First Civilizations Presentations
Enduring Questions:
What is a civilization?
What are the most significant factors contributing to the development of a civilization?
Which civilizations had great influence on the world?
What are the great legacies of each civilization? How did they influence the world?
Which civilizations really mattered? Why should we care?
Task
In small groups, students will examine a specific community as it began to emerge and solidify into a
civilization. Students will create a short presentation based on the key influences of that civilization
and the impact that it had on the world. Next, through a class round robin debate, a determination
will be made regarding which city state "really mattered" and which factors were the most significant
contributors to the development and sustainability of a civilization in the ancient world.
Stage 1:
Class will be divided into teams - each team will represent an early civilization.
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Peoples
A) Mesopotamia: Sumerians & Akkadians
B) Egyptians (up to 1070 BC)
C) China (up to 202 BC)
D) India (up to 320AD) OR Mayans (up to 1250AD)
Stage 2:
a) Students in each city state will then research to find the TOP factors from the list below that
"REALLY MATTERED" (i.e. were the most relevant) to their civilization.
Keep in mind you need to:
1. find the biggest successes / legacies / achievements of your civilization
2. showcase why people SHOULD CARE
3. explain how these accomplishments significantly influenced ancient history (significance,
legacy, cause and effects)
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Factors Contributing to Development and Sustainability of a Civilization
Politics /government/ laws
 intellectual (ideas)/ writing
Economy/ societal roles
 science / technology
Religion
 arts / architecture
Stage 3: Presentations
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The Group should begin the presentation with a title page, map and basic timeline.
Then, each student will present their segment
Criteria of the presentation:
 Clear objective / thesis/ theme: Showcase the major accomplishments, advancements and
legacies (i.e. religion in Mesopotamia) and prove how these were significant contributors to
the development, sustainability and potential dominance of your civilization. The
presentation must go beyond telling about the aspects / history and should make a definitive
argument of how it affected the development and sustainability of the civilization.
 Quality research: historically accurate content and detailed research at a senior academic
level.
 Quality images: images must be relevant to the civilization and good quality (high resolution
so they appear clear in the powerpoint)
 Appropriate Narration: Narration should be valuable and concise.
 Coherence / Organization: powerpoint should be logical, coherent and organized with a clear
introduction and concluding statement
 Length: Each individual’s segment should be approximately 3-5 minutes in length. Use email,
thumb drive or ‘the cloud’ to have it in class.
 Professionalism and Creativity: presentation has a professional appearance and is creative
and educational.
Sources:
Sources MUST be listed at the end of your presentation. Use Chicago style format.
Stage 4: Class Debate
Each city state group will be split into separate tables and will compete in a classic round robin
debate. City states will debate which city state "really mattered" and which factors were the most
significant contributors to the development and sustainability of a civilization in the ancient world.
Historical Powerpoint Rubric
CATEGORY LEVEL 4
Knowledge
-all content is historically
/Understanding accurate containing detailed
research at a senior academic
-research
level.
-historical
-all images / are relevant to
content
the civilization and good
-images / video quality /clear resolution
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
-content is historically
accurate containing
detailed research at a
senior academic level.
- images / are relevant
to the civilization and
good quality /clear
resolution
-some content is
historically accurate
with adequate details
in research
-some images / are
relevant to the
civilization but could
have better quality
/clear resolution
-content contains some
inaccuracies and needs
to be more in depth for
senior level academics
-selection of images /
are not always
relevant / good quality
Thinking/Inquiry -product exceptionally
-product showcases the -product showcases
showcases the major
main accomplishments, some accomplishments
-objective, thesis, accomplishments,
advancements and
and advancements
theme
advancements and legacies legacies and makes
with some connections
and makes critical analysis / analysis and connections to the significance to
definitive argument of how
to the significance to the the development of a
these were significant
development of a
civilization
contributors to the
civilization
development and
sustainability of the tribe /
civilization.
