ANCIENT HISTORY
Guided Reading
2.3 the Legacy of
Mesopotamia
As you read, fill in the table with
information about Mesopotamian
civilization.
I deleted directions in order to
make the boxes bigger … you’re
going to need that.
Main Idea A
The rules set down by Hammurabi were an
important step in the development of
civilization in Mesopotamia.
1.
2.
Main Idea B
Writing was one of the major breakthroughs
for the civilization of Mesopotamia.
3.
4.
Main Idea A
The rules set down by Hammurabi were an
important step in the development of
civilization in Mesopotamia.
1. Rules were
written down for
everyone in the
empire to follow.
Main Idea A
The rules set down by Hammurabi were an
important step in the development of
civilization in Mesopotamia.
2. Hammurabi’s Code
was based on the idea of
“an eye for an eye.” It
did not apply equally to
all people.
Main Idea B
Writing was one of the major breakthroughs for
the civilization of Mesopotamia.
3. Writing developed in
Mesopotamia. Sumerians
kept records such as sales,
tax payments, gifts for
gods, marriage and death.
Main Idea B
Writing was one of the major breakthroughs for
the civilization of Mesopotamia.
4. Scribes used a clay writing
surface and sharp tools.
When the clay dried, it left an
almost permanent record.
Historians study the writing,
archeologists study the clay.
Main Idea A -- Rules
1. 282 laws about trade, labor, property, and
family, practicing medicine and
controlling animals … and punishment
2. not applied equally to all
3. “an eye for an eye” only if noble was
victim
4. a person who accidentally broke a law
was just as guilty as someone did so
purposefully
5. the laws were written down for everyone
6. they were posted in every town
Main Idea B -- Writing
1. used to keep records such as sales
2. there were Scribes (writers and record
keepers)
3. Scribes were greatly respected
4. writing was used for sales, trades, tax
payments, gifts for gods, marriages, deaths
5. the gov’t used scribes to figure out
requirements for military and building
projects
6. by using clay, there was a nearly permanent
record
7. the writing was called cuneiform