Unit One: Civilizations and Empires
We will begin our study of World History starting with the first major civilizations and empires. We will study Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, and the Indus River Valley.
The guiding question for this unit is: What does it mean to be civilized?
By the time you are finished with this unit you will understand the following ideas:
- There are basic characteristics that all civilizations share.
- Physical geography shapes civilizations.
- Foreign interaction can result in a civilization’s development or downfall.
- Civilizations develop at different times and different places.
- Institutions and civilizations of the past continue to impact our world.
- A variety of religions, governmental systems and political institutions develop over time.
SSWH1 The student will analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of complex societies in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BCE to 500 BCE.
a. Describe the development of Mesopotamian societies; include the religious, cultural, economic, and political facets of society, with attention to Hammurabi’s law code.
b. Describe the relationship of religion and political authority in Ancient Egypt.
c. Explain the development of monotheism; include the concepts developed by the ancient Hebrews, and Zoroastrianism.
d. Identify early trading networks and writing systems existent in the Eastern Mediterranean, including those of the Phoenicians.
e. Explain the development and importance of writing; include cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the Phoenician alphabet.
SSWH2 The student will identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.
a. Describe the development of Indian civilization; include the rise and fall of the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka.
b. Explain the development and impact of Hinduism and Buddhism on India and subsequent diffusion of Buddhism.
c. Describe the development of Chinese civilization under the Zhou and Qin.
d. Explain the impact of Confucianism on Chinese culture; include the examination system, the Mandate of Heaven, the status of peasants, the status of merchants, and the patriarchal family, and explain diffusion to Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea.
SSWH3 The student will examine the political, philosophical, and cultural interaction of Classical Mediterranean societies from 700 BCE to 400 CE.
a. Compare the origins and structure of the Greek polis, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.
b. Identify the ideas and impact of important individuals; include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and describe the diffusion of Greek culture by Aristotle’s pupil Alexander the Great and the impact of Julius and Augustus Caesar.
c. Analyze the contributions of Hellenistic and Roman culture; include law, gender, and science.
d. Describe polytheism in the Greek and Roman world and the origins and diffusion of Christianity in the Roman world.
e. Analyze the factors that led to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
SSWH4 The student will analyze the importance of the Byzantine and Mongol
empires between 450 CE and 1500 CE.
a. Analyze the importance of Justinian, include the influence of the Empress Theodora, Justinian’s Code, and Justinian’s efforts to recapture the west.
b. Describe the relationship between the Roman and Byzantine Empires; include the impact Byzantium had on Moscow and the Russian Empire, the effect of Byzantine culture on Tsar Ivan III and Kiev, and the rise of Constantinople as a center for law, religion, and the arts.
c. Explain the Great Schism of 1054 CE.
d. Analyze the spread of the Mongol Empire; include the role of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan in developing the empire, the impact of the Mongols on Russia, China and the West, the development of trade, and European observations through the writings of Marco Polo.
e. Explain the Ottoman Empire’s role in the decline of Byzantium and the capture of Constantinople in 1453 CE.
SSWH5 The student will trace the origins and expansion of the Islamic World between 600 CE and 1300 CE.
a. Explain the origins of Islam and the growth of the Islamic Empire.
b. Identify the Muslim trade routes to India, China, Europe, and Africa and assess the economic impact of this trade.
c. Explain the reasons for the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
d. Identify the contributions of Islamic scholars in medicine (Ibn Sina) and geography (Ibn Battuta).
e. Describe the impact of the Crusades on both the Islamic World and Europe.
f. Analyze the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
SSWH6 The student will describe the diverse characteristics of early African societies before 1800 CE.
a. Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture.
b. Describe the development and decline of the Sudanic kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, Songhai); include the roles of Sundiata, and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to Mecca.
c. Describe the trading networks by examining trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves; include the Swahili trading cities.
d. Analyze the process of religious syncretism as a blending of traditional African beliefs with new ideas from Islam and Christianity.
e. Analyze the role of geography and the distribution of resources played in the development of trans-Saharan trading networks.
Below are your assignments for this unit. Read the directions for the expectations and method for receiving points for each assignment.
Assignment 1: Preview Reflection
Read over this unit's GPS standards, and write a paragraph response to the following question to get you thinking about this unit. This will be your first blog post.
* Write your response as a paragraph long blog post. Be sure to give your post an appropriate title and use proper grammar and spelling. Notify Mrs. Siegmund after you have published your post. *20 possible points
Assignment 2: Nova Net Modules
Complete the following Nova Net modules for unit 1. Be sure to take detailed notes as you complete the lessons.
Modules:
A1- Ancient History
A2- Classic History
A3- Non-Western History
Assignment 3: Civilizations Maps
Pick up the packet of maps from Mrs. Siegmund. Each map contains the directions for completing the map (the page numbers you'll use, the items you should label, and a key to complete).
*After completing your maps show them to Mrs. Siegmund so she can award your points. These maps should go in your notebook. You will need to study these maps to prepare for map test.
*60 possible points.
Assignment 4: Civilizations Map Test
Study your completed maps from assignment 3. Be prepared to identify major geographic features (rivers, mountains, oceans) and important cities from the 6 civilizations we're studying. Also, be prepared to explain the geographic similarities that all of the 6 civilizations share.
*You must pass the map test with an 80% or higher. You can retake the test if necessary.50 possible points.
