Mesopotamia
⭐ MasteredMesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is called the cradle of civilisation. Sumerians invented writing called cuneiform and the wheel was used there.
Cuneiform was written by pressing wedge shapes into clay.
All about Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia means "land between the rivers" and refers to the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern Iraq. It is often called the cradle of civilisation, because some of the earliest cities, farms and writing systems developed there.
The Sumerians invented cuneiform, a writing system pressed into clay tablets with a reed stylus. Mesopotamian people built ziggurats, developed laws such as the Code of Hammurabi and used a number system based on 60, which still shapes how we measure time today.
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Real-life uses of Mesopotamia
- Explaining the origins of writing and record-keeping
- Understanding early laws and governments
- Explaining why we have 60 minutes in an hour
Frequently asked questions about Mesopotamia
What is cuneiform?
One of the earliest writing systems, made by pressing wedge-shaped marks into soft clay.
What was Hammurabi's Code?
A set of laws from ancient Babylon, carved on a stone pillar, that set out punishments and rules for many parts of life.
Why are there 60 minutes in an hour?
The Sumerians and Babylonians used a base-60 number system, which was passed down into how we measure time and angles.