Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
World History
River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Conceptual Lens: Civilization, Geography, and Innovation
Author: Lori DiCenzo Carter
Unit Overview: Throughout this unit, students will study the emergence of the first river valley civilizations in order to understand how physical
geography shaped the social, economic and political development of ancient civilizations. Ancient societies used technology to change their environment, which
helped shape the development of the civilization and their culture. Students should draw conclusions about ancient civilizations based upon patterns of migration
and settlement. Geographical features, the development of agriculture, and resources influenced ancient river valley civilizations and were important for survival and
expansion. In addition, students will study the development of civilizations into city‐states and the transition to empires. Additional focus will be placed on Greek
civilization, the Roman Empire, Ancient India, and Ancient China. Students will develop an understanding of the reasons behind the creation of city‐states and then
empires. Students will also examine cross‐cultural exchanges and analyze the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of religious authority.
[Unit 1]
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Civics and Government
Civilization: Mandate of Heaven, Pharaohs,
CONCEPT/CONTENT WEB
Confucianism, Legalism
History
Civilization: Sumerians, Babylonians, Phoenicians,
Qin/Han, Gupta, Shi Huangdi
Geography: city-states, polis, monarchy,
direct democracy, republic,
patricians/plebeians, veto
Geography: dynasty, Mandate of Heaven
Innovation: Neolithic Revolution, cuneiform,
hieroglyphics, papyrus, ziggurat, pyramids, Great
Wall, Hammurabi’s Code, Law of Twelve Tables,
veto
Innovation: Hammurabi’s Code, Law of
Twelve Tables
River Valley
Civilizations
through Fall of
Rome
Conceptual Lenses:
Civilization
Geography
Innovation
Economics and PFL
Civilization: caste system, slavery
Geography: trade, barter, resources, Silk Road
Innovation: division of labor, cuneiform,
hieroglyphics
Geography
Culture
Civilization: pastoralists, karma, dharma,
reincarnation, Nirvana
Civilization: slavery, Mandate of Heaven, theocracy, caste
Geography: Fertile Crescent, Nile River Valley, Indus
River Valley, Yellow River Valley, Ghana, Mali, Greece,
Rome
Innovation: cuneiform, hieroglyphics, papyrus,
ziggurat, pyramids, Great Wall, aqueducts
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
system, reincarnation, polytheism, patricians/plebeians,
Geography: Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism
Innovation: Cuneiform, Hieroglyphics, Papyrus, ziggurat,
pyramids, Great Wall
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Essential Understandings (Generalizations) and Guiding (Essential) Questions:
Access to resources contributes to the success and/or failure of a civilization.
 Why did settlement take place in river valleys?
 Did the success of each civilization depend of agriculture and farming?
 What factors made China a powerful and prosperous civilization?
 What helped trading centers to develop along the coast of the Indian Ocean in Africa?
Leadership impacts the growth and/or decline of a civilization. The structures of both the government and the society play important roles in the rise and
fall of a civilization.
 How do a society’s governmental and social structures affect its development?
 Why was Egyptian government and religion closely connected during the Old Kingdom?
 How did the Chinese dynasties affect life throughout East Asia?
With technological and agricultural advancements, ancient civilizations improved their economies through such techniques as irrigation, planting, surplus,
domestication, travel, and trade.
 How have competition, conflict and compromise over natural resources impacted development?
 How did the creation of a large trading network contribute to the development of an advanced civilization?
 What contributed to the economic success of Ancient China?
When geographical features change, the settled cultures must adapt or move.
 What geographical features are beneficial to the establishment of a permanent civilization?
 What are the benefits to settlement along a river?
 How did geographic isolation and cultural diffusion shape society in South Asia and the Indus River Valley?
 How did physical geography shape Indian civilization?
Technological developments influence the development of a civilization.
 How did ancient civilizations use technology to change their environment?
 How did Mesopotamian technological and cultural innovations influence future civilizations?
 How did the development of writing impact the society?
 What was the impact of the lasting achievements of Egyptians in writing, architecture, and art?
 What effects did power and social class have on the lives of the ancient Indian people?
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Essential Standard Correlations:
HISTORY
WH.H.1.1
WH.H.1.3
WH.H.1.4
GEOGRAPHY &
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
WH.H.1.2
WH.H.1.3
WH.H.2.1
WH.H.2.4
WH.H.2.5
WH.H.2.7
WH.H.2.9
CIVICS AND
GOVERNMENT
WH.H.1.2
WH.H.1.3
WH.H.2.2
WH.H.2.3
WH.H.2.5
WH.H.2.8
WH.H.2.9
ECONOMICS &
FINANCIAL LITERACY
WH.H.1.2
WH.H.1.3
WH.H.2.7
WH.H.2.8
WH.H.2.9
CULTURE
WH.H.1.2
WH.H.1.3
WH.H.2.4
WH.H.2.5
WH.H.2.7
WH.H.2.8
WH.H.2.9
Unit Vocabulary
Tier 1
Shelter
wander
Writing
Government
Religion
Rights
Geography
Laws
Nomads
Slavery
Social
Political
Intellectual
Technology
Economic
Agriculture
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Tier 2
domestication
Division of labor
Cultural diffusion
Delta
Monsoons
Social class
Polytheistic
Great Wall
Civil Service
Silk Road
Monarchy
Direct democracy
oligarchy
Hellenism
Republic
Veto
Latin
Legion
Monotheism
Torah
Diaspora
Bible
Protestantism/Catholicism/
Orthodox
Mecca/Medina/Jerusalem
Sunni/Shia
Qur’an
Hajj
Tier 3
Neolithic Revolution
Pastoralists
City-state
Dynasties
Pharaohs
Mandate of Heaven
Theocracy
Bureaucracy
Caste system
Confucianism
Yin and Yang
Hammurabi’s Code
Ziggurat
Pyramids
Karma
Reincarnation
Dharma
Nirvana
Gupta Empire
Confucianism/Legalism
Qin/Han
Civil Service
Polis
Patricians/Plebeians
Law of Twelve Tables
Consul
Aqueducts
Pax Romana
Caliph
Moors
Abbasid Dynasty
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Key People
Phoenicians
Hammurabi
Sargon
Ashoka
Muhammed
Jesus
Abraham
Alexander the Great
Confucius
Homer
Shi Huangdi
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Pericles
Julius Caesar
Augustus
The Buddha
Constantine
By the end of this unit, students should be able to state…

