AP ART HISTORY
(SECONDARY)
ESSENTIAL UNIT 1 (E01)
(Prehistoric Art/Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian Art)
(July 2012)
Unit Statement: The Student will discuss the beginnings of human creative activity and
the form and function of art in the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Essential Outcomes:
1. The Student Will discuss possible functions of various examples of prehistoric art.
2. TSW define sequence and time frames of major ancient civilizations in
Mesopotamia and chronological time frames applied to the history of ancient
Egyptian civilization.
3. TSW discuss form, structure, function and decoration of main works of art and
architecture produced by Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations.
4. TSW examine examples of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian art, in terms of visual tools
used to express concepts of power, authority, and social structure.
5. TSW analyze how beliefs in life after life in the ancient Egyptian culture
influenced art and architecture in terms of form, function, placement of
artworks, and use of symbolism.
6. TSW compare and contrast traditional Egyptian art with art created under the
pharaoh Akhenaton.
7. TSW research how various statues of queen Hatshepsut express power and femininity.
8. TSW identify two main archeologists who contributed to discoveries in the field of
ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture.
Practiced/Ongoing skills:
1. The Student Will use terminology referring to elements and principles of art, both
in class discussions and written assignments.
2. TSW describe and analyze various works of art and architecture, using appropriate
art historical terminology, adjectives and descriptive phrases.
3. TSW practice skills of understanding a written text on art by rephrasing or
summarizing it in his/her own words.
4. TSW write at least two short essays, using either short essay questions from previous AP
exams or teacher generated questions that resemble those used on AP exams.
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QSI AP ART HISTORY (SEC) E01
Copyright © 1988-2012
Suggested Strategies and Assessments:
1. Oral presentations and discussions on selected artworks, including both visual and
contextual analysis.
2. Arranging a random group of images chronologically.
3. Review using flashcards, individually or in pairs, made on paper or online
http://quizlet.com/
4. Making a poster with a time line, including chronology of political events, artistic
styles and main works of art and architecture.
5. Graphic organizer and an essay where student has to compare and contrast a statue
of an Egyptian pharaoh with statues of middle and lower class people of Egyptian
society, and the visual means applied to express social and religious status.
6. Tests using published AP multiple choice and essay questions or teacher generated
questions that mimic the AP questions.
7. Analyzing AP essay questions and breaking them into concrete tasks.
RUBRIC FOUND ON FOLLOWING PAGE……………………..
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QSI AP ART HISTORY (SEC) E01
Copyright © 1988-2012
Assessment Rubric: E01
‘A’ grade = at least four ‘A’ level and no ‘P’ level.
‘B’ grade = at least all ‘B’ level and no ‘P’ level.
‘A’ level
TSW1
TSW2
TSW3
‘B’ level
‘P’ in progress
TSW discuss possible functions of at least two
examples of prehistoric art, including Stonehenge.
TSW define chronological time frames of the following
civilizations or periods: Sumerian, Akkadian,
Babylonian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, as well as Old,
Middle and New Kingdom in the history of Egypt.
Discuss form, structure, function and decoration of
following examples: Standard of Ur, Assyrian
sculptures and citadel, ziggurat in Ur, pyramids in
Gizeh, temple of Ramses II. Use following
terminology: engaged columns, base, shaft, capital,
lamassu, sphinx, relief, fresco, pylon, façade, axial
plan, hypostyle hall.
“B” level not
achieved
B” level not
achieved
B” level not
achieved
TSW4
Examine orally or write an
essay which combines
knowledge of historical and
social background of a given
civilization and visual
analysis of a specific
artwork, in terms of how it
expresses concepts of power,
authority, and social
structure.
Examine various artworks, in terms of visual tools
used to express concepts of power, authority, and social
structure, using following words: register, stylization,
idealization, realism, composite view, hierarchy of
scale, canon, and recognizing iconographical elements
used to express power (mainly elements of clothing).
B” level not
achieved
TSW5
Apply “B” level knowledge
by analyzing orally or in
writing an art object not
taught in class, in terms of
how it expresses beliefs in
life after life in the ancient
Egypt. Consider style,
iconography and beliefs and
make a reference to specific
myths and beliefs.
Analyze structure, function, placement and symbolism
of pyramids, paintings and reliefs, as well as scroll
paintings in relation to ancient Egyptian belief in
afterlife.
B” level not
achieved
TSW6
Apply “B” level knowledge
by comparing and
contrasting two relevant
artworks, previously not
studied in class, making
reference to historical and
religious background..
Compare and contrast traditional Egyptian art with art
created under the pharaoh Akhenaton, using a graphic
organizer. Consider differences in:
style
- representations of the pharaoh
- iconography
B” level not
achieved
TSW7
Research, on at least two
examples, previously not
studied in class, how statues
of queen Hatshepsut, express
power and femininity,
making a link to the cultural
and historical background.
Research, on at least two examples, how statues of
queen Hatshepsut express power and femininity. Pay
examples to:
- iconographical details
- similarity and differences in relation to figures
of male pharaohs
B” level not
achieved
Student identifies figures of Leonard Woolley and
Howard Carter.
B” level not
achieved
TSW8
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QSI AP ART HISTORY (SEC) E01
Copyright © 1988-2012