Ancient Civilizations

This exercise is designed to enhance your knowledge of the Ancient Civilizations by utilizing the various information found on the Internet. You will chose one of the Ancient Civilizations we have studied in this course which emerged from the Nile and Fertile Crescent regions and use sources from the Internet to compose a 500 word, typed essay. Focus on a topic which you compare and contrast two ancient civilizations. For example, your topic may compare and contrast Egyptian and Sumerian religions or the transportation developments of the Phoenicians and the Egyptians. Below are several links, or jumps, to Internet sites which will assist you in your composition.

Requirements:

At least two Internet sites must be used from the list; use your textbooks and class notes to fill in additional and/or necessary details in your composition. Your essay should include at least four paragraphs, including an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement and a conclusion paragraph. If you paraphrase and/or use quotes, both must be cited within your essay. You will also need to cite your internet sources at the bottom of your paragraph.

To cite a source that you have used from the Internet within your composition, place the name of the source, or its "title," in parentheses after the information you cited. For example, (Phoenician Sailors). Use your copy of the Web page to guide you. To cite the sources you have used throughout the project, list at the bottom of you essay. Use the following examples to guide you:

1. For an Internet source (a.k.a. your web sites): Author (if known). "Title" (main title if applicable). Last date updated or revised (if known). Its Internet address ("http://....").
2. For textbook, you don't have to write the bibliography at the bottom of your essay, however, if you use a direct quote or information taken from the text, use parentheses at the end of the information and the authors last names and the page number.
3. For class notes, you do not have to cite the information at bottom of your essay, either. Use parentheses to distinguish where the information came from, such as "(class notes)."

Please ask if you have ANY questions!

MESOPOTAMIA

Resource Internet Links:

• A wide variety of information on Sumerian Culture can be found at this link which includes: a time line; the origin of Sumer; the invention of cuneiform; and religious practices and practices.

• This location is lengthy, but describes the characteristics of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and how these rivers affected the people living in Mesopotamia; and compares these characteristics with the affects of the Nile to the Egyptians. Information on both the Sumerians and Akkadians are also found at this site.

• This location has information on the Babylonian Culture, also referred to as Amorites or "Old Babylonians." This site is similar to the Sumerian site. Another source, lists Hammurabi's Codes, if you chose to discuss how early cultures developed their laws and customs.

• Another source on Babylonia briefly describes its history, but also lists specific cultural contributions/achievements made by the "New Babylonians."

• This location on the Hittites includes history and also discusses their legal system, which could be compared to another culture's laws and codes. Religious beliefs are also included.

FERTILE CRESCENT

Resource Internet Links:

• A reference for the Assyrians is found at this location. This includes brief information on Assyrians' role in ancient history. A good starting point! Remember you may use your text and class notes for filler. Details the Assyrian religious panthenon to compare with another civilizations' religious dieties. Also see Ninevah, for brief geographical and historical information on the Assyrian capital.

• Information on the Hebrew legal system, a.k.a. the ten commandments, is found at this site. Very brief! Remember you can use class notes or your textbooks if you want to compare the ten commandments, Hammurabi's Code, and/or the Hittites "laws".

• This site links to information on the Phoenicians, which includes history, trading and exploration, Tyre, and the alphabet. Another site gives information on Phoenician Sailors; and a good introduction to early sailing explorations is also found here. For additional information on Phoenician Trading this site has good information.

• This location discusses the Persian Empire under Cyprus the Great and later, his son Darius. Use this to compare with other early rulers of the Ancient Empires.

ANCIENT EGYPT

Resource Internet Links:

• This site describes Egyptian Culture with detailed descriptions about: Daily Life; Funerary Customs, including mummification practices; Gods and Religion; and the Natural World of the ancient Egyptians.

• Architectural information on Egyptian Pyramids at this site.

• This site contains information on "Pyramids and Temples; Kings and Queens; Hieroglyphics".

• For a good overview of Egyptian Worship Practices, this site has concise information on Egyptian culture which includes: the development of the culture; the importance of the Nile; Mythology references; reasons behind the construction of the Pyramids; and uses of the Book of the Dead.

• Brief information on Egyptian Sailors is found at this site to compare with Phoenician Sailors.

The End Results....

After you have completed this project, you will have gained an indepth understanding of two of the civilizations we have discussed in this unit. You will also have explored some of the resources offered on the Internet and become familiar with the types of information you can access through this form of research. Through this project, you have also learned how to compose an essay using Internet resources as a primary source for research; in addition, how to document, or cite, an Internet source. Great job!