Chapter 20

we studied the time period in Mesopotamia right after the fall of the city of Ur. Instead of one strong empire, many different groups (the Sumerians, Amorites, Elamites, Assyrians, and Babylonians) all lived, traded, and struggled for influence in the same region. We call this era the “Mixing Bowl of Mesopotamia” because cultures, languages, and traditions blended together in ways that would eventually shape the famous Babylonian Empire under Hammurabi. We also discussed why so many leaders in history claim they are “restoring the old ways,” and what that reveals about the human longing for roots, identity, and meaning. Students worked in groups to analyze the text closely, map the shifting political landscape, and reflect on how both conflict and cultural exchange shape civilizations.