GRAPES of Mesopotamia

Land between the rivers

Land of the sun

Land of the mountains

Land of the deserts

They believed in many gods.

Each god was connected to nature or human activities.

They believed only in one god.

Gods had no influence on daily life.

They were temples where people worshipped gods

They were palaces for kings

They were used as schools for scribes

They were marketplaces for traders

Religion explained natural events and gave rulers power by claiming support of the gods.

Religion was only used for personal beliefs and had no impact on rulers.

Religion was not connected to lawmaking or rulers at all.

Religion was used only for artistic expression.

The world’s first writing system

A type of weapon used in war

A kind of boat used for trade

A calendar used for farming

Cuneiform writing system

Invention of the wheel

Building sailboats

Discovery of electricity

Politics

Religion

Economics

Art

Mesopotamia was a single united country ruled by one king.

Mesopotamia was a collection of city-states, each with its own king.

Mesopotamia had no rulers or organized government.

Mesopotamia was ruled by a council of merchants.

Organizing armies

Building canals

Enforcing laws

Growing crops

It allowed people to travel between cities.

It brought water to fields, enabling surplus farming.

It provided water for religious ceremonies only.

It was used to build city walls.

Surplus farming and long-distance trade

Military conquest

Religious ceremonies

Natural disasters

Kings and priests held the most power.

Farmers and artisans made up the largest part of society.

Slaves were at the top of the social hierarchy.

Wealthy merchants and landowners were below kings and priests.

People’s roles, traditions, and class

Geographical location

Climate and weather

Foreign invasions

Fertile Crescent

Nile Valley

Indus Valley

Yellow River Valley

It was the world's first civilization and laid the foundation for later societies.

It was the last ancient civilization to develop writing.

It was known for its isolation from other cultures.

It was primarily a nomadic society.