I can … Create maps of the river valley civilizations and compare to present day maps of the world

I can … List and describe major civilizations throughout the world and the characteristics of these civilizations.

I can … Define civilization and the factors that advance society

I can … List all of the major river valley civilizations and understand their importance to the development of modern society

I can … Understand the development of government structure in ancient societies

I can … Understand the development of social classes in ancient societies

I can … Link the geography of river valleys to the rise of civilization through oral, written and graphic means

I can … Describe the influence of the Greek philosophers on ancient and modern day thinking

I can … Compare classical civilizations and see patterns that help us understand our human history

I can … Recognize that civilizations share common elements, differences develop

I can … Understand that the movement of people and ideas through trade results in cultural diffusion

I can … Recognize that power, authority, and governance evolve through the rise and fall of empires and nations

I can … Understand that institutions and civilizations of the past continue to impact our world

I can … Identify geographic features that determined the development and survival of a people and their culture.

I can … Understand that a culture’s wants and needs are limited by its geography and environment.

I can … Analyze primary documents to understand connections of the culture to modern day society

I can … Recognize that culture brings people together and can drive them apart
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Historical Thinking Skills and Connections
Chronological Thinking
Historical Comprehension
Historical Analysis
Historical Research
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Learning
Activities
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Create an annotated timeline
on the events of the Paleolithic
and Neolithic Revolutions
Create an annotated timeline
of events in students’ lives to
illustrate how historians
approach chronological
thinking
Create historical markers to
annotate geographically major
events through time
Create a cause and effect
sequence chart between
multiple primary documents
and pair that sequence with a
timeline of events through a
specific revolution in order to
compare and contrast actions
and the literature that
paralleled it.
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015

Choose one or two
documents to quickly
engage students, focus
classroom activity, and
spark conversations. Pick
from one of five modes —
Discussion Topic,
Spotlight, Zoom/Crop,
Compare and Contrast, or
White out/Black out — to
frame documents and
guide students as they
analyze, focus on specific
content, examine
document details, and
form hypotheses
Assign student groups and
using SPRITE or PERSIA,
have students classify the
achievements and
accomplishments of early
river valley and ancient
civilizations. Have
students present their
findings.


