Unit Theme/Focus

Ancient Egypt (3150 BC-30 BC)/Mesopotamia (3600 BC- 486 BC)

Grade  Level  

9^th

Duration

8 weeks during the 1^st Quarter, August-October.

Description

This first part of the unit covers Egypt from its unification under the pharaoh Narmer until the death of the last pharaoh, Cleopatra, in 30 BC.  

The second part covers Mesopotamia from Sumer until the reign of Xerxes of Persia (486-465 BC).

Essential Concepts

1. The condition of Egypt pre-unification (until 3150---all dates BC).
2. Pharaohs Narmer and Hor-aha (3050)
3. The Old Kingdom---the building of the pyramids (2668-2181).
4. The Intermediate Periods (2181-2040; 1782-1570; 1070-525).
5. The Hyksos invasion (c. 1700).
6. The New Kingdom pharaohs (1570-1183).
7. Amenhotep IV (1350-1334).
8. Foreign domination (1070-30).
9. Decline and fall.
10. Egyptian religion.
11. Contributions to civilization
12. The rise of the Sumerian city-states.
13. The importance of water.
14. Priest-kings.
15. writing.
16. The Epic of Gilgamesh.
17. Sargon
18. Babylon and Law.
19. the Hebrews.
20. Assyria (1800-612 BC).
21. Neo-Babylonia.
22. Persia.  

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Why Egypt was the Nile, and the Nile was Egypt.
2. The pyramids: meaning and purpose.
3. Similarities between Egyptian religion and other poly-and monotheisms.
4. Reasons for stability, both cultural and political.
5. Reasons for longevity.
6. The differences among the periods of Egyptian history.
7. Reasons for empire.
8. Backbone of Egyptian economy.
9. Egyptian foreign policy.
10. The place of pharaoh.
11. Mesopotamian religion.
12. The place of the ziggurat.
13. The supremacy of Babylonian culture.
14. The Hebrews and their God.
15. Assyria: the first modern state?
16. Persian influences.

Primary Concepts

1. The reason why Egypt was politically stable for so long a period.
2. Contrasts with Mesopotamia.
3. The all pervasive role of religion.
4. The uses and limitations of Egyptian and Mesopotamian primary sources.

Skill Objectives

1. Historical analysis: to be able to analyze a piece of historical material and judge it on its merits as a reliable source.
2. Writing competence: To be able to organize and complete a competent and grammatical and reasoned essay.
3. Research: To be able to locate relevant pieces of historical writings whether through the Internet or at a library.
4. Chronology: To be able to place any historical event in its proper time.

Primary Assessments

1. Essay Writing: Most exams and quizzes are in essay form.
2. Chronological Quizzes: They are to measure the student’s awareness of when an event occurred.
3. Standardized exams: They are used to broaden the range of assessments outside of chronology and essay writing.

Language Implications

1. Most students are reasonably competent in English. A wide variety of assessment strategies can reach these students as well as those not so capable in English.

Technology Integration

1. Internet use is required for the course to find outside information as well as to locate primary sources.

Interdisciplinary Connections

1. All essay writing is subject to spelling, grammar and content corrections common to English usage.
2. There are many references to historical events in literature that we use in class, including the Old Testament and Mesopotamian historical sources.

Primary Materials

1. The Pageant of World History, Gerald Leinwand, 1990
2. The Old Testament
3. The Epic of Gilgamesh.