You may download your script and songs by going to: www.southlandsings.org/flaming Flaming Script Sumer Song 1 WE ARE THE SUMERIANS WE ARE VERY COOL AND ARE PROUD THAT WE INVENTED THE WHEEL (everyone ignores her) Natalie AND THE PLOW THE PLOW, THE PLOW, WHAT ABOUT THE PLOW IT S A VERY GOOD TOOL BUT EVERYONE IGNORES IT Everyone SUMER THE CREATOR OF THE WHEEL IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL THE PLOW WAS FOR THE FARM AND DIDN T HAVE MUCH CHARM THAT S THE WAY IT GOES WE ARE THE SUMERIANS WE ARE VERY COOL AND ARE PROUD THAT WE INVENTED THE WHEEL (Natalie clears her throat) AND THE PLOW Sumer was the first empire and had 12 City States. Each city- state ruled itself. The Ziggurat Temple was the city center. The priests ran the irrigation systems so people would come to the Ziggurat to pay the priests for their services, this made the priests very powerful. (cue: 30 seconds of I ve got the power dance of the priests, Avery will choreograph) The Sumerians created a cuneiform language- a language with written symbols and sounds. They were able to record business transactions and history. The Akkadians Then the Akkadians conquered the Sumerians 1
Song 2: Sargon Ladies and Gentleman, the creator of the first empire and the first emperor... Sargon!! I AM SARGON AND UNDER MY RULE I SENT MANY PEOPLE TO SCHOOL AND DEVELOPED A POLITICAL ENTITY THAT WAS THE STANDARD FOR FUTURE KINGDOMS THEY CALL ME THE FIRST EMPEROR AND THOUGH MY RULE WAS VERY SHORT OUR IDEAS INFLUENCED MANY PEOPLE AND CHANGED THE WAY THEY LIVE. THAT IS, UNTIL THE BABYLONIANS MOVED IN. (Chasing the Akkadians off stage) AAAAHHHHHHHH Babylonians Babylonians (Computer 8 Amari, Kiara, Giana) Song 3 Babylon the Great BABYLON, BABYLON BABYLON THE GREAT SO POWERFUL, MAJESTIC WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR POWER, YOUR MIGHT AN EMPIRE TO BE FEARED BABYLON, BABYLON YOU ARE TO BE REVERED In 1750 BC the powerful Amorite King Hamurabi set up the Babylonian empire between the Tigres and Euphrates rivers. They were polytheists- worshipping many gods I m Marduk, the god of magic I m Adad the god of storms. Garra, god of fire Marduk Adad Garra Igigi 2
Igigi god of heavens And many other gods. Under the rule of King Hamurabi the cuniaform written language was expanded. He collected taxes, established a strong government and a single code of law, this code gave rights to the people living in his land and was known as, An eye for an eye. The empire was the most powerful state in the ancient world, (Two students come in, one bumps into him and breaks the other s arm) Ouch, you broke my arm Student 1 Student 2 Sorry, it was a mistake Student 3 (Reading from the lawbook) Hamurabi s code says, If a man breaks another s bone, his bone shall be broken. Sorry dude, but we have to break your arm. Student 2 Nooo (He runs off stage being chased by the other two students) Song 4: Hamurabi s Code YO, YO, YO, IT WASN T ALWAYS FAIR ONLY THE BRAVE THEY RE THE ONES WHO DARED MAYBE THEIR LIFE WAS SPARED THEREFORE THEY WERE SCARED POOR MAN CRIED AS THE BIG MAN LIED SO MANY DUMB WAYS TO DIE YO, YO, YO, IT WASN T ALWAYS FAIR ONLY THE BRAVE THEY RE THE ONES WHO DARED MAYBE THEIR LIFE WAS SPARED THEREFORE THEY WERE SCARED Then came the mighty military machine... The Assyrians Assyrians Song 5 3
WE ARE COOL WITH A POWERFUL ARMY AND CONTROL THE NEIGHBORING LANDS WE LOVE TO FIGHT WITH ALL OF OUR MIGHT THE ENEMY CANNOT WITHSTAND BATTERING RAMS ON THE DOORS WE SLAM WITH IRON IN OUR SWORDS AND SPEARS WE ARE GREATLY FEARED AND TO BE REVERED Through their conquests, the Assyrian empire grew so big that they would assign a governor to each land they conquered. They would also provide an army to each governor in order to stay in control. Tribute was sent to the Assyrian Emperor, this was pay for protection. But... Governor (Speaking to the tax collector) Dude, like I m so sorry but I m short on cash this month, I ll pay you next month, I promise. Soldiers burn this city to the ground! That s harsh You gotta pay to play Tax Collector Governor Tax Collector If a governor failed to pay tribute, his city would be destroyed forcing its citizens into exile. Citizens (To the governor as they are leaving their burnt city) Thanks a lot, you re the worst Governor ever. Thanks for nothing. The Assyrians were cruel to the people they defeated. They burned their cities, imprisoned dissidents and exiled many others. Student The Assyrians are super mean, I sure wish the Chaldeans would take over this place. Looks like your wish will come true, then came the New Babylonian Empire 4
Song 6: The Chaldeans WE PARTNERED WITH THE MEDES THEN TOOK DOWN THE ASSYRIANS BURNING THE CITY OF NINEVEH TO THE GROUND ONCE IN CONTROL KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS ON THE SCENE HE REBUILT BABYLON, MADE IT NICE AND CLEAN HE CREATED THE HANDING GARDENS IT APPEARED TO FLOAT ABOVE THE GROUND ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS TOO BAD IT S NOT STILL AROUND Nebuchadnezzar s reign was very powerful and the empire flourished, unfortunately, weak rulers that followed Nebuchadnezzar made it easy for Cyrus of Persia to conquer the land. Song 7 The Persians THE PERSIANS WERE THE BEST THE VERY BEST RULED BY THE GREAT CYRUS AN EMPIRE THAT PROMOTED BUSINESS AND TOLERATION IN RELIGION CYRUS WAS A GREAT RULER SO GIVE HIM YOUR ATTENTION Cyrus I hereby decree a policy of Toleration. All may keep their own religious beliefs and speak their own language and way of life. However, you have to show me the money! Which means they had to pay taxes or tribute. Cyrus did many things to encourage peace: he freed the Hebrews and allowed them to rebuild their temple. There were fewer revolts because they were treated fairly and with kindness it was a peaceful time. He created a Royal Road that was 1,775 miles long that was used for military troops, business, trade and mail. He instigated the use of minted coins, an idea he got from the Lydians. He also promoted business and made it easier to pay taxes. Song 8: Let s Just Get Along LET S UNITE LET S GET ALONG THAT IS WHY WE SING THIS SONG BE KIND TO EACH OTHER IN EVERYTHING WORK HARD AT YOUR BUSINESS AND LIVE IN HARMONY 5
IN HARMONY 6