Choose a set of documents to
locate on a historic or outline
map. Plot primary sources
around the map and ask
students to form geographic
conclusions; ask students to
analyze documents and
position them on the map; or
use the drawing tools to
visualize geographic or
manmade features.
Choose representative
primary source works of art
(paintings, sculpture,
architecture) and ask students
to analyze the importance of
the works to the particular
civilization and the
impact/influence the works
have on today’s society.
Provide a selection of
documents for students to
read that relate to the rise
and/or fall of various
civilizations. Conduct a
socratic seminar on one of the
higher level questions
outlined below



Compare and contrast the
goals of the world’s five
major religions.
Evaluate the use of religion
as a means of enforcing laws
and maintaining social
order.
Compare and contrast the
rights of women in various
early river valley and ancient
civilizations.
Create a document-based
question based on one of
the polit. Include a selection
of documents and wellwritten essay questions.
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Informal Questions to Ask Students (Possible Warm Up, Quick Write or Exit Ticket Questions)
Chronological Thinking
Historical Comprehension
Historical Analysis
Remember
When did monotheism begin to
What were the main causes of How are the political systems
exist?
the Fall of Rome?
developed in Ancient Greece and
Ancient Rome reflected in our
nation today?
Understand
How would you explain the burial
What were some of the
How would you compare and
practices of the Ancient Egyptians? cultural legacies of the
contrast the economic strengths
Ancient Romans?
of India and China during this time
period?
Apply
How did domestication impact
How did the Silk Roads impact What facts would you gather to
mankind’s transition from nomadic cultural diffusion in Asia,
support the relationship between
to farming civilizations?
Africa, and Europe?
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
Analyze
What impact did the high number
of emperors after Julius Caesar
have on the Fall of Rome?
What impact did the civil
service exam in Ancient China
have on the lower social
classes?
What comparisons can you draw
between the leadership of Julius
Caesar and Shi Huangdi?
Evaluate
In what ways Confucianism impact
early China? Examine social,
political and economic influences
over time.
What examples would you cite
to support the improvement
of living standards during the
Gupta period?
Create
Based on the political changes that
impacted Ancient Greece as a
result of Alexander the Great’s
conquest, can you propose an
alternative timeline of events that
would have impacted Greece
differently? Examine at least 4
events and provide evidence to
support your theory.
How would you modify
Hammurabi’s Code to provide
legal protections and rights to
all social classes?
Which of the legacies of Ancient
Rome do you believe is most
important? What examples can
you cite to support your
judgment?
Can you propose an alternative
plan would have allowed for fewer
changes in leadership after the
death of Julius Caesar? How would
your proposal prevent the fall of
the Roman Empire?
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Historical Research
Was the Agricultural successful?
Why or why not?
In what ways did the river
valleys impact the settlement
patterns of early civilizations?
What evidence can you find to
support that social stratification
was a direct result of the division
of labor in early civilizations?
Why did the followers of the
Christian faith persecuted by the
Roman government? How did
this persecution impact the
spread of Christianity?
In what ways are the Eight Fold
Path and Four Noble Truths
similar to the Ten
Commandments? In what ways
are they different?
What document based question
could you create that would
support an unbiased analysis of
the importance of writing as the
key element of any civilization?
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Performance Task and Scoring Guides/Rubric
Generalizations:
 Access to resources contributes to the success and/or failure of a civilization.
 Leadership impacts the growth and/or decline of a civilization.
 With technological and agricultural advancements, ancient civilizations improved their economies through such techniques as irrigation, planting, surplus,
domestication, travel, and trade.
 When geographical features change, the settled cultures must adapt or move.
Why: In order to understand the factors and motivations behind the rise of civilization
How: Build a complete civilization with a code of laws, economy (specialization and trade), worship centers and resource access.
What: Analyze primary sources, maps and charts to evaluate the connections between government, economy, culture, geography and history.
Performance Task Summary:
As a group of nomads, you are looking for a permanent settlement in the “land between two rivers”. Your task is for you and your traveling group to design a successful
civilization. You will need to first analyze geography (find a location to build) that has access to all of the resources you will need such as water and fertile land. The location will
also need to be easy to defend in the event of an invasion from another tribe. You will also need to develop laws for your people to follow, determine what 2-3 products your
people will specialize in, a formidable defense plan and a system of worship.
Performance Task Criteria:
In cooperative groups of 4 to 5, students will design a city-state/civilization that contains all of the elements of a successful, advanced society.
