Final Project: Understanding the Ancient World (300 points)
A link is available on my W-L webpage (www.apsva.us/Page/17528) help you with this project.
In all History classes, it is essential that you understand the basic concepts of the “5 Ws” and the social, political,
and economic causes and effects of certain events and/or actions. Along with this, you must be able to use certain
skills, such as research and analysis, to determine how these concepts apply to what happened and how that might
affect life today. This project is designed to help you review the general concepts we have learned over the course
of the year, while preparing for your course in U.S./VA History next year.
In this project, you and a small group (2 min./4 max.) will complete one step at a time, leading to a final finished,
graded project, due in class on June 14, 2012. Each step will be checked for completion on the assigned date—no
exceptions. Please follow the directions for each step below to help you complete this assignment.
Step 1 (PLACE—WHERE?): due May 24 or 31 (depending on testing schedule)
Pick one of the following ancient civilizations we have studied this year:
 Mesopotamia (Sumer, Babylon)
 Egypt
 Rome (to 500 CE)
 Greece
 China (to 500 CE)
 Aztecs
Then:
Create two maps of the area where your civilization was located—one map from the beginning of your civilization,
one from the end.
Your maps should be as accurate as possible with the following labeled clearly and neatly:
 Map Title (Including the name of your civilization and the time period)
 Main geographic features (lakes, oceans, mountains, etc…)
 Major cities at each time period (social, political, economic (trade) centers)
 Compass rose and map legend/key
 COLORED IN, NEATLY
Step 2 (TIME, EVENTS—WHEN?): due June 4
Research
Each civilization we’ve studied this year has unique characteristics. For your chosen civilization, you need to
research:
 Important dates
 Key people, including the time they lived and their contributions
 Key events (wars, inventions, ideas, etc.)
 Social environment (How did people live? What was their culture like?)
 Political environment (What was government like? How did people respond to government? Did
government change?)
 Economic environment (How did people trade or get things they needed? Did the civilization use money or
barter? What were important items made to sell?)
Create a bibliography
As you complete your research, make sure to record where you got your information. Create a bibliography (list of
sources) using MLA format. A great site (easybib.com) will create this format for you automatically. You will not
receive credit for this project until you turn in a bibliography.
Your bibliography must include:
 At least three credible online sources (do not use “google.com” or any personal blogs/YahooAnswers!/etc.)
 At least two books
Create an illustrated timeline
Using the information you researched, create a timeline that:
 Includes the top 20 events, people, vocabulary related to your civilization
 Has accurate dates in the order in which they happened
 Should have a title and be illustrated (hand-drawn or cut-outs), NOT on lined paper
Step 3 (WHO, WHAT): due June 8
This year, we’ve read many different primary sources and analyzed them using the SOAPS method. Using the links
on my webpage, you will need to analyze two primary sources on your civilization. These sources are from two
different perspectives—how two different people felt about the same event or people.
Once you’ve read the two sources, you will need to write a SOAPS paper for each. A copy of each of the primary
sources needs to be attached. Instructions for the SOAPS papers are available on my webpage.
Step 4 (WHY/HOW?): due June 12
Using your research on the social, political, and economic environment of your civilization, you will create a song
or rap. You should put it to the tune of your favorite song (theme or otherwise). An example is available on my
website.
Your song should include the following with specific detailed events, people, etc. for each:
 Social environment
 Political environment
 Economic environment
 The entire song should be at least 20 lines, have school-appropriate lyrics, and a title
Step 5 (final project): due June 14
The final step of this project is to create a booklet of everything you’ve completed so far. It could be placed in a nice
three-hole punched folder, turned into a “book”, or put together as a “magazine”.
This portion should have:
 An illustrated front page or cover (hand-drawn or colored pictures/collage/etc.) with all group members’
names on it, your civilization’s name and dates it existed
 Your two maps
 Your bibliography
 Your illustrated timeline
 Your two SOAPS papers
 Your song/rap
 Anything else you would like to include you feel is important to understanding your civilization (extra
credit; optional)