Law

• In this activity, students learn about the the law code of King Hammurabi, ruler from 1792 to 1750 B.C.E., the best preserved of all Mesopotamian legal documents. Students are given a series of scenarios taken directly from the law code, such as "What should happen to a boy who slaps his father" and "What should happen to a man who does not pay his debts?" As a whole class, students should debate the scenario and produce a set of consequences for each misdemeanor. The teacher then distributes the relevant sections of the law code to students to compare their answers with those from ancient Mesopotamia. Students can then discuss the differences in the justice systems of Mesopotamia and modern-day America.
  
  

Women

• In this activity, students investigate the roles and rights of ancient Mesopotamian women. Show students photographs from royal grave of Queen Shub-ad, the prayer to the goddess Ishtar and laws regarding women from Hammurabi's code. Students should discuss what each document tells us abut the treatment of women in ancient Mesopotamia. Have students compare this with the situation in modern America and ask them which society they would prefer to live in.
  
  

Food

• In this activity from the University of Chicago, students learn about the ancient Mesopotamian diet by making bread from an authentic recipe. Start by explaining to students that archaeologists have found many clay tablets containing Mesopotamian recipes and that they are going to make ancient-style bread. Students will mix together 14 oz. of flour, 1 cup of water and 1/2 tsp. salt together slowly. Next, knead the dough and form it into round patties. Cover the dough with a cloth and let it sit overnight. The next day, bake at 350 degrees F in the oven for 30 minutes. For an authentic experience, have students eat the bread with a raw onion. After eating, have students verbally compare the taste and texture of the bread with modern equivalents.
  
  

Housing

• In this activity, students learn abut housing in ancient Mesopotamia and compare it to the types of houses that people live in today. Give each student a copy of the drawing of a Mesopotamian house, completed by archaeologists, from the University of Chicago website. Have students verbally identify the similarities and differences between this house and a modern equivalent. Next, have students imagine that they live in a Mesopotamian city and that their family has just moved into this house. Have them write a letter to a friend describing what their new home is like and three of their favorite things abut it.