Download Document

Western Civilization
Unit #1 – Ancient Foundations (c. 400,000 BC – 464 BC)
Chapters 1 and 2
Neolithic Revolution, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hittites & Phoenicians, Israel, Assyria, Babylon, Persia
You can earn a 10% extra credit grade on the exam for answering all questions under “Essential Learnings” and defining all terms
under “key terms” by hand, it must be submitted upon entry to testing room and each page hand labeled with your name.
Key questions:
1. What is Western Civilization?
2. What was cultural diffusion and why was it significant in ancient civilizations? Discuss two different civilizations to
explain how and why cultural diffusion worked in these two civilizations.
3. What was the role of geography and environment on the development of a civilization? Discuss Mesopotamia and
Egypt to support your response.
4. What was the role of religion in ancient civilization? You may discuss the traits and role of religion in Mesopotamia,
Israel, Egypt, and/or Persia to support your point.
5. What elements of these ancient civilizations would become critical foundations for Western Civilization? Be sure to
discuss not only the elements, but where and how they first appeared.
Objectives/Essential Learnings:
1. Explain the meaning and origins of the term “Western Civilization”.
2. Assess the legacy of the term “Western Civilization”, connecting it to both ancient and modern Western societies.
3. Identify the key traits of the Paleolithic societies.
4. Evaluate the significance of the Neolithic (Agricultural) Revolution.
5. Describe the political, economic, religious, and social features of ancient Mesopotamia
6. Determine how geography influenced Mesopotamian civilization.
7. Compare the Epic of Gilgamesh with the accounts of other religions.
8. Identify the causes of the rise of the first Mesopotamian empires.
9. Explain the meaning of the Code of Hammurabi and evaluate its purpose and success, particularly in comparison to
modern American codes of law.
10. Compare & contrast the Code of Hammurabi with modern Western legal practice.
11. Describe the political, economic, religious, and social features of Egypt under the Old Kingdom
12. Determine how the Nile influenced Egyptian civilization.
13. Compare & contrast the features of ancient Egypt with those of Mesopotamia.
14. Evaluate the significance of the Hyksos invasion of Egypt and the role of cultural diffusion.
15. Analyze how the New Kingdom of Egypt was different from the Old Kingdom and why those differences occurred.
16. Explain the appearance of the Egyptian empire and the resultant transformation of Egyptian society.
1
17. Explain the decline of Egypt as a great power.
18. Identify the contributions of the Hittites and the Phoenicians to Western Civilization and explain how they both
functioned as agents of cultural diffusion.
19. Discuss the possible causes of the “Great Catastrophe” and the First Dark Age.
20. Summarize the development of Hebrew monotheism and the kingdom of Israel.
21. Describe Jewish ethical monotheism.
22. Determine the reasons for the rapid rise and collapse of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires.
23. Evaluate the reign of Cyrus the Great, and the stability, prosperity, and success of the Persian Empire.
24. Compare and contrast the development and role of the monotheistic religions (Akhenaten’s monotheism, Judaism,
and Zoroastrianism) with the polytheistic religions.
25. Identify the elements of ancient civilizations that would become key ingredients in Western Civilization.
Key terms  You should be able to identify, define, and explain each term (may be a concept, event, person, or group of
people). As you go through class lecture and assigned reading, connect your notes to the list of key terms.
Western Civilization
Paleolithic
Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic
Mesopotamia
Tigris River and Euphrates River
Sumerian
cuneiform
ziggurat
Epic of Gilgamesh
Sargon
Babylon
Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi
Kassites
Egypt
Nile River
cataract
Memphis
Thebes
Nubia
Old Kingdom
pharaoh
Osiris
Horus
Menes
pyramid
Hyksos
New Kingdom
Akhenaten
Tutankhamen
Ramses II
Hittites
Sea Peoples
Phoenicians
Hebrews
Abraham
Moses
Saul
David
Solomon
Yahweh
Torah
Assyrian Empire
Chaldean Empire
Nebuchadnezzar II
Medes
Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great
satrap
Zoroaster
Royal Road
2
Calendar – See extended explanation of reading assignments and written homework.
Day & Date
Thursday 08/18
Friday 08/19
What is Western Civilization?
Paleolithic & Neolithic Peoples
Pages Covered – Read
Before Class – Be Quiz
Ready If Assigned
Pages 3 – 5
Pages 6 – 10
Monday 08/22
Tuesday 08/23
Wednesday
08/24
Thursday 08/25
Mesopotamian Civilization
Babylonian Conquest
Code of Hammurabi
Pages 11 – 15
Pages 15 – 17
Pages 18 – 20
Old Kingdom Egypt
Pages 20 – 23
Friday 08/26
Old Kingdom Art & Architecture;
Hyksos Invasion
New Kingdom Egypt
Hittites, Sea Peoples, &
Phoenicians
History of Israel
Pages 23 – 25
Israel – The Rise of Judaism
Assyria & Chaldeans
Pages 39 – 44
Pages 44 – 50
Persia
Zoroastrianism, monotheism &
polytheism
Essay Writing Instruction
Unit #1 Test, take home essay due
Wednesday 9/12
Pages 51 – 55; 56 – 58
Pages 55 – 56
RA #4
No School – Labor Day
Constructed Response #3
Study
Chapters 1 & 2
Study
Study
Monday 08/29
Tuesday 08/30
Wednesday
08/31
Thursday 09/01
Friday 09/02
Monday 09/05
Tuesday 09/06
Wednesday
09/07
Thursday 09/08
Friday 09/09
Topic
Homework Due
RA#1 - Pages 6 – 7 “From the First
Hominids to the Paleolithic Era”
Constructed Response #1 DUE
RA #2 Pages 20 – 21 “The Nile and the
God King”
Pages 26-29
Pages 29, 34 - 37
Constructed Response #2 DUE
Pages 37-42
RA #3
Reading Assignments:
Note that these can be done in your notebook and will be checked or used on open note quizzes.
RA#1: Pages 6 – 7: “From the First Hominids to the Paleolithic Era”– Create a list of characteristics of human life during
the Paleolithic Age.
RA#2: Pages 20 – 21: “The Nile and God King”– Create a two-column chart. In the left hand column, list important traits
of Egyptian geography. In the right hand column, identify the impact of each trait on Egyptian society.
RA#3: Pages 37-42: “Israel”– Using the important historical figures from the history of Israel, take notes on the
accomplishments and historical significance of each person: Abraham, Moses, Saul, David, and Solomon.
RA #4: Pages 44 – 49: “The Power of Assyria”)– Assyria was one of the most warlike peoples of history. Take notes on
evidence in the reading that supports the warlike nature of the Assyrians.
3
Constructed Response Assignments
Note – These are to be typed and submitted at the beginning of class. Each is worth a 20 point formative assessment
grade.

