Lesson: Birth of Civilization
Enduring Understanding:
Students will understand that early civilizations contributed to the foundations of human culture
Essential Questions:
· What are the roots of civilization?
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
· investigate hunters and gatherers
· explore man’s domestication of plants and animals · examine the role of irrigation in early agriculture
Core Curriculum: WH Standard 1.1: (strand 1)
Students will analyze the differences and interactions between sedentary farmers, pastoralists, and huntergatherers.
Sources:
· Birth of Civilization DVD
Materials:
· Birth of Civilization dvd
Key Terms:
· hominids, artifacts, culture, nomads, agriculture, domestication, and hunter-gatherers, irrigation, division of
labor, artisans, cultural diffusion
Instructional Input: Anticipatory Set:
· Play “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” for the class. Ask the class, “Who is Lucy?” · Talk to class about Lucy, the
female hominid, using slides.
Discussion: Neanderthals (30 minutes)
· Explain that Neanderthals are the best known of the ancient humans. The Neanderthals lived in Europe and
central Asia between 230,000 and 30,000 years ago —longer than Homo sapiens, or modern humans, have
lived on Earth. In addition, the Neanderthals lived during the most recent Ice Age, when vast sheets of ice
covered many northern parts of the world. The term Neanderthal, also spelled Neandertal, comes from the
Neander Valley near Dusseldorf, Germany. This is where scientists found the first Neanderthal fossils in 1856.
· Explain that scientists believe that Homo sapiens (modern man) first appeared about 120,000 years ago,
which means they coexisted with the Neanderthals. Scientists have two theories about the relationship
between modern Homo sapiens and Neanderthals:
· Out of Africa: The theory states that Homo sapiens first lived in Africa and eventually traveled into Europe and
Asia. These humans had evolutionary advantages that allowed them to outlive—and perhaps cause the
extinction of—all other hominid groups (as opposed to apes) such as Neanderthal.
· Multiregional: The theory states that modern Homo sapiens evolved from Neanderthal and other hominid
groups in Europe and Asia.
· Students will define key terms in their reviews.
Discussion: Roots of Civilization (30 minutes)
· Show students a section of the film “Birth of Civilization” (chapter 2 - end of chapter ) · What is a civilization?
· A civilization is a group of people living and working together for the purpose of creating an organized society.
· People living in civilizations have the ability to use tools, work together cooperatively, and communicate with
each other.
· People living in civilizations have the ability to advance culturally and technologically.
Assess Knowledge:
· Who is “Lucy” and why is she important?
· What are the two main theories regarding the relationship between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens?
· What years do scientists believe neanderthal people and cro-magnon people lived on the earth? Where did
they live? What were their major achievements?
· What was the neolithic agricultural revolution? What important changes did the Neolithic agricultural
revolution cause?
· What is a civilization and what are three main characteristics of a civilization? What two other characteristics
may be shared by civilizations?
· Why did the first civilizations develop in river valleys?
Independent Practice/Closure: Check reviews