How To Use This Resource
Integrate primary resources into the study of Ancient MesopotamiaLife in Mesopotamia
Learn about archaeology and discover what scholars know about Mesopotamia by reading 14 cultural theme summaries that illustrate what life was like thousands of years ago in ancient Iraq. Cultural themes are central to this resource and can be explored further with thematic browses of the Learning Collection or with Lesson Plans that have been developed to support each of the 14 themes.
Go to Life in Mesopotamia Visual Exploration
Explore the Learning Collection by browsing a gallery of teacher-selected artifacts. Using a computer projector if you have one, select an artifact and take an in-depth look using the “Zoomify” software. Every artifact has a Visual Exploration page with introductory Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) questions posted to the left of the Zoomify image to promote closer examination of each artifact. Use the VTS questions to start your students talking!
Discussion Questions
Continue the classroom discussion with the discussion questions listed directly under the artifact image. Written by teachers for teachers, these questions help spur discussion or guide student research assignments. While most answers are available by reading the artifact description, some answers to questions challenge students to do further research to find the answer.
This method of instruction works best as a classroom activity using a computer projector so that all students may observe and discuss the same artifacts. The Learning Collection is also best explored by early learners in this manner.
Use Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
For a more formal, in-depth classroom, online, or museum experience, conduct a discussion using the strategies outlined in the Visual Thinking Strategies section on the Visual Exploration page.
Search & Browse the Learning Collection
Searching and browsing the collection works best as an independent or group activity by students in grades four and above. This activity works well in classrooms with multiple computers on the Internet or in computer labs.
Searching the Learning Collection
Search the collection using the keyword search if you are looking for something specific, like Gilgamesh, cuneiform, or Babylon. When you search the Learning Collection, you are searching a group of teacher-selected artifacts that date from 200,000 BC to 628 AD. Archaeological images and documents from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago also help us visualize what ancient Mesopotamian cities may have looked like thousands of years ago.
Browsing the Learning Collection
Browse the Learning Collection by: Name, Time Period, Type, Material, Cultural Theme or by Archaeological Site. Browse when you’re not looking for a specific artifact or you are uncertain how to describe the artifact. Browsing categories provides the opportunity to discover relationships between artifacts and develop a greater understanding of life in Mesopotamia.
Interactives
Bring Mesopotamia to life in your classroom! Engage students with a wide range of easily accessible interactives. Examine artifacts in-depth and see interviews with archaeologists with these informative interactives. Recreated from 22 interactives that are offered on Oriental Institute Museum computer kiosks, you will need Shockwave, Flash, and Quicktime plug-ins to view these on your computer.
Lesson Plans
Need a lesson plan now? Here you can find lesson plans ready to go. Download any of these exemplary lesson plans created by Chicago Public School teachers.
Further Exploration
Find additional resources for teaching ancient history on the Oriental Institute's website 