Constructed Response #1 (Due Friday 8/21) – Read pages 18-20 in the textbook (“Life Under Hammurabi”).
Write a one-paragraph constructed response to answer the question – What were the key principles of
Hammurabi’s Code and what did the Code aim to address in society? You must cite your textbook as a source.

Constructed Response #2 (Due Wednesday 8/26) – Read “The Agricultural Revolution” by Braidwood and
“Freedom in the Ancient World: Civilization in Sumer” by Muller. Write a 1-paragraph constructed response to
address – How did the Neolithic Revolution both positively and negatively affect human societies according to
Braidwood and Muller? Whose argument do you find more persuasive and why? Be sure to cite your sources
using MLA format.

Constructed Response #3 (due Wednesday 09/02) – Read pages 50- 54 and 57. In a one-paragraph constructed
response, answer the following question – Why were the Persians so successful? Use textual evidence to
support your answer. You must cite your textbook as a source.
4
Western Civilization
Unit #1 – Ancient Foundations
Short Answer Questions – Response Preparation
Writing Scaffolding
Name ________________________________________
Use the charts given to gather accurate, relevant evidence that supports your ability to answer the question. After
considering the evidence, develop a topic sentence that creates an argument that can be proven AND will answer the
question.
1.
How did the Neolithic Revolution change human life?
Traits of human life during the Paleolithic Age
Traits of human life during the Neolithic age
Answer the question! Develop an argumentative topic sentence that reflects the evidence you have listed above.
5
2. What caused the first human civilizations to rise in Mesopotamia?
Traits of the region
Elements that support the rise of civilization in the region
Answer the question! Develop an argumentative topic sentence that reflects the evidence stated above.
3. Why did the Egyptian empire fail?
Date / Time
Struggles of the Egyptian empire
Answer the question! Develop an argumentative topic sentence that reflects the evidence stated above.
6
4. The Assyrians and Persians were both very successful empires of antiquity. Why were the Persians able to build
a more successful, sustainable empire than the Assyrians?
Success of the Assyrians
Success of the Persians
Answer the question! Develop an argumentative topic sentence that reflects the evidence you have listed above.
7
Unit Essay – Response Preparation
1. What was the role of geography and environment on the development of a civilization? Use Mesopotamia and
Egypt to support your response.
Traits of geography & environment in Mesopotamia
Traits of geography & environment in Egypt
Develop a thesis that reflects the above evidence and answer the question with an argument.
Develop topic sentence #1  It should be argumentative and address the first series of evidence you will use to
defend the central argument of the thesis.
Develop topic sentence #2  It should be argumentative and address the second series of evidence you will use to
defend the central argument of the thesis.
8
2.
What was the role of religion in ancient civilization? You may discuss the traits and role of religion in
Mesopotamia, Israel, Egypt, and/or Persia to support your point (use only two).
Elements of religion of _____________
Elements of religion of ______________________
Develop a thesis that reflects the above evidence and answer the question with an argument.
Develop topic sentence #1  It should be argumentative and address the first series of evidence you will use to
defend the central argument of the thesis.
Develop topic sentence #2  It should be argumentative and address the second series of evidence you will use to
defend the central argument of the thesis.
9