The Five Themes Of Ancient Civilizations

By Sidney P.

The Five Themes

of Ancient Civilizations

By Sidney P.

LocationWhat is the absolute and relative location of the civilization?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- The city of Ur is 31°N, 35°E. It is in the Fertile Crescent and between the Tirgris and Euphrates Rivers.

Ancient Egypt- The city of Cairo is 30°N, 30°E. It is in Northern Africa and is between Libya and the Gaza Strip.

Israel- The city of Jerusalem is 32°N, 35°E. It is in the Middle East and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.

Region/Human Environment InteractionWhat are the physical characteristics? What are the natural resources/land uses?Describe the climate/ growing season. How did people adapt/change the environment?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- The physical characteristics are the plains, plateaus, deserts, and rivers. Obsidian, clay, and water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are the natural resources. Hot summers bring dry, parched land. The heavy spring floods bring rich soil. Sumerians used the flooded soil for growing crops.

Region/Human Environment InteractionWhat are the physical characteristics? What are the natural resources/land uses?Describe the climate/ growing season. How did people adapt/change the environment?

Ancient Egypt- The physical characteristics of Egypt are the very hot, dry deserts, and the Nile River. The natural resources the granite, grain, papyrus, minerals, and gold.

Region/Human Environment InteractionWhat are the physical characteristics? What are the natural resources/land uses?Describe the climate/ growing season. How did people adapt/change the environment?

Israel- the physical characteristics are fertile plains, grassy slopes, rocky hills, and arid deserts. Honey and gold can be found in Israel as the natural resources. The climate is warm all year round, but there are no farmers. Instead, nomads roamed and traveled with their cattle and sheep.

Economics/MovementHow are goods produced?What goods are produced?How are goods exchanged or traded?How is money used? How are goods transported?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- The first wheel and game board were produced in Mesopotamia. Goods were traded with different empires and cities. The goods were traded with one another because money was not created. Gold was very valuable and was used as a type of profitable system. The goods were transported by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and by animals.

Economics/MovementHow are goods produced?What goods are produced?How are goods exchanged or traded?How is money used? How are goods transported?

Ancient Egypt- Papyrus was made into writing paper, boats, and sandals. It was a very important good for Egyptians. The Nile was used for transportation to neighboring empires. There was no money, so the Egyptians traded goods. Gold was also used as money and was highly prized.

Economics/MovementHow are goods produced?What goods are produced?How are goods exchanged or traded?How is money used? How are goods transported?

Israel- Goods in Israel were produced at home and at markets. Common clothing, jewelry, and pottery were the general goods that were made. Israel was a very important trading route. They didn’t have a real system of money, but gold was very valued and used in trading. Goods were transported by donkeys, camels, or goats.

Political ScienceHow are people governed? Who are the leaders? How are the leaders selected?Do they have laws?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- Priests led the first people in the earliest cities, but kings were eventually chosen. The most famous kings of Mesopotamia are Gilgamesh and Hummarabi. The kings were chosen by gods or the people. The laws used for this empire were Hummarabi’s laws, which were very socially advanced.

Political ScienceHow are people governed? Who are the leaders? How are the leaders selected?Do they have laws?

Ancient Egypt- Egyptian pharaohs governed the people. The pharaohs, government officials, and priest were the highest leaders in society. The leaders were selected by bloodline, which is also know as a dynasty.

Political ScienceHow are people governed? Who are the leaders? How are the leaders selected?Do they have laws?

Israel- Kings governed the people of Israelites. King David, King Saul, and King Solomon were the first kings to rule Israel. The kings and rulers were chosen by God or chosen by the previous king. The Israelites followed the laws of the Ten Commandments and the Torah.

Knowledge, Education, and the ArtsWhat new knowledge was developed by this civilization?What can we learn about them from the printing, sculpture, architecture, music, festivals, and writing?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- Sumer created pictographs, which stood for words or ideas. Cuneiform was the first writing system of their civilization. They recorded data such as trading and important events by using this system.

Knowledge, Education, and the ArtsWhat new knowledge was developed by this civilization?What can we learn about them from the printing, sculpture, architecture, music, festivals, and writing?

Ancient Egypt- Medicine, art, astronomy, and writing were the major achievements of Ancient Egypt. We learn and use their calendar based on the sun. The hieroglyphic writings teach us about their religion and history of Egypt.

Knowledge, Education, and the ArtsWhat new knowledge was developed by this civilization?What can we learn about them from the printing, sculpture, architecture, music, festivals, and writing?

Israel- We learned that the Israelites were the first people to have a monotheistic religion, or belief in one god. The writings of the Ten Commandments written by God and the Torah tell us the history of Israelites.

Religion and PhilosophyWhat do people believe about God or gods?What do they believe about the meaning of life?How do their beliefs affect their lives and the development of their culture?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- The people of Mesopotamia had a polytheistic religion and believed in an afterlife. All Sumerians served the gods in their daily lives. Priests devoted their lives to serving the gods and goddesses. They believed this work kept away misfortune.

Religion and PhilosophyWhat do people believe about God or gods?What do they believe about the meaning of life?How do their beliefs affect their lives and the development of their culture?

Ancient Egypt- The Egyptians also believed in polytheism with thousands of gods and goddesses. They believed in an afterlife, a life after death. They worshipped gods and lived life the way the gods wanted them too.

Religion and PhilosophyWhat do people believe about God or gods?What do they believe about the meaning of life?How do their beliefs affect their lives and the development of their culture?

Israel- The Israelites believed in a monotheistic religion. They believed in an eternal life with one God. Their different religion effected relationships with other empires.

SociologyDo the people live in groups such as the family? Are there slaves? Are there classes or a division between rich and poor? What are their daily lives like?

Sumer/Mesopotamia- People lived in families, and there were slaves. There were divisions of different classes. The daily lives of women were working at home or at a weaving house. Men worked on the fields tending crops or in the market selling goods. Slaves were often prisoners of war.

SociologyDo the people live in groups such as the family? Are there slaves? Are there classes or a division between rich and poor? What are their daily lives like?

Ancient Egypt- Egyptians also had families, which were very important. There were slaves and divisions of classes. Their daily lives could include worshipping gods, cooking, or tending fields.

SociologyDo the people live in groups such as the family? Are there slaves? Are there classes or a division between rich and poor? What are their daily lives like?

Israel- People lived in families with different classes of rich and poor. The Israelites were slaves because of their religion. They traveled 40 years in the desserts to the promise land.

Bibliography

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies“A Message of Ancient Days” textbook. Armento, Beverly, et. al.

“The Ancient World” textbook. Dr. Judith Irvin

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