Pyramids On The Nile

1. Describe the geography of Egypt
2. Discuss the role of Pharaoh in Egyptian society
3. Identify the cultural and technological achievements of the Egyptians

1. What role do you think the Nile River played in Egypt’s prosperity? Do you think ancient Egypt could have become  a majestic civilization without the Nile? 

     The Nile River gave the consistency of water source, food, transportation, and fertile soil.  No Egypt could not have become a majestic civilization without the Nile because then they wouldn't have consistent food and water.

2. What were some of the ways Egyptians harnessed the power of the Nile? What was the  primary route of transportation they developed, and what were the techniques ancient Egyptians used to develop them?

          Some ways that they harnessed the power of the Nile was by irrigation and transportation. The primary route was to sail upstream and then float downstream. They built canals to develop the primary route.

3. How would you describe the power structure of ancient Egypt? What does it mean to describe Egyptian kings and queens as “divine”? What powers did they believe this enabled them? 

          The power structure of ancient Egypt was that the Pharoahs had absolute power. It means that they could command major projects, no matter the coast because they were seen as gods. They believed that they had the afterlife and that the Pharaohs would be reborn.

4. What were  some examples of the challenges laborers faced in constructing Egypt’s monuments? What do you think motivated them?

        Some examples were feeding, transporting large stones, and funding workers. I think that the belief in the Pharoah's power that motivated them. The money and basic needs probably also motivated them.

5. What  are some of the connections between Egyptian engineering and the expansion of its empire?

       Some of the connections were the control of the Nile, which could feed large armies. Also, building forts helped control Nubia, which was a big source of gold. The control of Nubia was needed for funding templed. 

6. Why are Egyptian obelisks considered one of the most amazing architectural feats ever achieved? Do you think they could be constructed today?

       It is considered one of the most amazing architectural feats ever because they chiseled it out, transported, and make it upright without them cracking is very hard to do. the fact that they figured it out is crazy to us. 

Early River Valley Civilization

1. Define Mesopotamia, Sumer, city-state, cultural diffusion, polytheism, Hammurabi
2. Identify the region of Sumer and discuss aspects of Sumerian culture.
3. Explain the impacts of Agricultural Revolution or Sumerian Culture.

TERMS & NAMES
1. The Fertile Crescent is the region's curved shape and rich land.
Mesopotamia which in Greek means “land between the rivers.”
City-states functioned much as an independent country does today.
A dynasty is a series of rulers from a single family.
Cultural diffusion is the process in which a new idea or a produce spreads from one culture to another.
Polytheism is the belief in more than one god.
An empire brings together several peoples, nations, or previously independent states under the control of one ruler.
Hammurabi recognized that a single, uniform code of laws would help to unify the diverse groups within his empire.

2. Which of the problems you listed required the most complex solution? Explain.

3. What were the three environmental challenges to Sumerians?
The tree challenges to Sumerians were unpredictable floods, no natural barriers for protection and     limited resources.

4. How did the Sumerians view the gods?
They were polytheists.  They believed in over 3,000 gods to explain everything in nature.

5. What areas of life did Hammurabi’s Code cover?

Hammurabi's Code lists 282 laws dealing with everything that affected the community including family relations, business conduct and crime.

From Pre-history to Civilization

1. Define pre-history , Paleolithic, Neolithic, Fertile Crescent
2. Describe the Impact of the Agricultural Revolution
3. To identify the 5 characteristics of civilization

Pre-History is defined as the time before recorded history. Paleolithic Age(Old Stone Age) was when the first humanoids started to show up. The Neolithic Age is when the Agricultural Revolution started to take place which changed human behavior from hunters and gatherers to settling into permanent settlements. We also learned today about the fertile crescent which is a crescent shaped region in the middle east.

Characteristics of civilization - complex institutions, record keeping, advanced technology, advanced cities, and specialized workers.

The First Civilization

Reflection:We consider the city of Ur the first civilization because they meet the requirements of all 5 characteristics of civilization. The similarities between Ur and a modern city is that both have workers and advanced technology that help keep the city going. Both cities also contain a food surplus. However, modern cities do not farm because there is no room, while in Ur, they farm using ox-drawn plows.

Humans trying to control nature

1. 
Nomads were highly mobile people who moved from place to place foraging, or searching for new sources of food.  
Nomadic groups whose food supply depends on hunting animals and collecting plant foods are called hunter-gatherers.  
The Neolithic Revolution or agricultural revolution was the far-reaching changes in human life resulting from the beginnings of farming. 
Slash-and-burn farming is when you cut trees or grasses and burn them to clear a field for farming.  
Experts' knowledge of wild animals played a role in taming or the domestication of animals. 
2. 
Domestication was the most significant part of the development of agriculture because the animals fed the plants and the plants fed the animals so with out the animals, there would be no agriculture.  They also serve many other purposes such as milk, skin/fur for warmth, and some offer transportation like horses.  
3. 
Special spears allowed them to kill game at greater distances, digging sticks helped harvest plants at the roots, knives to kill and butcher game, fish hooks and harpoons to catch fish, chisel-like cutter to make other tools, bone needles to sew clothing out of animal hides. 
4. 
Rising global temperatures extended growing seasons and made drier land. A rich supply of grain helped support a larger population base.  A larger population meant a need to find new food resources to sustain larger numbers and farming needs. 
5.
The first crops grown in the Americas were corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and white potatoes.