Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Greek Civilization



The early development Greek Society:
Minoans - named after the legendary King Minos on the island of Crete.
Built lavish palaces throughout but most famous was the palace at Knossos.

 The Myceneaens followed the Minoans.  They are probably best known for the Trojan War which became the story immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey.  The lessons from the stories became the foundation on which Greeks based their character.

The Greek polis was the unit of Greek civilization.  The most famous were Athens and Sparta.
While all were considered Greek, they had specific ways of running their society.







Greek Philosophers ("Can't Get You Out of My Head" by Kylie Minogue) (+p...

Philosophers

Horrible Histories Historical Head Teachers (Spartans)

Spartan School

Horrible Histories: The story of Helen of Troy.(Full HD 720p)

Helen of Troy

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Classical Era Greeks and Romans

Week of November 4

This weeks focus will be on Chapters 10 and 11; the Greeks and Romans.

November 4

At home:  Be sure to read and take notes on Chapter 10. 
Pay close attention to how Greece history is closely tied to its Mythology.
Start with the Minoan society on the island of Crete. What is known about the civilization? 
Then look at the Mycenaeans.  What stories are tied to the Mycenaean civilization?
Describe the Greek polis.
Compare and contrast Sparta and Athens.
Who was Solon and Pericles?
Describe the importance of and the effects of Greek colonization.
Explain the cause and effects of the Persian Wars and how it eventually resulted in the distrust that led to the Peloponnesian War.
Describe the Macedonian Empire, the conquests of Alexander the Great, and the spread of Hellenistic culture.
Finally, characterize Greek life and culture.

Today in Class:

Review of world religions.  Choose 2 and create an Acrostic Poem to explain the ideas and concepts of the religion.
Begin research on Ancient Greece.  You will create a similar Poem project on Ancient Greece.  This will be an ABC Poem.  Use the letters of the alphabet to start each line of the poem.  Each line may have a work or a collection of words.  Continue until you come to a logical conclusion...that may be before  reaching the letter "Z".  The poem should tell a story and should have some illustrations.





Thursday, October 24, 2013

India

October 29
At home.
In the textbook you should have read and taken notes on Chapter 9...

Note:
The importance of the Mauryan Dynasty and temporary unification of India.
How did India grow economically?  Describe growth of towns and especially trade.
Describe family life and the importance of Hinduism.

Describe Jainism and its role in India's search for "salvation".
What is the basis behind "Buddhism"?
Describe the teachings, beliefs, and practices of Buddhism.

Analyze the leadership of Ashoka and his role in the growth of Buddhism.
Finally, explain why Buddhism gained popularity in other areas of Asia but was eventually displaced by a popular Hinduism in India.

Classic Era Religions

October 25
China:  Mandate of Heaven and Confucianism
Crash Course: China

To be completed at home.
In text book:  You should have read Chapter 8 and taken notes.
How did Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism impact China's search for political and social order?
Find one quote or document for each of these and explain its importance for China.  Describe how the document illustrates or best represents the philosophy.
Characterize the Han and Qin dynasties.  Who were the rulers that had a large influence?  Why?
How did they lead to unification of China? 
How did they combine Legalism and Confucianism to provide order and organization?
What brought about the end of the Han dynasty?

Collect a minimum of 20 words, phrases, people and/places to add to your vocabulary cards.
Examples:  filial piety, Confucius, Qin Shihuangdi, terra-cotta soldiers, Sima Qian...etc...
Terra Cotta Army buried in the vicinity of Shihuangdi's tomb.

Details of horse that was part of the terra-cotta army.

Documents to study the philosophies...Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism
Confucian Analects
Texts of Taoism or Daoism
Comparison of India and China, religions and philosophies 
Create a chart to compare the ideas listed.
Prepare for a Socratic Seminar:  "Would America be better off if it lived according the teachings of Confucius?"