Do a little research in the "Student's Friend" and online to answer the following questions in a nice paragraph.
1) Why Money? What is the purpose and how did it change the nature of human interactions? Discuss.
2) What are some major indicators of civilization that we find across many different cultures? Discuss each.
3) Why law/government? What is the purpose of law and government? Why are they necessary? When do they become necessary? Discuss.
4) What were the positive effects of agriculture? What were the negative effects of agriculture? What were the neutral effects of agriculture? Do any of these effects still exist? Explain.
5) Why religion? What are some possible purposes for religion? What needs does it meet for people. Try to set your own beliefs aside just long enough to answer this question objectively. Focus on the FUNCTION of religion for societies and how it might effect and/or comfort people rather than talking about the specific beliefs. Your answer should have meaning for many religions, not just one or two.
Money:
http://www.mycreditunion.gov/Pages/why-money-is-used.aspx
http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/money.htm
http://www.philadelphiafed.org/education/teachers/lesson-plans/moneygrades6-8.pdf
http://www.moneyrelease.com/blog/money-matters/what-is-the-purpose-of-money-origin-and-functions/
http://www.netplaces.com/economics/the-story-of-money/money-throughout-history.htm
http://economics.about.com/cs/neoclassical/a/value_of_money.htm
Civilization: (Student's Friend section 15, and elsewhere.. 17, 21, 22, 25, 26, 30, 35, 43, 44, 45, 58)
http://www.learnnc.org/scos/print.php?scos=2003-SOC-0009 (see objective 1.06; it lists indicators you can discuss)
http://www.ehow.com/info_8754379_archaeological-indicators-civilization.html
http://www.writework.com/essay/human-history-early-civilizations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization (focus on the "characteristics" section)
Law/Gov't: (Student's Friend section 24, and elsewhere... 19, 23, 34, 38, 39, 40, 42, 48, 49, 53, 57)
http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/LawAndGovt/Articles/PurposeOfLaw.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/gov/1a.asp
http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/sihs/jimwilliams/purposeoflaws.pdf
http://www.quebecoislibre.org/000902-11.htm
http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/cl-13.pdf (skip this source... good, but not necessarily for this project...)
“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.” ― Thomas Jefferson
Agriculture: (Student's Friend section 13 and elsewhere... 17, 22, 31, 36, 37)
http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/cmp/modules/cha-agr.htm
http://www.public.wsu.edu/gened/learn-modules/top_agrev/7-Social-Consequences/socialcons1.html
http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/pre/1/FC4
http://history-world.org/agriculture.htm (be sure to look at "part 2" also... good stuff here: http://history-world.org/agriculture1.htm)
http://wparks.myweb.uga.edu/ppt/green/sld023.htm from: http://wparks.myweb.uga.edu/ppt/green/index.htm (may be other good ones)
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_the_effects_of_agriculture_on_early_man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_agriculture (more modern, but may give you some ideas)
Religion: (Student's Friend section 18 and elsewhere... 20, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 59)
http://anthro.palomar.edu/religion/rel_1.htm
http://www.preservearticles.com/201104296054/10-most-important-functions-of-religion.html
http://www.sociologyguide.com/religion/social-functions-and-dysfunctions-of-religion.php (may be over your head...)
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_role_and_purpose_of_religion
http://secularcafe.org/showthread.php?t=22826
bear in mind many of these are opinionated.. I don't necessarily agree with all if it, but it's worth reviewing for valuable insights...
http://www.mkhumanists.org.uk/node/95
http://contemplative-scholar.blogspot.com/2007/04/purpose-of-religion.html
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-True-Purpose-of-Religi-by-The-Try-Try-Again-101120-498.html
http://www.ted.com/conversations/13778/what_is_the_purpose_of_religio.html
“The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.”