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I came, I saw, I conquered.--
Julius Caesar
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5th
Grade |
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Words to Know: |
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Mummy: a preserved body Tutankhamen (King Tut): During his brief region as pharaoh, his ministers restored the old religion of Egypt. He was buried in a solid gold coffin. Code of Hammurabi: consisted of 282 laws that dealt with almost every aspect of life, including marriage, military, crimes, land and business practices, prices, and wages Dictator: a ruler (as in Ancient Rome) with absolute authority |
Pharaohs: kings of Egypt who ruled and made laws Continents: large land masses surrounded by water Hieroglyphics: writing used in ancient times that used pictures to tell a story Ziggurats: temples built to honor gods; they were so strongly built that they stood for 5,000 years
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Scribe: a writer in ancient times Pyramids: structures where Egyptian people buried pharaohs Fertile Crescent: where early people built independent city-states in Sumer, an area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Goods: objects that satisfy people's wants and needs Services: activities that can satisfy people's wants and needs |
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We started out the year learning about
Early Civilizations:
Early people roamed the earth in clans (groups) as hunters and gatherers who
left their hand-made tools and art as clues to their existence. Hunting and
gathering eventually led to planting food and domesticating animals, which
gave these early people the chance to settle. Then, unique cultures began
to develop as these people adapted to their new world. As time went on, people
began living in larger, more complex groups. Civilizations developed better
types of government, trade, economic systems, religion, and writing, which
helped people learn. Their legacies continue to influence us today! We know
about these early civilizations through the hard work of archaeologists, anthropologists,
and historians who study bones, books, and tools to learn more about early
civilizations.
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Examples
of Hieroglyphics
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5th Graders study
Ancient Civilizations in Social Studies.
This includes: Ancient
Greece, Ancient Rome, and Ancient
Egypt
ANCIENT
GREECE:
The ancient Greeks built a unique civilization that began on the rugged and
rocky terrain by the Mediterranean Sea. There was a lot of conflict and interaction
between the Aegean world and other groups of people that made them develop
a culture that believed in creativity and diverse, or a different way of,
thinking. Ancient Greeks have contributed a great deal to art, literature,
philosophy, math, science, and government. These are some things that were
created by the Ancient Greeks: Greek Myths, Democracy, Trial by Jury, Tragedy
and Comedy, Theatre, and The Olympics.
ANCIENT
ROME:
The ancient Romans built one of the largest empires in the world! Their unique
gift for organization and persistence or motivation let them spread their
ideas across Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. The ancient Romans' way
of government, language, technology, and architecture have influenced people
around the world and still influence us today! Romans are well known for their
skilled building of arenas, aqueducts, and other structures. As many as 50,000
Romans could gather to watch gladiators fight in the Colosseum,
an arena completed in A.D. 80.
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The Colosseum in Rome |
ANCIENT
EGYPT:
Egypt
is one of the most fertile areas of Africa, and one of the most fertile of
the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Because it is so fertile, people
came to live in Egypt earlier than in most places, probably around 40,000
years ago. At first there were not very many people, but gradually Egypt became
more crowded, so there was more need for a unified government. Around 3000
BC (5000 years ago), Egypt was first unified under one ruler, who was called
the Pharaoh.
The buildings of Egypt that will impress you the most are probably the pyramids.
All of them were built to contain the tombs of pharaohs. So far, 46 pyramids
have been found. Others may still be discovered, lying in the ruins, under
the desert sands. In the 27th century BC, the first pyramid was built and
pyramids became the most popular way to bury royalty. It is the pyramids themselves
that make Egyptian archeology so exciting.
We can also thank the Egyptians for things they invented, including the 365-day
calendar, paper they made from papyrus, and the clock!
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Ancient
Civilization |
Location |
Physical
Characteristics |
Human
Characteristics |
Ways
they adapted to their environments |
Economics
(how they made money) |
| Greece |
near the Mediterranean Sea |
The
soil is not very good for growing things, there are a lot of mountains
that make it hard to walk from one place to another, and there is never
enough fresh water. |
Farmers, Shipbuilders, Traders |
They
farmed on hillsides and created new communities in the mountains |
Trading
took place on the Mediterranean Sea; they made pottery to trade |
| Rome  |
near
the Mediterranean
Sea |
Located
next to a river; city built on many hills; only a little rich soil |
They
farmed on hillsides |
Trading
took place on the Mediterranean Sea; they made pottery to trade |
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in
northern Africa, near the Nile River |
HOT
and DRY; located within the Sahara Desert |
Farmers,
Fieldsmen, Crafters, and Scribes |
The
people built mudbrick homes in villages and in the country. Life revolved
around the Nile River-- its yearly flooding enriched the soil around
it. |
They
grew some of their own food and traded in the villages for the food
and goods they could not produce. |
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Watch a video
about the discovery of King Tut's tomb here!
View a wonderful slide show about Ancient Egypt here
(you need Microsoft PowerPoint to view it. If you
don't have it, download the free player)!
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Ancient
China Artwork |
Ancient
Rome Artwork |
Pottery
Artwork |
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THE
MIDDLE AGES:
Fifth graders also review The Middle Ages, which
was a period of history following the end of the Roman Empire. It lasted from
about A.D. 500 to about A.D. 1400. Daily life in Europe during the Middle
Ages was determined by a feudalistic system where the Church was extremely
important. At the same time, large empires and kingdoms were developing in
Asia and Africa. These areas traded with each other, creating new towns, cities,
and nation-states in Europe.
Around 1530, people were interested in art, literature,
and trade in northern Italy. Within the next 100 years or so, these interests
spread throughout Europe. This exchange of goods and ideas caused a "rebirth"
or Renaissance.
It was a time of enormous growth in the world of arts and sciences, while
also remembering the work and ideas of past scholars. This time of curiosity
and creativity led to the Age of Exploration.
Check out a great website here-- it has info about knights, everyday life, clothing, food, and even weapons from the Middle Ages!
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Updated 11/19/06