Students will include the following information and present it in a group poster, model and presentation – You will include a map of city, information on the climate, region of
Mesopotamia, natural resources and rationale for all decisions you make.
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
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10 City Laws (strict or laissez-faire?) - Government
Example of civilizations currency and develop a trading system with another group(s)/allies (those with a different specialization) - Economy
Ziggurat location, type of religion, gods that are worshipped - Culture
Occupations for city state – Economy/specialization
Agriculture plan (irrigation, types of food produced, where farms are located, plan for farms is city is attacked, food storage) - Geography
Plan of Government (who runs the city, military plan, city defense, social class system) – Government
Map of Mesopotamia and location of the city-state. Must include rationale for area chosen. – Geography
Entire project must be rational and historically accurate, remembering this is a piece of historical fiction – History
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/ (Comprehensive look at Mesopotamian Geography and culture)
http://www.virtualmuseumiraq.cnr.it/homeENG.htm (Virtual Museum of Iraq)
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Group Roles and Guided Questions:
Geographical/Religious Expert- What is the environment like? What part of Mesopotamia will your city-state be located? What will the weather/climate be like? Can plants and
animals survive there? What water sources surround you? Why have you chosen this area over another? Where is your ziggurat located? What gods are worshiped?
Job Specialist- What occupations will your city-state offer? Will there be a wide variety of occupations? Now that we will not be nomads, what other career choices might we
have? Describe your division of labor and social hierarchy. Will women and men have the same choices? Does location of your city-state affect what jobs would be available?
What are some of the inventions or products your city state uses? Why?
Farmer- What is the agriculture like? Is there plenty of food? Do you have an extra amount (surplus) of anything? How could that be beneficial to you as a city? Where do you
get your food? Do you hunt, gather, and produce? Do you have plenty of water? Where do you get your water? What are all of the things you need water for? Does the
geography and location affect you as a farmer in any way? How and why?
Government Official- What is the social class system like? Who will rule the city-state? How will you protect your city-state from invaders? What are 10 of your laws and
punishments? Develop a money/currency system.
1. Now that you know the task, your role, and how I will be evaluating you, you are ready to research. Use your book, the internet and library books to help you (use a minimum
of three sources.)
2. Before you all go much further, decide on a city name.
3. Be sure to take notes as you do your research, write down the source so you can go back to it.
4. Your poster should include a map of your city with major landmarks (rivers, religious monuments, farms etc.) located. Your map should also include the name of the city, a key
and any other key information about your city.
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Performance Task Rubric:
Data Gathering
&
Analysis
10 points
Organization
&
Sequence
5 points
Exemplary
Accomplished
Developing
Beginning
Your information and evidence
was gathered from a variety of
relevant resources. You went
above and beyond what was
needed.
You did a good job gathering your
information and evidence from a
variety of relevant resources. You
accomplished what you needed to in
order to complete your task!
It appears as if you still have some
information and evidence to gather
and analyze. You are on your way to
applying it to complete your task,
but it needs more work!
You are at the very beginning level of
gathering and analyzing inform at on.
Your completed project is really lacking
inform at on and evidence!
Your City Plans blew me out of the Your city plans were very well done.
water! They were so solid and
They were nicely put together and
easy to follow! Fantastic
well thought out in most areas. All
organization and sequencing of you needed were a few finishing
ideas!
touches!
You completed and organized a
You attempted to organize a part of a
fairly nice set of city plans, however,
city plan, but numerous aspects were
everything did not flow perfectly
missing and/or hard to understand.
and some was hard to understand.
Aesthetics/Technical
Quality
&
Grammar/Spelling
10 points
Spelling and grammar looked
superb! You are a technical
expert!
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
. The majority of spelling and
Grammar and spelling need some Spelling and grammar needs a lot of
grammar were correct. You are on
improvement. Be more careful and improvement. Did not follow
your way, but need to work out just a
more creative!!
directions, not typed or written in ink.
few kinks!!
Score
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Data Gathering
&
Analysis
Collaboration
Exemplary
5
Accomplished
4
Developing
3
Beginning
2
Your information and evidence
was gathered from a variety of
relevant resources. You went
above and beyond what was
needed.
You did a good job gathering your
information and evidence from a
variety of relevant resources. You
accomplished what you needed to in
order to complete your task!
It appears as if you still have some
