10/1/2012

1
The big ideas
of social studies
G.R.A.P.E.S.
G
Geography
How climate and
landscape affect lifestyle
Was the civilization
isolated, or was it open
to cultural exchange or
invasion?
What resources were
available for clothing,
building, and trade?
Example: Geography
The Tigris and
Euphrates rivers not
only provided
irrigation, but their
annual flooding left
rich soil for growing
wheat and barley,
allowing villages to
grow.
R
Religion
Societys beliefs about
morals and the afterlife
What were the rules
people believed they
should live by?
How did these religious
ideas affect different
aspects of daily life?
Example: Religion
Sumerians believed
many immortal and
all-powerful gods
controlled the forces
in nature. Humans
existed to serve these
gods and keep them
happy, so they often
made offerings at the
city temples.
A
Achievements
The lasting works of a
society
What things were
created to last?
Which ideas, if any, still
affect our lives today?
10/1/2012
2
Example: Achievements
Massive ziggurats,
or temples, were the
city centers. The top
of the Empire State
building is modeled
after the stepped-
pyramid structure of
the ziggurat.
P
Political System
Who runs a society, and
how do they do it?
Who had power, and
how was it used?
How did those with
power keep it or lose it?
Example: Political system
At first, city-states
were independent
temple priests and
military commanders
controlled the cities
like countries. Later,
the ruler Hammurabi
created one of the
first written codes of
law.
E
Economics
How a society uses its
scarce resources
What were the most
valuable resources in the
society?
What were the key
products that this
civilization created, grew
or traded?
Example: Economics
Surplus food
produced on farms
outside the city walls
allowed Sumerians to
increase long-
distance trade,
exchanging extra
food for raw
materials like stone,
wood and metal.
S
Social structure
The different levels or
classes in a society
Who were the most
important people in
society? What did they
do?
Who was at the bottom
of the heap? Why?
10/1/2012
3
Example: Social structure
Civilization
brought the
beginning of
social classes,
which affected the
lives of both men
and women, who
could work as
merchants,
farmers, artisans
or priestesses.
Kings, landholders,
priests
Wealthy
merchants
People working in the
fields or workshops
Slaves