Web Quest

The very first civilization was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and was developed in 5000 B.C. Archaeologists and historians discovered the remains of this civilization buried under mounds of sand.

Mesopotamia was derived from the Greek words, mesos meaning “middle” and potamos meaning river and that is why Mesopotamia became known as the “land between two rivers”

Mesopotamia does not exist today. It is known the land in Northern Syria, Southern Turkey, and most of Iraq. However, its importance lives on today. Researchers believe the people of Mesopotamia influenced the development of the human race in many ways.

You have been hired by a well known Archaeologist Association to create an article for their magazine publication. This article will inform the public about the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia.

You will prepare yourself for this big adventure by researching the contributions that the people of Mesopotamia have given to our world today.

As a journalist you will research various online resources to collect background information in regards to the great civilization of Mesopotamia. Through this research you will gain vital data about the contributions.

To develop your understanding of Mesopotamia, you will visit the following websites to collect informational facts:

So that you may understand Mesopotamia government system, visit the following site:

Mesopotamia was a civilization full of many creations. The people of Mesopotamia developed a mathematical system based on the number 60.

Other accomplishments included the creation of the first calendar and the world’s first clock: the sundial. The lasting effects of this on our culture are the 60-minute hour, 60-second minute, and 360 degrees in a circle.

After reading the passage above, click on the following web site to help in the completion of these ancient mathematical word problems.

Mesopotamia's king sent his slaves to buy 19 apples and 30 oranges but the slaves became very hungry. They ate 5 apples and 10 oranges. How much fruit did the slaves bring back to the king? Using cuneiform symbols SHOW ALL WORK. Explain how you found your answer.

The scribes made 12 clay tablets a day. How many clay tablets will they have in 5 days? (HINT: Use another method than addition.) Using cuneiform symbols SHOW ALL WORK. Explain how you found your answer.

The priest decided they wanted to have a feast in honor of the lugal or "king". They invited 50 guests. They set up 10 tables. How many guests could sit at each table? Using cuneiform symbols SHOW ALL WORK. Explain how you found your answer.

To help you understand the daily life in Mesopotamia please visit the site below:

Design a chart of the three social classes in Sumeria (aristocracy, working class, and slaves). Include examples of occupations that each class would have had.

To further your knowledge on Hammurabi, King of Babylon, visit the site below and answer the following questions:

If a son strikes his father, his hand shall be cut off." "If a man destroys the eye of another man, his eye shall be destroyed." "If he destroys the eye of a common (poor) man, he shall pay one mina of silver." These are laws from the Code of Hammurabi. Do you think they were fair for everyone? Why or Why not?

What events do you feel was the most significant in the decline of the Sumerians and why?

If you could give any advice to the leaders of Babylon so that their civilization would not end like Sumer, what would it be?

The first civilization, Mesopotamia, made many discoveries and achieved many "firsts" in history, such as city-states and law, mathematical number system based on 60, the first written language, Cuneiform, and the invention of the wheel.

While researching Mesopotamia you will discover many achievements and contributions that they have given to the world today.

You will further develop your knowledge about Ancient civilizations by studying Egypt, Greece and Rome.

You will use your notes that you have collected in this web quest and develop a newspaper front page that can be shared and displayed in the classroom.

These newspaper front pages can be resources for others to use throughout this unit as so much started with Mesopotamia

We will go over the rubric ahead of time so that everyone understands what the expectations are for the front page newspaper.

Mesopotamia, the first civilization, was where it all began. While researching Mesopotamia you will discover the many achievements and contributions that have been given to the world today. Remember you will further develop your knowledge about Ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece.

	4 Exemplary	3 Accomplished	2 Developing	1 Beginning	Score
Organization	The newspaper is very well organized. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.	The newspaper is pretty well organized. One idea or scene may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.	The newspaper is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear.	Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged
Creativity	The newspaper contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his/her imagination.	The newspaper contains some creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his/her imagination.	The newspaper contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the diary. The author has tried to use his/her imagination.	There is little evidence of creativity in the newspaper. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Accuracy of Facts	All facts presented in the newspaper are accurate.	Most facts presented in the newspaper are accurate.	Some facts presented in the newspaper are accurate (at least 70%).	There are several factual errors in the newspaper.
Spelling and Punctuations	There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout.	There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.	There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.	The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.

Aristocracy occupations	Working Class occupations	Slaves occupations