Download Early Humans and Mesopotamia Learning Goals

Name: ________________________________________________
Period: _____
Early Humans and Mesopotamia Learning Goals
SS.6.1. I can analyze Early Humans to determine their role in the development of human
civilizations. (pg. 10-11)
 I can describe the development of fire and technological tools.
Fire: Fire helped people live in their environment because it gave warmth to those
gathered around it, lit the darkness, scared away wild animals, food tasted better and
was easier to digest and preserve when it was cooked over fire.
Technological Tools: Paleolithic people were the first to use technology (tools and
methods to help humans perform tasks). People used flint to make sharp tools out of
stone to use while hunting and fishing. They created fishhooks and needles to make
nets and baskets. This technology made their lives easier.
 I can explain how Early Humans were able to interact with the environment to support
basic needs (i.e. hunting and gathering, finding shelter, migration/nomadic way of life,
and technology) during the Paleolithic Age.
 I can evaluate the cultural changes that Early Humans created regarding language,
religion and art.
SS.6.2. I can distinguish between simple villages and complex villages. (pg. 13-15)
 I can describe how simple villages evolved into complex villages in the areas of
farming and the domestication of animals and crops.
 I can analyze the changes that led to surpluses, specialization and increased trade to
determine the benefits of a settled life. (In other words, I can describe the results of
the Neolithic Revolution.)
THIS ANSWERS BOTH OF THE ABOVE LEARNING GOALS:
When people started to domesticate (or tame) plants and animals they were able to
use them for human use. They could eat the plants; the animals provided meat, milk
and wool, and could carry goods. Because people grew their own food, they had to
stay in one place. People used to have to move from place to place to find their food
(nomads), but now they settled in one area.
Farmingto a steady food supplyhealthy growing populationmore people to grow
more cropssurplus of food (more food than they could eat)people would trade
extra food with othersspecialization (the development of different kinds of jobs)
SS.6.3. I can analyze ancient Mesopotamia to explain the growth of civilization and world
empires. (pg. 17-30)
 I can define the parts of a civilization. (pg. 17)
 I can evaluate the importance of geography (i.e. Fertile Crescent, Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers) and climate (i.e. flood, drought and irrigation) in the development of
agriculture and the economy. (pg. 17-18)
The first civilizations arose in river valleys because good farming conditions made it
easy to feed large numbers of people. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers provided fish
and freshwater, and made it easy to travel and trade. Mesopotamia (or the “land
between rivers”) laid in the eastern part of the Fertile Crescent, a curving strip of land
(that looks like a yummy crescent roll!),that is very fertile because of the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers, Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf. When the rivers flooded, they
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left behind very fertile soil for farming. But Mesopotamia had a hot, dry climate, so
there might be a drought from time to time. In time, farmers learned to build dams
and levees to control the floods, and walls and waterways to water the crops. These
systems were called irrigation.
I can identify and give examples of the basic traits of Sumerian civilization, including
cities, organized government, art, religion, class division, and a writing system and
explain why Sumer is considered the first civilization. (pg. 18-21)
I can define the terms empire and Hammurabi’s Code of Law, and describe how the
Babylonian Empire governed their people. (pg. 23)
I can describe the achievements of the Assyrian and Chaldean empires, and describe
why the empires eventually fell. (pg. 27-30)