ICSE · Grade 6
Ch. 2: Mesopotamian Civilization
Land between the Tigris and Euphrates (Western Asia). Earliest advanced culture: Sumerians (~3500 BCE). Famous for cuneiform, ziggurats, irrigation, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and inventions like the wheeled wagon and ox-drawn plough.
2.1 Origin
2.2 Location
2.3 Main Characteristics of the Mesopotamian Civilization
2.4 Decline of the Mesopotamian Civilization
# Story Mode: A Day with Enki of Ur
Enki woke in a mud-brick house with a **courtyard**. Outside, oxen pulled a **plough** across irrigated fields of **wheat and barley**. His father checked the **dyke** so the flood would not wash the crop away.
In the **sacred area**, the great **ziggurat** rose like a man-made mountain. Priests climbed its steps to honour the city’s **patron god**. Enki was not a priest’s son — only **upper-class boys** studied full lessons. He learned his father’s trade, but he loved to hear **drums and lyres** at festivals.
At the market, a merchant rolled a **cylinder seal** over wet clay. “This proves the goods are mine,” he said. Another man pressed a wedge-shaped stylus into a soft tablet — **cuneiform** marks recording how many sacks of grain were sold.
A traveller spoke of gardens that looked like mountains covered with trees — the **Hanging Gardens of Babylon**, built for a queen who missed her green homeland.
Years later, city-states fought for land and water. The rivers slowly changed their path. Sand and wind covered temples. Enki’s city slept under the desert… until modern diggers found tablets and ziggurats again.
Topics in this chapter
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2.1 Origin
Sumerian Civilization ~3500 BCE in southern Mesopotamia; flourished ~1500 years; later Babylonians a…
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2.2 Location
Broad fertile valley between Tigris and Euphrates in Western Asia. Parallel rivers overflow and depo…
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2.3.1 Rivers
Euphrates and Tigris from northern mountains. Fertile soil near rivers. Dry climate—agriculture only…
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2.3.2 Society
Three classes: upper (king, officials, priests, wealthy traders), middle (fishermen, farmers, artisa…
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2.3.3 Social life
Father head of family. Women protected, could own property. Upper-class boys educated; girls houseke…
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2.3.4 Script
Cuneiform—one of earliest scripts from Sumeria. Clay tokens for counting/recording. Pictography evol…
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2.3.5 Town Planning
Uruk and Ur ~3000 BCE. Uniform pattern: sacred area, walled city, outer town. Ziggurat in sacred are…
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2.3.6 Architecture
Arches, columns, domes, vaults. Ziggurat multi-storeyed temple of sun-baked bricks. Temples as schoo…
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2.3.7 Occupation
Agriculture (first wheat cultivators), irrigation & dykes, ox-drawn plough, wheeled wagon, animals, …
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2.3.8 Religion
Many gods; each city had patron god/goddess. King as representative of God. Life after death—grave g…
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2.4 Decline
Wars between city-states for land and water; rivers changed course; sandstorms buried monuments.…
Philosophy check
- What is this civilization?
- Why was it advanced?
- How did cities work?
- Where do we still see these ideas?
- Exams — what will be asked?