information and evidence to gather
and analyze. You are on your way to
applying it to complete your task,
but it needs more work!
You are at the very beginning level of
gathering and analyzing inform at on.
Your completed project is really lacking
inform at on and evidence!
You are an awesome group of city
planners and you should stick
You did not work very well as a
You have great potential for being an Your group skills are developing, but
together for more creative
group. Your city does not blend
awesome group of city planners.
need more work.
projects.
together.
Use of class time.
No warnings to be on task.
1 or 2 warnings to be on task.
Your City Plans blew me out of the Your city plans were very well done.
water! They were so solid and
They were nicely put together and
easy to follow! Fantastic
well thought out in most areas. All
organization and sequencing of you needed were a few finishing
ideas!
touches!
Appealing graphic/text elements Appealing graphic/text elements
Aesthetics/Technical were included appropriately.
were included. Differences in type
Quality
Differences in type size/color
size/color were used. The majority of
&
were used very well. Spelling and spelling and grammar were correct.
Grammar/Spelling grammar looked superb! You are You are on your way, but need to
a technical expert!
work out just a few kinks!!
Organization
&
Sequence
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
3-4 warnings to be on task.
5 or more reminders to be on task.
You completed and organized a
You attempted to organize a part of a
fairly nice set of city plans, however,
city plan, but numerous aspects were
everything did not flow perfectly
missing and/or hard to understand.
and some was hard to understand.
There were a few appealing
graphic/text elements. Differences
in type size/color were somewhat
attempted. Grammar and spelling
need some improvement. Be more
careful and more creative!!
There were very little attempts at
adding a few appealing graphic/text
elements. Differences in type
size/color were barely attempted.
Spelling and grammar needs a lot of
improvement.
Score
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Unit Resources
Unit Number - 1
Unit Title – River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
Resource Title
Location
Key Points for
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/ap-artStudying Global
history/global-prehistory-ap/paleolithic-mesolithicPrehistory
neolithic/a/key-points-for-studying-global-prehistory
Summary
Based on the College Board AP Art History curriculum, this resource provides a solid
basic introduction to prehistory around the globe.
Catal Hoyuk
http://www.smm.org/catal/
Caves of Lascaux
Mesopotamia
http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/index.php?fichier=00.xml#/fr
/00.xml
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html
History Channel:
Ancient Egypt
http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancientegypt
History Channel site includes printable articles, video, pictures, and infographics.
BBC: Ancient Greece
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekdemocr
acy_01.shtml
http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/greekmythology
Well-written articles, including a wonderful comparison of the Greek democratic
experiment and modern democracy.
Site includes printable articles, video, and pictures. Excellent for a mythology project!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/
Extensive site includes extensive, well-written articles about the rise, expansion, and fall
of the Roman Empire.
Videos, each approximately 20 minutes in length, providing a solid explanation of the
world’s five major religions. Also has a video on Sikhism for use later in the school year.
While not perfect, this attention getting program holds the attention of students. Some
interesting material for use throughout the school year. Also useful in “flipping” the
classroom.
Hosted by Fault in Our Stars author John Greene, this video series is based on the AP
World History curriculum. Greene talks really throughout the approximately 10-12
minute videos that cover topics from Agricultural Revolution to Globalization, and
everything in between. However, they are extremely informative! Another useful
source for flipping the classroom. See information below for viewing guides.
Fill in the blank notes for Crash Course World History videos. A word of caution: notes
are not a complete transcript of each episode. View/complete prior to assigning to
students.
Outstanding resource includes downloadable lesson plans, documents, timelines, and
PowerPoint. Includes a wide variety of additional world history topics.
History Channel:
Ancient Greek
Mythology
BBC History: Ancient
Romans
Discovery Education
Let’s Look at World Religions Series
Mankind: The Story
of All of Us
http://www.history.com/shows/mankind-the-story-of-allof-us
Crash Course
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80
C9
Crash Course Viewing
Guides
https://sites.google.com/a/bisdmail.net/elk-worldhistory/assignments/crashcoursefillintheblanknotes
Stanford History
Education Group
https://sheg.stanford.edu/intro-materials
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015
A user friendly site that introduced students to the work performed by archeologists.
Created by the Science Museum of Minnesota.
3-D virtual tour and history of Paleolithic ceremonial caves discovered in France in
1940.
British Museum interactive website explores life in Assyria, Babylonia, and Sumer.
Unit 1: River Valley Civilizations through Fall of Rome
CMS Social Studies – Revised 2014-2015