World by James Breasted Summary of Chapter IV: The First Great Cities
From Ancient Times, a History of the Early World
Discussion Points:
Write a short story about a merchant traveling through Mesopotamia. What goods are they trading? Who do they meet?
Session 3: Cuneiform Writing – The First Written Words
Objective: Learn about the development and importance of cuneiform writing.
Reading Material: The Beginnings of Writing by William Hayes summary Chapter II: The Cuneiform System
Discussion Points:
Session 4: Hammurabi’s Code – The First Legal System
Objective: Analyze Hammurabi’s Code and its impact on justice.
Reading Material: Summary of The Code of Hammurabi (Translated by L.W. King)
Public Domain Source: The Oldest Code of Laws in the World by King of Babylonia Hammurabi | Project Gutenberg
Discussion Points:
Write a court case drama based on one of Hammurabi’s laws. One person is accused, another is the judge—what happens in the trial?
Session 5: The Empires – Babylonians & Assyrians
Objective: Compare the achievements and legacies of the Babylonian and Assyrian Empires.
Reading Material: Babylonia & Assyria in the Ancient Near East Summary based on Breasted and historical sources
Discussion Points:
Write a first-person perspective story as a Babylonian scholar or an Assyrian warrior. What challenges do you face?
Session 6: The Epic of Gilgamesh – Myths & Culture
Objective: Explore Mesopotamian mythology through the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Reading Material: Summary of The Epic of Gilgamesh (Translated by R. Campbell Thompson)
Public Domain Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11000/11000-h/11000-h.htm
Discussion Points:
Rewrite a modern retelling of a scene from The Epic of Gilgamesh (e.g., Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship, the quest for immortality).
Final Workshop Activity:
Participants will revise and compile their best writing pieces into a small anthology titled Voices from Ancient Mesopotamia.
*Each session includes reading material, discussion points, and a creative writing exercise to engage participants.
Essential Questions:
- How did the geography of Mesopotamia shape its development?
- What were the achievements of Mesopotamian civilizations?
Objective: Understand how Mesopotamia's geography influenced the rise of civilization.
Reading Material: The Outline of History by H.G. Wells (Chapter 16: The Early Civilizations)
Public Domain Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35461/35461-h/35461-h.htm
Discussion Points:
- How did the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers shape agriculture and trade?
- What challenges did geography pose for early Mesopotamians?
Imagine you are a Sumerian farmer in 3000 BCE. Write a journal entry about a day in your life, describing how the rivers impact your daily routine.
Session 2: The Rise of Sumer – First Cities and Innovations
Objective: Explore the development of cities, trade, and innovations in Sumer.
Reading Material: Ancient Times, a History of the Early World by James Breasted Summary of Chapter IV: The First Great Cities
From Ancient Times, a History of the Early World
Discussion Points:
- Why were cities like Ur and Uruk significant?
- What role did trade play in Sumerian society?
Write a short story about a merchant traveling through Mesopotamia. What goods are they trading? Who do they meet?
Session 3: Cuneiform Writing – The First Written Words
Objective: Learn about the development and importance of cuneiform writing.
Reading Material: The Beginnings of Writing by William Hayes summary Chapter II: The Cuneiform System
Discussion Points:
- Why was writing invented?
- How did cuneiform change over time?
Session 4: Hammurabi’s Code – The First Legal System
Objective: Analyze Hammurabi’s Code and its impact on justice.
Reading Material: Summary of The Code of Hammurabi (Translated by L.W. King)
Public Domain Source: The Oldest Code of Laws in the World by King of Babylonia Hammurabi | Project Gutenberg
Discussion Points:
- How do Hammurabi’s laws compare to modern laws?
- Were the punishments fair by today’s standards?
Write a court case drama based on one of Hammurabi’s laws. One person is accused, another is the judge—what happens in the trial?
Session 5: The Empires – Babylonians & Assyrians
Objective: Compare the achievements and legacies of the Babylonian and Assyrian Empires.
Reading Material: Babylonia & Assyria in the Ancient Near East Summary based on Breasted and historical sources
Discussion Points:
- What were the major achievements of these empires?
- How did warfare and governance differ between them?
Write a first-person perspective story as a Babylonian scholar or an Assyrian warrior. What challenges do you face?
Session 6: The Epic of Gilgamesh – Myths & Culture
Objective: Explore Mesopotamian mythology through the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Reading Material: Summary of The Epic of Gilgamesh (Translated by R. Campbell Thompson)
Public Domain Source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11000/11000-h/11000-h.htm
Discussion Points:
- What themes in the Epic of Gilgamesh still resonate today?
- How does the story reflect Mesopotamian beliefs?
Rewrite a modern retelling of a scene from The Epic of Gilgamesh (e.g., Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s friendship, the quest for immortality).
Final Workshop Activity:
Participants will revise and compile their best writing pieces into a small anthology titled Voices from Ancient Mesopotamia.