The Influence an Ancient Civilization
Adapted from the unit by Glen Savage
Who had the most influence on modern peoples?
Part of learning about the history of civilizations is to look at their impact upon our lives today. We will explore ancient
civilizations through an Inquiry Challenge.
The students will be split into various civilizations;
Aztec, Egyptian, Celtic, Viking, Roman, Chinese, Greek
Each student in that group will play an integral part in the presentation to the class about the history, geography, culture, and
influence the civilization that their group was assigned.
From the group presentations and discussion the class will decide which chosen ancient civilization had the most influence on
modern peoples.
The Task
Each group will be assigned a civilization that they will be responsible for reporting to the class about their chosen civilization.
What do I have to do?
Each group will have members investigating different information to be shared with their group. Each person will have to
complete a personal information sheet and creative project, as well as contribute to your group presentation to the class. With
your personal information sheet you need to answer all questions relevant to your role below. Feel free to add other interesting
information that you may find.
As a group, decide who will take which roles from the following:
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The Archaeologist/Architectural Historian
These persons are responsible for finding out the following information, turning it into information sheet and reporting
back to their group.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Where this civilization is found?
What modern country/countries would you visit if you were to go there today?
How large was the civilization?
What types of structures did they have?
What was the purpose of these structures?
What structures may still be seen today?
Create a replica of one of the famous structures from your civilisation for your creative task.
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The Anthropologist
These people are responsible for reporting to their group about the culture of the society.
1. What was their religion like?
2. What was their class structure, if any?
3. What role did government play in the society?
4. What science or technologies did they have?
5. What was the economy like?
6. What did they eat?
7. What were some important inventions from your civilisation?
Create a time line of development of an invention. Draw a labelled diagram showing its earliest form and current form.
Make a model to reflect either its earliest or most recent form.
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Historians
These people will help the group with an overview of the history of this society.
1. Who were their important leaders?
2. How do we know what we know about their civilization (books, oral history, etc.)?
3. Who were the western explorers of the civilization?
4. What historical events are important to the society?
5. What was the government structure?
6. Was your civilisation involved in any major historical events
Create a timeline of the important events in the history of your civilization. Create a coin that also illustrates your
understanding of money from your civilisation, your coin must feature the face of an important historical figure.
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Sociologists
These people will examine the modern people that are descendants to the civilization.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Who are they?
Do they practice traditions from the past?
Are they preserving the past? How?
Where are the modern descendants found?
How has information been passed down?
Create an artefact that is consistent with your civilisation.
After using the information sheets made by each group member, each group will prepare a short presentation for the class
about their civilization.
They must give a brief summary of the civilization as well as that civilizations impact on modern peoples.
“Remember that the class will have to decide which civilizations have had the most influence on modern peoples so look at
each topic very carefully.”
Presentation
Your presentations will be graded on the following:
1) Knowledge shared from this activity with the class.
Should include but is not limited to:
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Where the civilization is found and what the geography and architecture is like
Who the important leaders of the civilization were/are
How the society was constructed
The ancestors of this civilization - Who are they? Where are they found?
What the impact of this civilization was on modern peoples
2) Persuasiveness of group’s discussion of the impact and influence of this civilization to modern people.
Remember that the class will have to decide which of the civilizations has had the most influence on modern peoples
so look at each topic very carefully.
3) Creativity
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Creative presentation techniques
Involves all members of the group
Class Interaction