MESOPOTAMIA

The episode traces human movement from caves, to cities and towns, and eventually to civilized societies with governments, laws, and religious codes. Students learn about the evolution of tools from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, the development of cuneiform writing, the establishment of astronomy and astrology, and the legend of Gilgamesh. They also learn about the succession of civilizations in Mesopotamia, from the Acadians through the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. The closing segment compares pyramids built in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Central America, and Peru.