Mesopotamia literally means ¨land between two rivers¨. It was the first civilization and besides being known as the Fertile Crescent, the civilization is known as the ¨Cradle of Life¨. (18)
Check out the universals of culture that formed this ancient civilization!
Material Culture: Pottery bowls used to store water
Arts, Play and Recreation: Sports and board games (19)
Language and Nonverbal Communication: Pictographs mainly, but they also used cuneiforms that was ¨typified¨ writing.
Social Organization: The social stratification triangle with Priest-kings at top, then nobles and high up priest, lower priest doctors and engineers, scribes, craftsmen and soldiers, finally farmers and tomb builders
Social Control: Soldiers and priest-kings
Economic Organization: The head of the town or city distributed food, water and social control to different areas
Education: The men were taught by priest in schools
if the women wanted to learn they would learn from tutors or parents (20)
Conflict and Warfare: The people within their culture that acted as ¨bullies¨
World View: Different myths help explain their world view
In Mesopotamia there were empires. At the head of the empire there was an emperor. The emperor was in charge of keeping social control. He would give punishment based on the ¨crime¨. For example, if the emperor thought that everyone in his empire was getting out of line, then he would rule with an iron fist! The social control of Ancient Mesopotamia was based on the thoughts/rules of one person. The emperor had guards everywhere! This was to make sure everyone was working and doing what they were supposed to. If the emperor's people got out of order, the the emperor would punish all. This is different than the social control we have today in the U.S. where the police help people and only punish those who are troublemakers to keep social control.
Check out the universals of culture that formed this ancient civilization!
Material Culture: Pottery bowls used to store water
Arts, Play and Recreation: Sports and board games (19)
Language and Nonverbal Communication: Pictographs mainly, but they also used cuneiforms that was ¨typified¨ writing.
Social Organization: The social stratification triangle with Priest-kings at top, then nobles and high up priest, lower priest doctors and engineers, scribes, craftsmen and soldiers, finally farmers and tomb builders
Social Control: Soldiers and priest-kings
Economic Organization: The head of the town or city distributed food, water and social control to different areas
Education: The men were taught by priest in schools
if the women wanted to learn they would learn from tutors or parents (20)
Conflict and Warfare: The people within their culture that acted as ¨bullies¨
World View: Different myths help explain their world view
In Mesopotamia there were empires. At the head of the empire there was an emperor. The emperor was in charge of keeping social control. He would give punishment based on the ¨crime¨. For example, if the emperor thought that everyone in his empire was getting out of line, then he would rule with an iron fist! The social control of Ancient Mesopotamia was based on the thoughts/rules of one person. The emperor had guards everywhere! This was to make sure everyone was working and doing what they were supposed to. If the emperor's people got out of order, the the emperor would punish all. This is different than the social control we have today in the U.S. where the police help people and only punish those who are troublemakers to keep social control.