Rise of the Early Modern Empires

Your group has been hired as curators of the new Masterto Museum. This brand-new, state-of-the-art history museum has been created to showcase the rise and fall of empires and cultures of Early Modern Period (1450-1750) and specifically designed (see floor plan below) to demonstrate global connections between these states.  You have been assigned one empire to research and to create a showcase for one of the museum's wings.  Your group will then present your exhibit to the board of directors (i.e., the rest of the class). 

Your exhibit will include a carefully vetted selection of different artifacts.  You will choose eight artifacts (picture of an object/actual objects/symbols, etc…) to portray the rise and apex of your empire through each of the six historical themes (Political, Religious, Economic, Social, Environmental, Technological.)  All-in-all, you will make a 2-5 minute presentation of  eight carefully-chose artifacts that explains the rise and apex of your assigned empire/region.

Furthermore, the board of directors vote and decide to expand one of the topics to be highlighted as the main exhibit as the museum's centerpiece (and thus, secure extra funding for their department... i.e., extra credit).