November 15, 2015
Classes 626, 627
Copy the following notes into your notebook:
¤Social Hierarchy- The division
of society by rank or class.
1. Kings and Priests were the most important part of Sumerian society
because they were closest to the Gods.
2. Then came skilled craftsmen, merchants, and traders.
3. Below them were farmers and laborers
4. Lastly, slaves were at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
The Sumerians believed that there were more and less important people within society. Each person held some sort of VALUE.
DISCUSSION:
Answer the following questions in your notebook:
Do you agree or disagree with the Sumerians social hierarchy? Explain.
VIDEO CLIP:
Watch the video clip on the SMARTBoard. Then, identify two important details in the video. Share them with your partner!
WORK PERIOD
Here is a passage written about Sumer. The author is a 6th grade student...
The class system in Mesopotamia is different than what we have in society today. Today, we do not have slaves, no one is forced to become a slave, and no one is sent into slavery. But, there are people who live on the street without money. Society now is better than in Ancient Mesopotamia because everyone is paid for their work and everyone has a chance to get a job. Everyone is allowed to and supposed to go to school; it doesn't matter if you are a girl or a boy or wealthy or poor. However, like Ancient Mesopotamia, there are leaders and very wealthy people who seem to control society. People who have more money can go to private schools and learn some different things. Poor people might not get as good a job as people with lots of money.
Some of the lessons that we learn now are the same kinds of things that they learned in Ancient Mesopotamia. We learn to read, to write, to use mathematics and music. We also get punished, but not as roughly as them, and for things like not paying attention, but no one gets punished for making a mistake.
I think that before organized schools were around children had to learn from their parents. They could only learn what their parents knew and not other things like writing, music and math. I think that before cuneiform, people had to memorize everything and share learning orally.
I think organized schools helped civilization by teaching more people, so they would know more, and could teach others. I think cuneiform (Sumerian writing) helped civilization by having their information written down so they could keep it for longer and they wouldn't have to memorize everything. Cuneiform developed into regular writing and books over time. Schools developed over time by becoming buildings of their own and allowing everyone, even girls and the poor to get an education.
Some of the lessons that we learn now are the same kinds of things that they learned in Ancient Mesopotamia. We learn to read, to write, to use mathematics and music. We also get punished, but not as roughly as them, and for things like not paying attention, but no one gets punished for making a mistake.
I think that before organized schools were around children had to learn from their parents. They could only learn what their parents knew and not other things like writing, music and math. I think that before cuneiform, people had to memorize everything and share learning orally.
I think organized schools helped civilization by teaching more people, so they would know more, and could teach others. I think cuneiform (Sumerian writing) helped civilization by having their information written down so they could keep it for longer and they wouldn't have to memorize everything. Cuneiform developed into regular writing and books over time. Schools developed over time by becoming buildings of their own and allowing everyone, even girls and the poor to get an education.
1) What is the author's point of view about Sumerian life?
2) Do you agree or disagree with this author? Explain.
3) If you were to critique the author, what changes would you make? Why?