Communication -powerpoint is very logical, Presentation shows
Presentation shows an
coherent and organized with a some originality and
attempt at originality
-Coherence /
clear introduction and
inventiveness. The
and inventiveness
Organization
concluding statement
content and ideas are
-music /
-all sounds (music / narration) presented in an
narration
are audible, clear, concise and interesting way.
appropriate
Application
-creativity
-length
-Presentation is very
professional, educational and
shows considerable originality
and inventiveness.
- imagery, effects very
appropriate to the tribe /
theme and is superbly mixed
with narration
-product is appropriate in
length / slides
-Presentation is
professional,
educational and shows
originality and
inventiveness.
- imagery, effects
appropriate to the tribe
/ theme and is mixed
with narration
-product is appropriate
in length / slides
-product needs to
portray more of the
accomplishments and
advancements and
needs to make
connections to the
significance to the
development of a
civilization
Presentation is a
rehash of other
people's ideas and/or
graphics and shows
very little attempt at
original thought.
-Presentation is
-Presentation lacks
somewhat professional professional and
with some degree of
requires more
originality
originality
- imagery, effects
- imagery, effects /
somewhat appropriate narration not always
to the tribe / theme
appropriate to the tribe
-product does not meet / theme
expectations in length / -product does not meet
slides
expectations in length /
slides
Historical Powerpoint Rubric
CATEGORY LEVEL 4
Knowledge
-all content is historically
/Understanding accurate containing detailed
research at a senior academic
-research
level.
-historical
-all images / are relevant to
content
the civilization and good
-images / video quality /clear resolution
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
-content is historically
accurate containing
detailed research at a
senior academic level.
- images / are relevant
to the civilization and
good quality /clear
resolution
-some content is
historically accurate
with adequate details
in research
-some images / are
relevant to the
civilization but could
have better quality
/clear resolution
-content contains some
inaccuracies and needs
to be more in depth for
senior level academics
-selection of images /
are not always
relevant / good quality
Thinking/Inquiry -product exceptionally
-product showcases the -product showcases
showcases the major
main accomplishments, some accomplishments
-objective, thesis, accomplishments,
advancements and
and advancements
theme
advancements and legacies legacies and makes
with some connections
and makes critical analysis / analysis and connections to the significance to
definitive argument of how
to the significance to the the development of a
these were significant
development of a
civilization
contributors to the
civilization
development and
sustainability of the tribe /
civilization.
Communication -powerpoint is very logical, Presentation shows
Presentation shows an
coherent and organized with a some originality and
attempt at originality
-Coherence /
clear introduction and
inventiveness. The
and inventiveness
Organization
concluding statement
content and ideas are
-music /
-all sounds (music / narration) presented in an
narration
are audible, clear, concise and interesting way.
appropriate
Application
-creativity
-length
-Presentation is very
professional, educational and
shows considerable originality
and inventiveness.
- imagery, effects very
appropriate to the tribe /
theme and is superbly mixed
with narration
-product is appropriate in
length / slides
-Presentation is
professional,
educational and shows
originality and
inventiveness.
- imagery, effects
appropriate to the tribe
/ theme and is mixed
with narration
-product is appropriate
in length / slides
-product needs to
portray more of the
accomplishments and
advancements and
needs to make
connections to the
significance to the
development of a
civilization
Presentation is a
rehash of other
people's ideas and/or
graphics and shows
very little attempt at
original thought.
-Presentation is
-Presentation lacks
somewhat professional professional and
with some degree of
requires more
originality
originality
- imagery, effects
- imagery, effects /
somewhat appropriate narration not always
to the tribe / theme
appropriate to the tribe
-product does not meet / theme
expectations in length / -product does not meet
slides
expectations in length /
slides
Stage 3:
On a selected day(s), individuals will present their powerpoint by TRIBE / CIVILIZATION (rather than by
category. Once each TRIBE / CIVILIZATION has presented, the class will debate and then vote which category is
the most significant factor contributing to the development and sustainability of a civilization.
Mesopotamia: Egyptians
Sumer, Akkad,
Babylon,
Assyria
Politics/Laws
Teams
Economy/Societal
Roles
Religion
Education/Writing
& Literature
Intellectual (ideas)
Science/Technology
Arts/Architecture
India
Far East:
China (up
to