Review of Ancient History

Directions: Use 3-5 minutes to double check this subject’s Power School for your class grade and work listings verifying that all work is caught up. Read and heed embedded messages. Next, research your part of the following topics and figure out answers to the questions. Write your questions and detailed answers on lined paper or your notebook paper. These questions and related answers are required to be handed in, once the class discussion is completed. You are expected to use the time completely, be through and become knowledgeable. Write down any puzzles you have related to the material on your paper and bring them up during the class discussion. Warning: If you are found to be using your research time for other things, it will hurt your learning and grade. If you think or claim to be done, you are not! Once your assigned part is ready, then help others on your team or study the test resources from Mr. Spitzer’s web page for the upcoming test. No games, non-topic talk or other activities allowed during research time. The class will research as much as time allows before team sharing and whole class discussion. Since there is always more to learn, Mr. Spitzer encourages you to look into this topic more on your own time. Your class work grade includes: 1. Entire use of time while researching. 2. Answer questions & pay attention during team sharing. 3. Paying attention & participate during class discussion. 4. Turning in your readable questions & notes. Team members who do not do their share, provide hasty sloppy answers, disrupt others and use time ineffectivelyin the four grade aspects will be removed from the team and required to write out and turn in all answers on their own for the grade.

Topics to Research

Sumer, Akkadian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Egyptian, Phoenician, Hebrew, Persian

Questions to be able to discuss

  1. Describe the Sumerian culture, in Mesopotamia. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including Sargon, military expansion, technology development and events.
  2. Describe the Akkadian culture, in Mesopotamia. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including Hammurabi, military expansion, technology development and events.
  3. Describe the Assyrian culture, in Mesopotamia. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including Assurbanipal II, military expansion, technology development and events.
  4. Describe the Neo-Babylonian culture, in Mesopotamia. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including Nebuchadnezzar II, military expansion, technology development and events.
  5. Describe the Egyptian culture, in Africa. Include, geography, time periods, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including Thutmose III, military expansion, technology development and events.
  6. Describe the Phoenician culture, in the Ancient World. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including, military expansion, technology development and events.
  7. How do Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Phoenician alphabet differ?
  8. Describe the Hebrew culture, in the Ancient World. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including David and Solomon, military expansion, technology development and events.
  9. Describe the Persian culture, in the Ancient World. Include, geography, time period, lifestyle, agriculture, learning, religion, important rulers including Cyrus the Great & Xerxes, military expansion, technology development and events.

Critical Thinking

  1. Do the ancient ______(Chose one from Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonia, Phoenician, Hebrew or Persian) have the six characteristics of a civilization? Give examples to prove your case.
  1. Government
  2. Regular food supply
  3. Specialization of labor
  4. Different social levels
  5. Developed culture: art, architecture, music, literature, science, writing, other complex technology
  6. Religious System
  1. How is your life affected today by heritage from the ancient ______and ______? Chose two from Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonia, Phoenician, Hebrew or Persian)
  2. Why is Mesopotamia called “the cradle of civilization?
  3. Describe Assyrian military tactics. How did the reliance on terror contribute to Assyria’s rise and later decline.
  4. What are the basic beliefs of the Jews and how did they affect later civilizations?