002 - Early Civilisations and Agriculture

Factual Questions

Where did the early civilisations first settle?
What are lines of longitude and latitude and how can we read them?
Why did the development of agriculture play a crucial role in civilisations becoming 'settled'?

Key Terminology

  • Agriculture
  • Longitude
  • Latitude
Define the key words above by using the useful links below.

Useful Links

  1. Using an Atlas write the longitude and latitude for the place you were born.



Activity One - Mapping

  1. Collect a copy of the map below and mark on the continents and rivers which are below the 'Remember' box. 
  2. Shade in the location of the following civilisations:
                • Egyptian;
                • Shang;
                • Sumerian;
                • Early American;
                • Indus Valley

Remember

  • Continent names are written in capitals.
  • Rivers are coloured in blue.
  • You write the name of the river along its course.
  • To complete the key.


Continents

        • North America
        • South America
        • Asia
        • Australia
        • Europe
        • Africa
        • Middle East (modern day term for Arabia and its immediate neighbours)
        • Indian sub-continent


Rivers

        • Nile River
        • Euphrates River
        • Tigris River
        • Ganges River
        • Indus River
        • Yellow River (what is the Chinese name for this river?)

Map of the World

Blank Map of the World


Useful Resource

Taken From: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/z0duXi7irQYd4MSh0PWe5wSKyNRPWmjxURFVYNHQ3ISgBFC-OX1tq-mrBcPVSDQgBtzMeg9JHmCZMIU=w1430-h711



Activity Two - Watch

As you watch the clip below write notes on how agriculture has changed? What allowed civilisations to become settled? Alternatively you can answer the question provided in the grid below.

Crash Course History - Agriculture

Crash Course History Question Grid - Agriculture



Activity Three - Explain

Answer the following questions using the information from the youtube clip and your map. Write in full sentences on paper.


  1. Which civilisations were likely to have had contact with each other? Why? E.g. The civilisations that were likely to have had contact with each other were…..and…….because……..
  2. Between the lines of which latitudes did early civilisations develop? Why?
  3. From studying the map (and from your understanding of the main ideas in the John Green film, Crash Course - the Agricultural Revolution) what can you conclude was a critical factor in the location and growth of early civilisations?

Thank you to Mrs. Davison for this lesson.