Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Week One
Geography
Themes in
American
History
Economics
Government
This theme will explore
the founding of our
country from the
Declaration of
Independence to the
Articles of Confederation
to the Constitution, all
the way to the present.
It will also examine the
relationship between
federal, state, and local
governments.
Citizenship
Our government is a
constitutional republic
where the heads of state
are representatives of the
people and are beholden
to a constitution and a
body of laws. For such a
governmental system to
function, the citizens
must participate. This
book will explore the
rights, freedoms, and
responsibilities of
citizenship.
Science
The
Transcontinental
Railroad, bridges,
the highway system,
skyscrapers,
computers, etc., all
have played a role
in the development
of our nation. This
theme will explore
these developments
Culture
This theme will
explore our
nations unique
cultural heritage
that comes from
its ethnic,
religious, and
racial diversity
Constitutional Heritage
Global Relations
Critical Thinking
- Analyze Information break it down
- Sequence place events in order
- Categorize place things in categories for
clarity
- Identify Cause and Effect (action to
outcome)
- Compare (similarities) and Contrast
(differences)
- Find the Main Idea
- Can you summarize what youve read?
- Make Generalizations and Predictions
- Draw Conclusions and Inferences
Critical Thinking
-
Becoming a
Strategic
Reader
Anticipate
Information:
Each chapter of the
book asks you to
explore the main
themes of the chapter
before you start
reading
Becoming a
Strategic Reader
Preview and
Predict:
If you take the time
to preview and
predict before you
read, the text will
make more sense
to you during your
reading
Becoming a
Strategic Reader
Use and Analyze
Visual Information:
The pictures, charts,
graphs, cartoons, time
lines, and diagrams
that occur throughout
this book are placed
strategically to
increase your
understanding
Becoming a
Strategic Reader
Organize Information:
Graphic organizers help you
understand important
relationships, such as cause
and effect,
compare/contrast, sequence
of events, and
problem/solution. Concept
maps provide a useful tool to
help you focus the texts
main ideas and organize
supporting details.
Standardized Test-Taking
Strategies
Tips for Answering Multiple-Choice
Questions
Tips for Answering Short-Answer
Questions
Tips for Answering Composition
Questions
Internet Support
At the end of each chapter, there is a box
called Internet Connect.
In this box is a website address (go.hrw.com)
and a keyword.
Go to that webpage and then add the
keyword.
This will bring you to the supporting materials.
Not all of the materials are available any
longer, but many are.
The Basics
Nomads
Lived in Caves or
other natural habitats
Domesticated the
dog; helped in the
hunt and was
satisfied with a minor
share
Domesticated Goats;
portable food source
(milk and meat), noncompetitive (ate
grasses)
Human population
grew
The Glaciers
Recede
Land masses
became isolated
(Australia:
Tasmanian devil,
emu, sea dragon,
and ancestors of
Perry)
No ice meant plant
life began to
flourish
Agriculture
Plant cultivation began in
what is now Northern Iraq
Hard work: Planting,
watering, weeding, scaring
off animals, harvesting,
roasting and grinding the
grain, replanting
It provided a reliable
source of food year after
year
As the population grew, it
became mandatory
Plots were developed and
protected the idea of
property was born
The City
Specialized Labor
After farming was established and
a city built, some people could do
things other than farm or hunt.
Artisans, tool makers, home
builders, soldiers, etc.
Development of reed baskets and
pottery (liquids) and flax fibers
used to weave linen cloth
Rivers were a logical place for
farming because of ready water
supply, though it was also a labor
intensive task to build irrigation
ditches and levees to protect the
fields; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
and the Nile River (boats were
developed)
Sumerians
Tigris-Euphrates River
Valley
Developed Agriculture
Invented the plow
Invented the Wheel,
possibly from the
potters wheel
Used boats and
invented oars
The rulers associated
themselves with the
gods so their authority
was beyond question
Sumerians
As more cities developed
and trade began, the people
had to keep track of the
things they traded. They
developed a counting
system that was based on
12, 60 and 360. Why?
Created a writing system
called cuneiforms, a mostly
picture-based method where
the images were pressed
into clay with a stylus, which
was then baked hard so it
would become semipermanent.
Cuneiforms
Egypt
Egypt had the Nile River
great for farming because it
flooded annually, fertilizing
the soil; flows north and
prevailing wind blows south
perfect for travel by boat. No
forests but Egypt had papyrus
to build boats from; the easy
travel allowed the various
cities along the Nile to
develop a common language,
culture and world outlook.
The people traded materials
and ideas and the region
enjoyed long stretches
of peace and prosperity
Hieroglyphics
The Egyptians
too had
writing, called
hieroglyphics
(maybe picked
up from
Sumerians),
which were
brushed onto
papyrus
sheets; both
pictorial and
TigrisEuphrates
River Valley
Numerous kingdoms
would come and go
from this area, each
advancing human
civilization. The
Babylonians, under
Hammurabi would
create a law code on a
stone stele in 1728BC
that still exists today.
The Chariot
Israelites
Around 1200BC, when Egypt
still had the appearance of
strength, the Israelites managed
to escape from Egypt and under
the leadership of Moses joined
other tribes that were invading
Canaan. For two centuries, the
invading Philistines from the
west and the Israelites from the
east battled over Canaan. For a
while, the Philistines had iron
weapons but the Israelites
gained this technology also and
finally defeated the Philistines
under the leadership of David.
The Phoenicians
The Assyrians
Amorite tribe that entered
the T/E river valley
Battled for control of the
area against still other
invading tribes until fully
outfitting their armies with
iron weapons.
They also learned how to
mount and control a horse
(military advance), gaining
an advantage over the
charioteers
Their kingdom stretched
from the T/E river valley, to
the eastern shores of the
Mediterranean and into
Egypt.
Ancient Greece
Athens and Sparta were two cities, among many, in
Ancient Greece. Sparta was a military culture while
Athens developed the worlds first democracy. It was in
this democratic environment, under the rule of Pericles,
that Athens entered a period of great intellectual and
artistic activity.
The Persians
Macedonia
Macedonia was a country north of
Greece that was absorbing Greek
culture and Greek dialect. The
thirteen year old brother of the
Macedonian king observed the
Greek phalanx style of fighting
and greatly improved it. When he
became king as Philip II he used
his new phalanx in war against
the Greeks to the south (who
were busy fighting among
themselves), supported by a
cavalry and the catapult, which
allowed for the battering down of
walls and forcing entry rather
than waiting for the city dwellers
to die of starvation.
Alexander
the Great
Ancient Rome
Rome was founded in the eighth
century BC on the Tiber River in
central Italy. It lasted as a
monarchy until 509 BC when a
popular uprising ended the rule of
kings. Over time, two groups
would be established the
Patricians (wealthy landowners)
and the Plebeians (common
people).
The Roman Republic consisted of:
2 consuls, or leaders, elected
annually (Patricians)
The Senate (300 senators
Patricians)
The Assembly (Plebeians voted
for consuls)
Constantine
Following the death of
Diocletian, the emperor
who split the empire,
Constantine would seize
control. He was a former
general of Diocletians
who enlisted the help of
the Christians in winning
power. Upon his success,
he awarded the Christians
the right to exercise their
religion freely. On May 11,
330, he established a new
capital on the Black Sea
called Constantinople.