Week 2:
Ancient Civilizations
Review
Lesson 1: Origins of CivilizationL.G.1: I can describe how scholars have studied the past and what they have learned about early hominids in Africa.L.G.2: I can analyze the skills people developed during the Old Stone Age and Neolithic Revolution.L.G.3: I can trace the development of the first cities and civilizations.
Lesson 2: The Ancient Middle East and EgyptL.G.1: I can describe how geography influenced the development of the first civilization in the Fertile Crescent.L.G.2: I can describe the ways in which religion shaped the lives of ancient peoples in Egypt and Israel.
Lesson 3: Ancient India and ChinaL.G.1: I can trace the origins and development of Hinduism and Buddhism in India.L.G.2: I can describe how strong rulers created powerful empires in India.L.G.3: I can describe the features of early Chinese civilizations and the influence of Confucius.
Assigned Readings
Make sure you know the vocabulary terms on the right, as you may be quizzed on them this week.
- Prehistory
- Neolithic Revolution
- Polytheistic
- Monotheistic
- Diaspora
- Monsoon
- Dynastic Cycle
- Feudalism
- Chinampa
- Quipu
Monday: Early Humans
Unit o | Describe how scholars have studied the past and what they have learned about early hominids in Africa.Unit o | Trace the development of the first cities and civilizations.Opener: Philosophy | Erasing the Past
If history was erased today and no one remembered it, would humans be in a better or worse place tomorrow?
Taking Sides - "better" on one side of the room and "worse" on the other
Lesson: Origins of Civilization
Notes | Early Humans and the Origins of Civilization
(Extension) Source Reader | Early Humans - Use the sources to answer the following question(s).
What were early humans like?
How do we know about humans before the advent of writing?
Closing: Great Race | The Big Five Domesticated Animals
Identify the five most important domesticated animals according to Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel
Resources | Early Humans
Map | California Academy of Sciences - Interactive Human Migration Map [ 🔗 ]
TimeMaps | Middle East in 1000 BCE
Tuesday: The Ancient Middle East & Egypt
Unit o | Describe how geography influenced the development of the first civilization in the Fertile Crescent.Unit o | Describe the ways in which religion shaped the lives of ancient peoples in Egypt and Israel.Opener: Philosophy | Grouping
Is the human tendency to create groups an overall positive or a negative trait in terms of general human flourishing?
Lesson: The Ancient Middle East and Egypt
Notes | The Ancient Middle East and Egypt
(Extension) Ted-Ed Video | The Library of Alexandria (4:52 mins) 🔗
Closing: Great Race | River Valley Civilizations
Connect the historical concepts with the correct river valley civilization
Resources | The Ancient Middle East
MW02 [ CW Handout & Documents ] Hammurabi's Code - RLHCW | Hammurabi's Code
Wednesday: Hammurabi's Code
Opener: Philosophy | A Society Without Laws
Can a society exist without laws?
What would it look like?
Lesson: Primary Source Analysis | The Law Code of Hammurabi
Complete the Law Code of Hammurabi - RLH worksheet
Personal Reflection | The LHS Code of Conduct (vs. Hammurabi)
What school rules do you find more fair? Less fair?
Complete the Hammurabi's Code worksheet
Closing: Personal Reflection | Modern Laws vs. Ancient Laws
What do you think society would be like today if we followed a law code similar to that of ancient Babylon?
Resources | Law, Crime, and Punishment
Shiva, The Cosmic Dancer
The Story of India
Thursday: Ancient India
Opener: Vocabulary Quiz | Ancient Civilizations
Complete the vocabulary quiz based on the words from this week's readings. In the event that you did not do well you are welcome to earn the points back by submitting definitions for the vocabulary terms using the Frayer Model (click for example).
Lesson: The Story of India - The Power of Ideas (Buddhism and the Mauryan Empire)
Watch the documentary and complete the documentary quiz.
( Extension ) Discussion
"All life is suffering" -One way to interpret the First Noble Truth of Buddhism- (Dukkha)
Is suffering a necessary part of the human condition? What would people who never suffered be like?
Closing: Collect the Documentary Quiz
Collect the documentary quiz
students who try to share answers during collection will not earn credit on the documentary quiz
Answer questions about the documentary
Resources | Ancient India
Friday: Ancient China
Opener: Philosophy | Confucianism vs. Daoism
Would you rather be at school with your friends or alone in nature? Explain.
Lesson: Primary Source Analysis | Confucianism vs. Daoism
View the Confucianism and Daoism slideshow (you do not need to take notes)
Complete the Confucianism and Daoism worksheet
Closing: Comparison | The Ideal Government
What does the ideal government look like according to Confucius and Laozi?
