Introduction+to+River+Valley+Civilizations+Lesson

1. What is geographic luck? Do you totally agree with Diamond's theory? Use SPECIFIC details from //Guns, Germs, and Steel// to support your answer and also specific examples from your own experiences/prior knowledge.
 * Guns, Germs and Steel Quiz:**

Bonus Question: How do you think Jared Diamond would account for the different classes in a country like India? In other words, why are some Indians so wealthy while others are so poor?

Intro to today's activity: What are the most important advantages and disadvantages of living in a city? Explain your reasons for considering your choices the “most important” ones. In what ways, if any, do the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city differ for various groups in a city’s population
 * Do Now:** Can hunter-gatherer groups be considered "civilizations"? What about agricultural settlements? What are the most important characteristics of a civilization?

Share ideas, and then agree on a single hypothesis for each of the following, in each case supporting the hypothesis:

1.What the most important characteristics are that define a society as a “civilization? 2.What the most important distinguishing characteristics of a city are. 3.What the most important advantages and disadvantages of living in a city are.

Watch the crash course episodes on Mesopotamia below media type="youtube" key="sohXPx_XZ6Y" height="315" width="560" -What are some interesting points made in this video? What are some patterns that can be seen in civilizations such as Mesopotamia that are mentioned in Crash Course? -What role does the invention of writing play in a civilization?

The Epic of Gilgamesh: As you watch, try to figure out the morals of the Epic (there are more than one). What stories in the Epic sound familiar? Why do you think there are similarities between ancient stories from different civilizations? media type="youtube" key="oSZg5DTW7Hw" height="315" width="560"


 * Homework**

Go through the above Egypt and Mesopotamia PowerPoint. Focus on the section about Mesopotamia.


 * Read pp27-37 in your textbook:** Answer the following questions, noting where you get the information you need to answer them from (textbook, powerpoint or primary sources from today's lesson)
 * 1. Should each of the following Ancient Mesopotamian civilizations (Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians) be considered civilizations? Explain why or why not by listing criteria for characterizing a society as "civilized".**
 * 2. To what extent did geography impact Mesopotamia?**
 * 3. What information does your textbook give that the primary source docs do not?**
 * 4. Do you think that you could get a clear picture of the history of Ancient Mesopotamia if you only used the textbook? Why or why not?**

media type="youtube" key="BfaDPJHNl_A" height="315" width="560"
 * The following movie also has some interesting information about Mesopotamian civilizations (Babylon, Assyria and Sumer)** skip the first 15 minutes

Review Geography.
 * Also:** Watch History Crash Course on China and explain whether or not you think ancient China was more or less civilised than Mesopotamia.

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