Mesopotamia

= = =Ancient Mesopotamia =   This area and civilization is also known as the "fertile crescent" or "cradle of civilization." These peoples began the ancient skills of reading and writing, the foundational elements of our English/language arts study. So, How does this relate to me? - you may ask. This area of the world is actually quite "close" to us right now. This area is today known as Iraq - from Uruk. And Ancient Babylon is today's Baghdad. Check out his very [|foundational area of the world] that has continued to be a "hot spot" in varied contexts even into today! [|The ziggurat] was a basic architectural form during this era. 

 =Literature and Writing = ==== The Sumerians: The Ancient Sumerians and Phoenicians were among the first to develop writing in order to maintain public records and data. ==== ====The did this with a stylus and wedge-shaped writing called cuneiform. Take a look at an example: ==== Now, try to "[|Write like a Babylonian]!"

Later, the Phoenicians, those who today would live in contemporary Lebanon, helped to spread the early writing through trade.

The First Epic!
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif">Do you remember the criteria of an <span style="color: rgb(255, 6, 0)">epic ? Can you name another epic? How were the first epics shared? If you need support for these questions, download the asupport sheet before you explore the basics of the first recorded epic.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif">Gilgamesh:The Man, the Story
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif">This [|essay] is a wonderful summary of the main themes if //Gilgamesh//. Read the essay and then return to the link below and share your insights and ideas about life, death and redemption as demonstrated in //Gilgamesh//. [|Class Response Blog]