What made a high level of trade and economic activity possible for the ancient sumerians?
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Background Show
The Old Babylonian period in Mesopotamia lasted from about 2000 BCE to 1600 BCE. By about 1760 BCE, most of Mesopotamia was brought under Babylonian rule, largely through the conquests of Hammurabi, the sixth king in Babylon's First Dynasty. A famous and important source of information about life in Old Babylonia is the so-called "Code of Hammurabi" which indicates the importance of class divisions, family life, religion, and commerce. For more on life in Old Babylonia, see the complementary EDSITEment lesson Hammurabi's Code: What Does it Tell Us about Old Babylonia? Content Standards NCSS.D2.His.1.6-8. Analyze connections among events and developments in broader historical contexts. NCSSD2.His.2.6-8. Classify series of historical events and developments as examples of change and/or continuity. NCSSD2.His.3.6-8. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant. NCSSD2.His.4.6-8. Analyze multiple factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras. NCSSD2.His.5.6-8. Explain how and why perspectives of people have changed over time. NCSSD2.His.12.6-8. Use questions generated about multiple historical sources to identify further areas of inquiry and additional sources. NCSS.D2.His.14.6-8. Explain multiple causes and effects of events and developments in the past. Preparation
Lesson Activities Activity 1. How Do We Know the Babylonians Traded?In this activity, students refer to a natural resource map of the region to learn the source of materials for Old Babylonian artifacts reviewed online. Mesopotamia, a hot, dry region subject to floods, became fertile enough to produce a surplus of grain thanks largely to a system of canals first built perhaps a thousand years before the Old Babylonian period. In this way, agricultural products became available for trade. In general however, Old Babylonia had a dearth of natural resources. Ceramic bowls and figurines as well as bricks for buildings, were produced locally from clay. But clay was found throughout the Middle East. Bitumen, a naturally occurring residue from underground oil deposits used in construction and to waterproof boats, was one of the only other important natural resources in Old Babylonia. But artifacts recovered from the period often feature materials (such as gold) not readily found in Mesopotamia. In addition to the video on Babylon produced by the British Museum, we also recommend the Natural Resources Map, from the "Mesopotamia" site at the British Museum. Because some of the materials may be unfamiliar to your students, an explanation entitled Some Natural Resources Used in Old Babylonia is available in the downloadable PDF documents for this lesson. All online maps referred to in this lesson are accessible through a link from the EDSITEment-reviewed web resource The Oriental Institute: The University of Chicago, unless otherwise noted.
Activity 2. The Ancient Map of Nippur: What does it reveal?Nippur, a principal religious center throughout the history of Mesopotamia, was the sacred city of the god Enlil, chief god in the Sumerian and Akkadian pantheon. Even after the Babylonians, through the expansion of their empire, made their chief god Marduk head of the pantheon, leaders still sent tribute to Nippur. In this activity students will use an ancient map of the city of Nippur to learn more about the impact of trade in Old Babylonia. An ancient map of Nippur reveals the impressive size (and presumably, the importance) of the religious center in Nippur as well as the infrastructure (such as docks and canals) of an important economic center. The Kassites, who were an important force in the region from the 16th to the 12th centuries BCE, took up residence in Nippur centuries after the city was abandoned, and created the ancient map of Nippur. Though the map was inscribed long after the demise of Old Babylonia, archaeological evidence has proven it remarkably accurate in showing the city as it was in Old Babylonia. The Kassites built their new city on the remains of the old.
Note: Teachers can use the Overlay of Ancient Nippur Map on Modern Topographic Plan of Site from The Oriental Institute: The University of Chicago. It shows the ancient Nippur map superimposed on a modern topographic archaeological plan of the site. This map may also be of interest to individuals in classes with online capabilities. Activity 3. Far-Reaching TradeNow that students have viewed some evidence in the archaeological record showing that trade was important in Old Babylonia, they will explore the impact of trade on Old Babylonia. Through an historically accurate but hypothetical interactive web activity structured as a choose-your-own adventure story, students will join a merchant on a journey to trade goods in a foreign city. Trade touched virtually every aspect of life in Old Babylonia (ca. 2000 BCE-1600 BCE). Industries critical to trade--boat building, for example—flourished. Kings supported trade by developing an infrastructure (such as docks and canals) too expensive or complex to be built by any other entity in Old Babylonia. Kings were in turn supported through customs levies and the influx of materials such as bronze. While on extended journeys, traders made pilgrimages to religious shrines, which became important economic centers. Wealthy kings also paid offerings to religious centers. Not every trader journey was an extended one, however, and some goods passed through numerous hands on much shorter journeys before reaching their destination. In addition to commercial imports, traders brought back to Babylonia cultural items and ideas from distant lands, and these ideas had an impact on the development of Babylonian culture. The cultural meaning of many of these items was likely affected by the method of trade that brought the objects to Babylonia, such as whether or not it arrived with people by whom it was made, gathered, or harvested, or whether it arrived through a series of middle men.
Note: Dilmun, likely the present day island nation Bahrain, was a critical crossroads on the trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley of present day Pakistan and northern India.
Students should look for incidents in the story such as those in which:
Assessment Ask students to write a brief essay about the importance of trade in Old Babylonia. Their essay should concentrate on one of the following questions:
Students should think about the following issues while writing their essays:
They should use all of the information that they have gathered while completing this lesson, and use examples from what they have read in their essays. Lesson Extensions
Selected EDSITEment Websites
What did the Sumerians have that helped with trade?They had the ability to take inventions that had been developed elsewhere and apply them on a much bigger scale. This way they could mass-produce goods such as textiles and pottery that they could then trade with other people.
What was essential to the Sumerian economy?Trade and resources. Trade was important in Sumerian society as Mesopotamia lacked essential materials such as stone, metals, and wood. Wool, lapiz lazuli, gold, copper and iron were all very important resources in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia also traded with Arabia for incense and exotic products.
Who did the Sumerian civilization trade with?Sumerians built ships that allowed them to travel into the Persian Gulf and trade with other early civilizations, such as the Harappans in northern India. They traded textiles, leather goods, and jewelry for Harappan semi-precious stones, copper, pearls, and ivory.
What economic activity characterized the advanced cities in Sumer?Answer and Explanation: Sumerians relied heavily upon trade in precious metals and stones in the most advanced cities.
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