Ancient and Modern Cultures Project
Your task is to compare the ancient and modern cultures of one of the following regions:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
Ancient Greeks / Modern Greeks
Ancient Romans / Modern Italians
Ancient Egyptians / Modern Egyptians
Ancient Chinese / Modern Chinese
Ancient Indians / Modern Indians
Ancient Mesopotamians (Sumerians, Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians) / Modern Iraqis
Ancient Celts / Modern English
Ancient Aztecs / Modern Mexicans
Ancient Indus Valley”ians” / Modern Pakistanis
Ancient Incans / Modern Peruvians/Chileans/Ecuadorians
Ancient Vikings / Modern Norwegians
Ancient Persians / Modern Iranians
Ancient Mayans / Modern Hondurans/Guatemalans
Ancient Bantu / Modern North-Central Africans
The areas that you need to examine are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
forms of government
laws
gender and class roles in society
art forms
unique cultural characteristics
The emphasis for this project will be on outlining the similarities and differences between the past and
the present for each of these areas.
Additionally, you will need to examine what influence the ancient culture has made on the culture of the
world in general (i.e. Roman law as the basis of European/North American law).
Your information will be presented in visual format on a poster. Criteria is on the marking sheet.
You will work alone. No more than 4 people may research any individual culture.
Criteria:
Does the poster have:
a. a clear title?
b. all information areas required?
c. clear illustrations?
d. sources cited?
Research:
Geography:
Ancient
Modern
where were they
located?
where are they
located?
what is that place
today?
are they larger or
smaller in area than
the ancient civilization?
what effect did the
geographic setting
have on the civilization
that grew here?
what countries are on
their borders?
were they
geographically isolated
from other
civilizations?
were they exposed to
large bodies of water?
Time Period:
when did they emerge
as a civilization?
when did they emerge
as a country?
when were they at
their peak?
how long were they
around?
when did they fall?
Government:
what type of
government did they
have?
what type of
government do they
have?
how were they
organized?
how are they
organized?
what types of laws did
they have?
what are their courts
like?
what were their courts
like?
Differences
Economy:
what role did trade and
commerce have in this
civilization?
what were their major
products for trade?
what are their major
imports and exports?
who are their major
trading partners?
how did geography
affect their trade?
was their economy
based on a division of
social classes?
Beliefs:
what kind of religion
did they practice?
what kind of religion do
they practice?
were they
monotheistic or
polytheistic?
are they monotheistic
or polytheistic?
was their religion and
government
combined?
did they believe in life
after death?
Technology:
what innovations were
made in this
civilization?
did they have a
calendar?
did they have irrigation
systems?
how did they build
their buildings and
roads?
is their religion and
government
combined?
do they believe in life
after death?
how advanced is their
technology?
Language:
what form of
communication did
they use?
what type of writing
did they have?
can we read it today?
what language do they
speak today?
what alphabet does
their language use?
how many people
worldwide speak that
language?
was it used by other
civilizations as well?
Art/Architecture:
what role did the arts
have in this civilization?
what are their main
forms of art?
what were their main
forms of art?
what are their main
forms of leisure
activities?
what was their
architecture like?
what can we learn
about them from their
art?
Rise and fall:
what cause this
civilization to rise and
fall?
has this country been
to war?
did they conquer
another civilization?
is this country in a
conflict currently with
another country?
were they conquered,
and how many times?
why has this country
had conflicts?
could they have stayed
in power if their
geographic location
had been different
how was their military
organized?
Golden Age:
did this civilization
have a golden age?
was there a period in
their history when they
had a lot of money,
power, art, or
resources?
how long did it last?
why did it end?
what caused it?
Gender/Class Roles:
what classes were
present in the
civilization?
was there slavery?
who did what jobs?
were women
empowered?
Contributions:
what were the major
contributions of this
civilization to the world
at their time?
are there any lasting
contributions still seen
today?
what did they leave us?
Other:
what is this country’s
human rights record?
are women
empowered in this
country?