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How to Study Ancient History

and

The Early FarmersCHW 3M

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Questions to ask when studying ancient historyThe best way to study history is to askquestions.

But what questions should we ask?

Four Important CategoriesCommunities Civilizations)

What different civilizations existedin ancient history?What definedeach civilization?How did each civilization react to

challenges?How did each civilization interactwith other societies?

Change and Continuity

What factors lead to changeinhistory? (eg. inventions,revolutions)What factors lead to stability inhistory? (eg. religion, laws)

What major events caused bigthings to happen in history?

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Questions to ask when studying ancient historyCitizenship and Heritage

What led to political, legal, andmilitary traditionsin history? (eg.Moses)What led to arts, ideas and beliefsinhistory? (eg. Homer, Ovid)How was authorityestablished andchallenged? (eg. Caesars, Jesus)

Social, Economic and Political StructuresHow did social roles develop in history?(eg. warrior, spiritual leader)How did economic systemsdevelop?(invention of farming, the wheel)How did political systemsdevelop?(feudalism, democracy)

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WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OFOUR SOCIETY???Take a few minutes and brainstorm

answers to the following question:What are the foundations or pillarsof our society?(What makes us who we are?)

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It all began in a little place calledThe Fertile CrescentThe Fertile Crescent led to tworevolutions:

The Food Producing RevolutionFertile conditions led to the firstfarming practicesLed to a human populationBOOMMade civilization possible

Surplus of food = morepeople could do things other

than providing for families

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The Urban RevolutionFarming led to population

boom, but big problem-need more room forpeople

Led to expansion. Butcan only expand towhere there is water.Led to Irrigation(man-made

ditches). But organizedmanpower needed for this!

Led to specialized labour. With this newform of social organization, cities

andcivilization was born.

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The Birth of CivilizationCivilization: a culture whose agricultural surplus has led tolabour specialization and therefore an advanced system of socialdevelopment.

This eventually included:

Social stratificationGovernment/political organizationsEconomic development and tradeCultural development (art and literature)Legal organizationsReligious structuresConstruction projectsSystems of record keeping