Eight Features of Civilization

NAME:____________________________________________ PERIOD:______ DATE:_____________

Eight Features of Civilization

Cities: As farmers settled in fertile river valleys, they began to grow surplus or extra food. This extra food increased the population of the settlements. In time, the settlements grew into cities, such as Ur in Sumer or Babylon in Mesopotamia.

Organized Central Governments: As cities developed and expanded, the food supply and irrigation systems needed to be maintained. Governments, such as councils or religious leaders, began to oversee the business and existence of the cities.

Complex Religions: Religious leaders would conduct elaborate ceremonies to appease the gods (polytheism) and insure a bountiful harvest. Floods and droughts were blamed on the gods' anger so rituals were conducted in the temples.

Job Specialization: As civilizations became more complex, artisans and craftsmen were needed to maintain specific items and tasks. No longer could individuals do all the work. Now some concentrated on teaching, scribing, stonecutting, and so forth.

Social Classes: As jobs became specialized so did the status and needs of certain individuals. The need for a knowledgeable and educated religious leader was more respected than an unskilled worker. Herders were needed and respected for the food, while masons were needed for building. The slave was on the lowest rung of the social

Writing: Records were needed to keep accounts on trade goods and food storage. Writing was needed and developed, because the information became too extensive and important. In addition, one needed to express more complex ideas such as "belief" and "social order" where pictures and words simply would

ladder while warriors and kings were on top. not suffice.

Art and Architecture:

Public Works:

This expressed the beliefs and values of a

The government would order public works,

civilization. Different styles were developed although costly, to aid and benefit the

and copied by societies. Often the art was used community. Such things as a wall to protect

to impress visitors and people about the beauty from attack or a canal to aid in irrigation

and power of a king or a community.

would help insure the survival of a people.

Research project on assigned civilization

TASK:

You and your group members (total of 4) have been assigned a civilization to research.

Use the Eight Features of a Civilization above and apply them to your assigned civilization.

Use the graphic organizer provided to outline your google or prezi presentation. Each feature of your civilization should have a dedicated slide with the following components: feature, definition of feature with explanation, image that supports the understanding of the feature, and comments that show Higher Order Thinking (HOT).

Each group will share their presentation with the rest of the class, and will receive a grade for communicating their findings.

Additionally, your group is asked to generate three questions (factual, interpretive, and evaluative) on your civilization that will be incorporated into our Ancient Civilizations quiz.

WORLD STUDIES -- GIANNETOS

NAME:____________________________________________ PERIOD:______ DATE:_____________

Graphic Organizer

1. cover page

2. Civiliza\on

3. City

4. Religion

5. Social classes

6. Art and architecture

7. Government

8. Job specializa\on

9. Wri\ng/literature

10. Public works

11. Three ques\ons with answers

12. Concluding statement explaining why your topic sa\sfies the criteria of a

civiliza\on.

Each slide should satisfy the following criteria: title, definition, image, and explanation.

Follow the example below.

Art and Architecture: The Acropolis of Athens.

The art and architecture of Ancient Greece expressed the beliefs and values of its people and its civilization.

The Acropolis of Athens is the most characteristic

monument of the Ancient Greek civilization.

It was

and remains a symbol of democracy and of the

perfection the Greek civilization strove for.

The

Parthenon was dedicated to goddess Athena, the

patron goddess of the city.

It was built in the 5th

century BC, under the instructions of political

leader, Pericles.

WORLD STUDIES -- GIANNETOS

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download