Unit 2 Mesopotamia

1. Read and translate the text.

The geographical name “Mesopotamia” is of the Greek origin and literally means “between two rivers”. The huge, rich and fertile plain, watered by the rivers Euphrates and Tigris was the place where many civilizations succeeded each other. The flourishing cities were built in Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium B.C. Because of the lack of stone, granite and marble the Mesopotamians turned to sundried brick, bronze and gold. The small fragile carving in ivory and bone were surely the fine pieces of art. Though Mesopotamia was greatly influenced by Egypt, the arts produced there were more varied and less conventional. The explanation of the fact possibly lies in the character of religion since the peoples of Mesopotamia had no strong faith in afterlife but believed in animal and human god-heroes. The superstitions based on the stars and sorcery were also a part of their spiritual life.

The famous capital of the ancient Mesopotamia Babylon was successfully rebuilt in the 6^th century B.C. The single gateway to the city was covered with turquoise-blue enameled tiles and adorned with golden lions and griffins. Far behind the gateway a great temple-tower, the Tower of Babel, rose. It was mentioned in the Old Testament. Although Babylon was a luxurious and cosmopolitan city it was heavily fortified and had an advanced defence system.

The Western civilization owes much to Mesopotamia including the art of town-building, the invention of the arch and dome, the hydraulic system, the unique architecture of splendid palaces and high towers, the huge stone relieves and others. Among these, however, the famous “Hanging Gardens” counted as one of the wonders of the world, have been attracting attention of all generations since then. The most part of the ancient Mesopotamia comes into area of the modern Iraq.

Vocabulary:

1) flourish – процветать;

2) marble – мрамор;

3) brick – кирпич;

4) ivory – слоновая кость;

5) carve – вырезать, высекать (из камня, дерева);

6) influence – влиять;

7) produce – производить;

8) faith – вера;

9) superstition – суеверие;

10) tile – плитка, черепица;

11) enamel – глазурь;

12) adorn – украшать;

13) cover – покрывать;

14) defence – защита;

15) invention – изобретение;

16) arch – арка;

17) dome – купол;

18) palace –дворец;

19) attract attention – привлекать внимание;

20) achievement – достижение.

2. Answer the questions.

1. What’s the geographical outline of Mesopotamia?

2. What can you tell about the religion of Mesopotamia?

3. What materials did they use in building?

4. How can you describe the capital of Mesopotamia?

5. What architectural inventions belong to Mesopotamia?

6. What technical achievements of Mesopotamians do you know?

7. What wonder of the world was born in Mesopotamia?

8. What country occupies the most area of ancient Mesopotamia?

3. Guess the meaning of the following words.

Civilization, religion, human, cosmopolitan, hydraulic system, sculptor, relief, dynasty, proportion, irrigation figure, arch, cupola, capital, granite, type, statue, platform, bronze, fantastic, column, interest, occupation, style.

4. Choose the right word.

1. Although Babylon was a ____ and cosmopolitan city it was heavily fortified.

1. glamorous;

2. graceful;

3. luxurious.

2. The first flourishing cities were ____ in Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium B.C.

1. rebuilt;

2. built;

3. destroyed.

3. The Mesopotamians invented the ____ and dome.

1. palace;

2. arch;

3. base.

4. Though Mesopotamia was greatly influenced by ____ the arts produced there were more varied and less conventional.

1. Egypt; b) Greece; c) Iraq.

5. The gateway to the city was ____ with turquoise-blue enameled tiles.

1. carved;

2. counted;

3. covered.

6. Babylon had a/an ____ defence system.

1. ancient;

2. advanced;

3. simple.

5. Translate and learn the following word combinations.

More varied, less conventional, unlike this culture, a strong religious faith, a divine power, to believe in superstitions, to be based on the stars and sorcery, to invent arch and dome, to influence later buildings, to lack granite and marble, to turn to gold and silver, fragile carvings, in ivory and bone, a luxurious city, the Tower of Babel, great temple towers, a wonder of the world, brick and stone vaults, to owe much to …, turquoise-blue colours, enameled tiles, attention of generations.

6. Choose the right synonyms for the underlined words.

1. The single gateway was adorned with golden lions and griffins.

2. The great walls defended the city.

3. the first flourishing cities were built in Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium B.C.

4. The rivers Euphrates and Tigris watered the huge, rich and fertile plain.

5. Babylon was successfully rebuilt in the sixth century B.C.

Prosperous, enormous, decorated, restored, protected.

7. Classify the following words into nouns, verbs and adjectives.

Silver, huge, palace, arch, flourish, brick, wood, dome, adorn, slender, ponderous, heavy, paint, successful, invent, granite, temple, wall, large, gateway, carve, hydraulic, splended, superstition, flourising, success, produce.

8. Write a written translation.

1. The name Mesopotamia comes from Greek words meaning “between the rivers”. It was used for the fertile valleys of the great Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the lands between them.

2. Mesopotamia is bounded on the west by the Arabian Desert and on the north and east by the mountains and highlands of Turkey and Iran.

3. The ruins of many cities 4,000 to 5,000 years old prove that this area was thickly populated in ancient times.

4. Archeology shows that the first people in Mesopotamia lived in small villages in the north, where by 4000 B.C. they fashioned decorated pottery, produced cloth, and traded with their neighbors.

5. By 3000 B.C. several distinct groups of people lived in Mesopotamia. The Sumerians of unknown origin and racial connections lived in the south.

6. Soon after 3000 B.C. the Sumerians began to develop a brilliant civilization. Their rule was followed by that of the Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, and Creeks.

9. Retell the text “Mesopotamia”.