Archaeology and Early Humans
In regions without much wood, what alternative materials might people have used to construct homes?
Mammoth bones
This period marks a significant change in human activity. What shifted during this time? Think about how humans got their food.
The shift from food gathering to food producing
Think about what innovations gave armies an advantage in ancient times. What tools and vehicles might have been important?
Iron weapons and chariots
What stance did both men take on the topic of violence, and why might this have been significant in their lives?
Both men were against violence.
This Jewish holiday commemorates a significant historical event. What might it symbolize in terms of freedom and survival?
The Exodus
Early people needed certain natural resources to survive. What might have been their top priorities when choosing where to settle?
A location near enough food and water
What makes cuneiform different from the ways we write today? Look at its shapes and purposes.
A form of writing using wedge-shaped symbols
Consider how small settlements grow. What happens when farmers produce more food than they need?
Farms grew into villages and then cities.
Floods can be destructive, but they also leave behind something useful. How did this benefit farming in ancient China?
People began to grow crops in the rich soil.
What made this ancient set of laws groundbreaking for its time? How did it help people understand consequences?
Know the punishment for specific crimes
How do different climates and landscapes affect what people use and how they live? Consider how resources like plants, animals, and land shape cultures.
Made use of the resources in their particular region.
Ancient structures often had symbolic purposes. Why might a community build something tall and prominent?
To honor the gods
What is the common connection between rulers in a dynasty? Is it about location, family ties, or shared power?
A series of rulers from the same family
Legalism emphasizes strong control. How might a ruler show they follow this philosophy?
He created a strong government with strict laws.
How were women’s rights in ancient Egypt different from other ancient societies? What might they have been allowed to do?
They could divorce their husbands.
Communication was crucial for survival in the Stone Age. Why would people develop language? Which uses would be less critical in that time?
Creating art. Language was developed for coordinating hunting, sharing information, and fostering social bonds. Writing for leisure or art was not a priority.
Civilizations and Empires: Part one
Which group held the most important religious and social responsibilities in Aryan society?
Brahmins.
What does the inclusion of valuable items in tombs suggest about beliefs regarding the afterlife?
Egyptians believed the dead enjoyed such materials in the afterlife.
Think about where a trade route that starts in China might logically end. What kinds of goods might have been exchanged?
At the Mediterranean Sea.
Consider a mathematical concept we use everyday that might not have existed before Indian mathematicians.
Indian mathematicians were the first to use the number zero.
The Ice Ages brought challenges to survival. How might people have adapted to colder climates and limited resources?
Early humans were forced to fish.
Civilizations and Empires: Part one
How might religious ideas evolve when scholars share and expand upon older teachings?
Vedic scholars gained new insights from the Upanishads.
Why might her rule have been especially notable for her time and culture?
She was the first woman to rule Kush.
After major conflicts, what might happen to people living in a region? Where would they go?
Many Jews moved throughout the Mediterranean region.
Look at a map of China. What natural barrier separates the northern and southern regions?
Qinling Shadi Mountains