Unit 1 - Peopling of the World, Early Civilizations and Empires: Chapter 1, Chapter 2 (Sections 1 & 2), Chapter 3 (Section 3), Chapter 4 (Sections 1-3)
Unit 1: Essential Questions
1. Explain in your own words how the Neolithic Revolution lay the foundation for the specialization of labor.
The most important technological development ever to occur in human history was the domestication of plants (agriculture) and animals (pastoralism), and together these developments are known as the Neolithic Revolution. To answer the essential question, you have to explain how these two advancements allowed the development of the main components of civilization - the creation of tools and utensils, establishment of trade, and the development of urban centers (villages, towns and, eventually, cities). Catal Huyak, with about 5,000-6,000 people living in about 1,000 dwellings, is an example of such a village. Here is a link to a useful and easy-to-understand website, as well as a short but easy-to-understand video, explaining the Neolithic Revolution and its effect on the specialization of labor, and ultimately, human development. You will also find additional information to answer this question on pp. 19 - 21.
NOTE: When writing an essay, the goal is to start out with a three-pronged hypothesis. This allows you to write a well organized and logical essay.
The most important technological development ever to occur in human history was the domestication of plants (agriculture) and animals (pastoralism), and together these developments are known as the Neolithic Revolution. To answer the essential question, you have to explain how these two advancements allowed the development of the main components of civilization - the creation of tools and utensils, establishment of trade, and the development of urban centers (villages, towns and, eventually, cities). Catal Huyak, with about 5,000-6,000 people living in about 1,000 dwellings, is an example of such a village. Here is a link to a useful and easy-to-understand website, as well as a short but easy-to-understand video, explaining the Neolithic Revolution and its effect on the specialization of labor, and ultimately, human development. You will also find additional information to answer this question on pp. 19 - 21.
NOTE: When writing an essay, the goal is to start out with a three-pronged hypothesis. This allows you to write a well organized and logical essay.
2. What were some of the problems ancient cities faced? What solutions were developed to resolve these problems?
Agriculture changed the way that people lived and got along, and people benefited enormously from this. One of the consequences of this was the development of cities, but these ancient cities had to identify and solve problems, e.g. the people from Ancient Mesopotamia had very specific issues they had to address in order to live and thrive where they did. Initially their issues had to do with the environment (floods, defense, lack of natural resources), but once these were addressed, they had the deal with the problems that came with many people living together harmoniously in a relatively small area. What might some of these issues have been, and how did the Sumerians deal with them? HINT: Look specifically at the need for and establishment of organized government and a functioning legal system when reading pp. 28 – 33.
Agriculture changed the way that people lived and got along, and people benefited enormously from this. One of the consequences of this was the development of cities, but these ancient cities had to identify and solve problems, e.g. the people from Ancient Mesopotamia had very specific issues they had to address in order to live and thrive where they did. Initially their issues had to do with the environment (floods, defense, lack of natural resources), but once these were addressed, they had the deal with the problems that came with many people living together harmoniously in a relatively small area. What might some of these issues have been, and how did the Sumerians deal with them? HINT: Look specifically at the need for and establishment of organized government and a functioning legal system when reading pp. 28 – 33.
3. What are the 5 characteristics of a civilization? Give examples of how these characteristics were present in Mesopotamia OR Egypt.
The five characteristics or requirements of a civilization are:
a. Complex Institutions (government, religion, etc.)
b. Advanced Cities
c. Advanced Technology
d. Specialized Workers
e. Record Keeping
These characteristics can be studied in depth on pp. 20-24, focusing on the diagram on p. 21. You need to know all of them, but to answer the question in full, you also need to explain how either Mesopotamia or Egypt fulfilled these requirements. To answer the question on Mesopotamia, study pp. 29-34; to answer the question on Ancient Egypt, study pp. relevant aspects on pp. 37-40.
The five characteristics or requirements of a civilization are:
a. Complex Institutions (government, religion, etc.)
b. Advanced Cities
c. Advanced Technology
d. Specialized Workers
e. Record Keeping
These characteristics can be studied in depth on pp. 20-24, focusing on the diagram on p. 21. You need to know all of them, but to answer the question in full, you also need to explain how either Mesopotamia or Egypt fulfilled these requirements. To answer the question on Mesopotamia, study pp. 29-34; to answer the question on Ancient Egypt, study pp. relevant aspects on pp. 37-40.
4. What were the environmental challenges faced by the Mesopotamians and Egyptians? How did these impact both civilizations?
The keyword in this question is the word both, meaning that you have to discuss Mesopotamia AND Egypt when answering this question. The people from Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt had very specific environmental challenges they had to deal with in order to live and thrive where they did. Begin by listing these challenges (for example, both were situated near rivers that had the tendency to flood at times – but there are more!), and then explain how the two civilizations dealt with their environmental problems on pp. 29-30 (Mesopotamia), and pp. 35-36 (Egyptians).
Additional Resources:
The keyword in this question is the word both, meaning that you have to discuss Mesopotamia AND Egypt when answering this question. The people from Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt had very specific environmental challenges they had to deal with in order to live and thrive where they did. Begin by listing these challenges (for example, both were situated near rivers that had the tendency to flood at times – but there are more!), and then explain how the two civilizations dealt with their environmental problems on pp. 29-30 (Mesopotamia), and pp. 35-36 (Egyptians).
