Download Thinking and Writing as an Historian

Thinking and Writing as an
Historian
Using relevant historical evidence &
understanding your topic
Think as a Historian
Use relevant evidence. Evidence is irrelevant if it uses
the wrong culture, wrong time period, wrong topic.
For example, if the question asks about the first
civilizations in Mesopotamia, facts about Sumer are
more relevant than facts about Egypt. For each claim
below, evaluate the relevance of the statements
below it
1. The Assyrians were successful at warfare.
1. Assyrians learned from Central Asian pastoralists to
use chariots.
2. The assyrians adopted much of the culture of the
Sumerians.
Thinking Continued
2. Abraham was an influential religious leader.
1. Canaan includes sites holy to Jews, Christians,
and Muslims.
2. Abraham was originally called Abram
Writing as an Historian
• In writing an essay, be clear about the topic.
Students sometimes do not read an essay
questions closely and so they write about
examples from the wrong region, wrong time
period, or wrong theme. For each essay question
below, explain whether the examples are relevant
to the topic:
• Did the first civilizations of the Middle East build
impressive cities?
– The roads and sewer systems of early India were
remarkable.
– Some cities in Mesopotamia had populations of 30,000
Writing as an Historian
• How did warfare shape the first civilizations in the
Middle East?
– The conquest of the Middle East by the Roman Empire
shaped the religious and political development of the
region.
– The Hittites’ use of iron made them successful at war
• Compare and contrast the impact of Sumerians
and the Jews on later cultures.
– Sumerians used 60 as the basis for the numbering
system.
– Jews had two major rebellions against Roman Rule
Period 1: Technological and Environmental
Transformations to c. 600 B.C.E (Review)
1. How did the agricultural revolution in SW Asia
change the relationship between people and the
environment?
2. Analyze the relationship between the cultures of
Sumer and Babylonia. How was this similar to
the relationship between the Olmec and Maya?
3. How did the agricultural revolution lead to the
development of kings and to greater warfare?
Period 1: Technological and Environmental
Transformations to c. 600 B.C.E (Review)
4. How do achievements in architecture in MohenjoDaro and in ancient Egypt both reflect the process
of state- building?
5. Analyze how forms of transportation and types of
trade goods affected the trade between
Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.
6. Analyze the similarities and differences of the
systems of record- keeping that emerged in the
Mediterranean and the Shang Dynasty
Do Now: 9/21/2015
1. Which of the following is the best example of the
type of question the Chinese would use oracle
bones to help them answer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why does the moon change its appearance?
Why does rain become snow?
How long is a trip from one city to another?
Which day is best for an army to attack an enemy?
2. How did geography affect cultural interaction in
the early history of Southwest Asia?
1. Daunting mountains protected the people from invasion
2. Lack of natural barriers led to repeated conquests.
“If a man knocks the teeth out of another
man, his own teeth will be knocked out.”
1) The above excerpt from the Code of
Hammurabi is based on the idea of:
A. One’s punishment depends on one’s status
B. A person should not put another person to
death
C. One will go to heaven or hell depending on
how one behaves in life
D. The punishment should fit the crime
Elements of Sumerian and Babylonian
culture such as irrigation projects,
calendars, astrology, and the worship of
nature deities demonstrate
A. The influence of the Hebrews
B. The importance of the cycles of nature in their
lives
C. That superstition stunted the development of
practical skills
D. The inability of those two people to collaborate
effectively
Do Now: 9/24
• Directions: You are to answer the following
question. You should spend 5 minutes
organizing/outlining your essay. Write an essay
that:
– Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with
appropriate historical evidence
– Addresses all parts of the question
– Makes direct, relevant comparisons.
– Analyzes relevant reasons for similarities and differences
Question: Analyze similarities and differences
between the religious developments of the
Hebrews and the Aryans.