Examine a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Art of the First Cities," examining the devlopment of civilizations around the third millenium bce.   Visit the Baghdad Museum!!   Then view the extraordinary Assyrian reliefs from the Palace at Nimrod.

View a fascinating article on the history of ceramics, tracing design and material development from the ancient Near East to the ceramic tiles of Mexico!

And remember these words:  MESOPOTAMIA, VOTIVE, CUNEIFORM, ZIGGURAT, STELE, GLAZED BRICK, OPTICAL, CONCEPTUAL
Do you know these materials:  lapis lazuli and  diorite?

a. Explore the rise of the Sumerian culture and why the term "civilization" can be used in describing the Sumerians (see pages 32-35).
b. Notice the differences between the art of the Assyrians and the later Persian art (see the textbook on pages 45-49).
c. Examine the materials used in the Neo-Babylonian "Gate of Ishtar"  (see page 47 and the inset on the same page).

a.  Statuettes of worshippers from the Square Temple  at Eshnunna (see page 35).
b. Victory Stele of Naram-sin, (see page 40).
c. Lamassu (see page 45 in the text book;  the image shown in the link is from a different angle).
d. Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions (view a similar image and the one in the textbook on page 46).
e. Ishtar Gate (restored), Babylonian, (see page 47).
f.  Persepolis, location of the palace of Darius at Persepolis (see the view on page 49.)

a. Visit the "Bible Lands Museum at Jerusalem" for a look at Biblical history through Near Eastern art from the dawn of civilization. 

b. "The Epic of Gilgamesh," from "Exploring Ancient World Cultures"

c. View the fabled "Tower of Babel"

d. Tour the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago

e.  Explore "Persian Art Through the Centuries" from Iransaga.

f. Examine the role of women and their contribution to art in the time of Hammurabi.

g. Learn about UNESCO's "World Heritage List," and especially about sites in danger of destruction.

Your chapter report responds to a 'key item' from #3 above, or analyzes a work of art selected from #4 above.  Include comment/comparison from one of the web sites in #5 above or from another you have located.  See instructions on how to write the chapter reports.   DON'T FORGET:  Your report is due as noted on your schedule.