Additional Resources:
5. Describe characteristics of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, including religion, government, advancements/technology.
This question is not all that different form question 3, except that in this question, you are required to speak about BOTH civilizations, and make sure you include the aspects listed in the question (religion, government and advances in technology). You could add additional information, e.g. by mentioning art and culture, development of writing, etc. In this regard, pay attention to the building of pyramids by the Egyptians and the mummification process (pp. 38 – 40), the importance of the Rosetta Stone that was discovered in Egypt in 1799 (p. 40) and art and leisure in Ancient Egypt (pp.42 – 43).
This question is not all that different form question 3, except that in this question, you are required to speak about BOTH civilizations, and make sure you include the aspects listed in the question (religion, government and advances in technology). You could add additional information, e.g. by mentioning art and culture, development of writing, etc. In this regard, pay attention to the building of pyramids by the Egyptians and the mummification process (pp. 38 – 40), the importance of the Rosetta Stone that was discovered in Egypt in 1799 (p. 40) and art and leisure in Ancient Egypt (pp.42 – 43).
6. Regarding the increase in trade by the Phoenicians, what lasting impacts can be seen?
Phoenicia was actually not a country, but a group of city-states (such as Byblos, Tyre and Sidon) around the Mediterranean that became important trading centers about 1100 B.C. The location of these city-states, as well as the fact that the Phoenicians were remarkable shipbuilders and seafarers, led to a remarkable increase in trade that would have a lasting impact on civilizations to come. Describe what this impact was, focusing on the most important ones – the development of the alphabet, the writing system we still use today, and the cultural diffusion that resulted from the trading. You can find the information you need to answer this question on pp. 73 – 76. Also look at the website titled Phoenicians: Sailing Away. The video titled History of the Phoenicians will add to your understanding of the unique contribution of the Phoenicians.
Phoenicia was actually not a country, but a group of city-states (such as Byblos, Tyre and Sidon) around the Mediterranean that became important trading centers about 1100 B.C. The location of these city-states, as well as the fact that the Phoenicians were remarkable shipbuilders and seafarers, led to a remarkable increase in trade that would have a lasting impact on civilizations to come. Describe what this impact was, focusing on the most important ones – the development of the alphabet, the writing system we still use today, and the cultural diffusion that resulted from the trading. You can find the information you need to answer this question on pp. 73 – 76. Also look at the website titled Phoenicians: Sailing Away. The video titled History of the Phoenicians will add to your understanding of the unique contribution of the Phoenicians.
7. What role did geography play in the rise and fall of Egyptian civilizations?
Once again you are dealing with a question which you have looked at before – question 4 – but this time you have to focus on just the Egyptians living near the Nile, and consider how this first helped the Egyptians to build a civilization, but then also how it eventually led to their downfall. Answering this type of question is not really difficult, but can be frustrating as it will require hunting around somewhat in your textbook. Here are some ideas to look at and develop:
a) How did the location of the Nile and the nature of the floods allow the Egyptians to flourish as a civilization?
b) The rest of Egypt consisted of a virtually impassable desert; what advantage did this have for the Egyptians (pp. 35 – 36)? At what point was this no longer an obstacle to outsiders, what happened as a result and how did this eventually lead to the downfall of the Egyptian civilization? You will find relevant information on p. 41, and pp. 89 – 93.
For additional information on this topic, study the webpage titled Life Along the Nile.
Once again you are dealing with a question which you have looked at before – question 4 – but this time you have to focus on just the Egyptians living near the Nile, and consider how this first helped the Egyptians to build a civilization, but then also how it eventually led to their downfall. Answering this type of question is not really difficult, but can be frustrating as it will require hunting around somewhat in your textbook. Here are some ideas to look at and develop:
a) How did the location of the Nile and the nature of the floods allow the Egyptians to flourish as a civilization?
b) The rest of Egypt consisted of a virtually impassable desert; what advantage did this have for the Egyptians (pp. 35 – 36)? At what point was this no longer an obstacle to outsiders, what happened as a result and how did this eventually lead to the downfall of the Egyptian civilization? You will find relevant information on p. 41, and pp. 89 – 93.
For additional information on this topic, study the webpage titled Life Along the Nile.
8. Compare and contrast the Assyrian and Persian strategies for empire building and control?
When asked to complete a “Compare and Contrast” type of question, the easiest way to start is to draw a chart with three columns, and write down notes in these columns about what is the same between the two items being compared in the two outer columns, and write notes about what is similar in the center column. The information needed to complete this chart can be found on pp. 95 – 103. The chart should look like this:
When asked to complete a “Compare and Contrast” type of question, the easiest way to start is to draw a chart with three columns, and write down notes in these columns about what is the same between the two items being compared in the two outer columns, and write notes about what is similar in the center column. The information needed to complete this chart can be found on pp. 95 – 103. The chart should look like this:
What the Assyrians did differently than the Persians to build and control their empires:
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What the Assyrians AND the Persians did to build and control their empires:
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What the Persians did differently than the Assyrians to build and control their empires:
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Additional Resource: The Story of Africa - Early History