Sustainability and Resource Management in the Ancient World

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students will learn about the relationship ancient civilizations like Egypt, China,
Mesopotamia, India, Greece, Rome, the Celts, and the PreColombian
Americans had with their environment. Students will explore how
these cultures interacted with nature and its resources, as land, forests, water
and minerals. In addition, they will be able to identify the main characteristics that
allow civilizations to create a sustainable relationship with their surroundings and
habitat, if this is the case. This historic overview will allow students to liken and
contrast our present day societies with the Ancient World.
OBJECTIVES
- Learn how the ancient cultures relate with land, water, and their natural
surroundings.
- Identify the main characteristics that allow them to create a sustainable
relationship with their environment.
- Recognize the main events that describe the Ancient civilizations of the
world and how this affected the land and natural resources.
- Describe the different characteristics of each culture and their adaptation
to their own habitat.
- Recognize the trends that affected the equilibrium this civilization had with
Earth.
- Compare and contrast our present day societies with the Ancient World.
METHODOLOGY
- Lecture classes of two lessons of 50 minutes each twice a week/12
weeks.
- Questionnaires to research in class about the ancient cultures.
- Documentaries according to topics discussed
- Interactive student activities, oral presentation, research and homework.
CONTENTS
Lesson I: Introduction and general topics
- Environment
- Natural Resources
- Land Use
- The Ancient World
Lesson 2: Prehistory
- Stone Age
- Bronze Age
- Iron Age
- Hunters and Gatherers
- The beginning of agriculture and civilization
Lesson 3 and 4: Mesopotamia
- Geography and Climate
- Land between rivers (The Tigris and Euphrates)
- Agriculture and writing: the beginning of History
Lesson 5 and 6: Egypt
- Geography
- Land (Black and Red)
- The Nile River
- The Desert
- Natural Resources
- People and Culture
*Homework: Students will create a time line the express the
importance of the Nile River for the Egyptians
Lesson 7 and 8: China
- Geography
- Climate
- The Rivers ( Yellow River and Yantze River)
- The Silk Road: trade and communication
Lesson 9: First Test
Lesson 10 and 11: India
- Geography
- The Indus Valley
- Trade and Transportation
- Agriculture ( rice, cotton, wheat, salt, opium, sugar)
- Religion and Diet
- Urban planning
- The use of metals
Lesson 12 and 13: Greece
- Geography
- Climate
- Agriculture and Diet
- Mining
- The Mediterranean Sea and Trade
- The City States
*Homework: Students will present the expression of Greek Art and
their relationship with the environment.
Lesson 14 and 15: Rome
- The Empire
- The Mediterranean Sea
- Geography
- Climate
- Natural Defenses
- Roman Rivers
- Infrastructure and buildings.
*-Homework: Students will build a model of a building or
infrastructure of roman engineering and water use.
Lesson 16 and 17: The Celts
- Geography
- Climate
- Culture
- Religion and Nature: The sacred tree
*Homework: Student will research about the Celtic astrology and
religion and its relationship with nature. The symbol of the tree.
Lesson 18: Test
Lesson 19 and 20: Pre-Columbian America
- Geography and Climate
- Agriculture and land use
- Mining and precious stones
- Aztecs, Mayas, Olmec, Incas, Guaranies, Boricuas, Native North
Americans
*Oral Presentation Project: Profound study of the relationship between this
cultures and their environment.
Lesson 21 and 22: The fall of the Ancient World
- Cause and Effects
- Main Events
*Homework: Students will create a comparison chart between the
different ancient cultures.