Download World History I: The Beginnings through Ancient Times

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a
thought without accepting it. Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
World History I: The Beginnings through Ancient Times
Course Description
Working independently and cooperatively, students will learn to “think like historians” by analyzing and
interpreting artifacts, timelines, and maps, by describing and comparing the major characteristics,
developments, contributions, and historical influences of ancient civilizations, and by comparing various
aspects of the past to the present and to their own experience. Study will focus on pre-history and ancient
times in the following civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. Other civilizations may be included
in order to provide background knowledge, depth and/or complexity.
Neshaminy Standards
There are five standards for the students to achieve in the 6th grade program. Each standard focuses on the
application of the five characteristics of a civilization in order to analyze a particular ancient society.
The common standard reads as follows:
Analyze how the five characteristics of civilization manifest themselves in a particular ancient
society, explain how each characteristic works to satisfy the needs of the people, and identify the
influences of that society on modern western civilizations.
State and National Standards
Government / Civics (PA Standards)
1. Explain the principles and ideals that shape any government.
2. Explain the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments and explain the
advantages and disadvantages of those systems of government.
Economics (NES)
3. Explain the need for trade among people and nations given the uneven distribution of resources in
the world.
Geography (NGS)
4. Analyze the forces of cooperation and conflict among people with influences the use, division and
control of earth’s resources.
Culture (NCSS)
5. Explain and give examples of how language, literature, the arts, architecture, other artifacts,
traditions, beliefs, values, and behaviors contribute to the development and transmission of the
culture of a civilization.
History (NCSS)
6. Identify and describe selected historical periods and patterns of change within and across
civilizations.
Essential Content Includes
Major content focus is on applying the five characteristics of a civilization to each society studied. Also, the
themes of geography will assist in the analysis of each society.
Mesopotamia: Evolution of societies from hunter-gathering to agricultural; unification of the Mesopotamian
society; effects of successful societal growth and expansion; achievements of Mesopotamia.
Egypt: Economic and geographic importance of the Nile River; impact of the specialization of labor and the
class structure; the level of impact the Egyptian society has had on western societies today.
Greece: Development of democracy and comparisons of roles of citizens in various Greek city-states; the
impact of philosophers on Greece; evolution of empires from city-states; the effect of cultural contact and
societal expansion; the achievements and influences of the Greeks on the west.
Rome:
This society will be studied last as part of a performance based assessment. It will provide the laboratory
for the students to display proficient or advanced understanding of the course standards. The objective of
this district academic assessment is to demonstrate an understanding of the manifestation of the five
characteristics of civilization in Roman society.
Essential Questions answered in the Neshaminy Curriculum
● What
does it mean to live in a “civilized society?”
did civilizations influence one another in the ancient world?
● How do members of a civilization (“insiders”) relate to nonmembers (“outsiders”)?
● How have the experiences of ancient civilizations influenced life in the modern world?
● How do social scientists interpret the past?
● What capabilities helped hominids survive?
● How did the development of agriculture change daily life in the Neolithic Age?
● How did geographic challenges lead to the rise of city-states in Mesopotamia?
● Why do historians classify ancient Sumer as a civilization?
● What were the most important achievements of the Mesopotamian empires?
● How did geography affect early settlement in Egypt?
● What did the pharaohs of ancient Egypt accomplish, and how did they do it?
● How did social class affect daily life in ancient Egypt?
● How did geography influence settlement and way of life in ancient Greece?
● How did democracy develop in ancient Greece?
● What were the major differences between Athens and Sparta?
● What factors influenced the outcome of the Persian wars?
● What were the major cultural achievements of Athens?
● How did ancient Greece contribute to the modern world?
● How