Experiment 4: How does geography shape history?
1. Introduction For this week’s readings we have three civilizations (Harappan, Egyptian, and Akkadian) centered on rivers. This week’s experiment asks you to consider how the geography of the the civilization influenced its history.
Learning goals and grading criteria:
- Student will locate a credible map related to one of our three civilizations for this week.
- Student will locate a historical artifact at the British Museum https://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx or Metropolitan Museum https://www.metmuseum.org/ related to their chosen civilization and map.
- Student wrote two separate lists of metadata, one for the map, and one for the object that included at least 8 tags (metadata)
- Student tied their map and object to the reading for week to explain how geography influenced the civilization under study.
2. Instructions
- Using both our library databases or the general web, find a credible map that covers the Harappan civilization, Akkadian civilization, or ancient Egyptian civilization. You should use the SIFT process to ensure your map is credible. Maps that are designed for children or are hosted sites that promote tourism or a religion are not credible.
- Locate a historical artifact at the British Museum https://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx or Metropolitan Museum https://www.metmuseum.org/ related to their chosen civilization and map. Both websites have many sections, and may require you modify your browser’s settings to view certain pages (right click [cmd click for Mac] to the left of the URL to adjust browser settings.)
- Write two lists, with the title of your map and title of your historical objects as the headings. Generate a list of metadata tags for each list. There will likely be some overlap, and some unique metadata tags.
- Using your lists, your map, your object, and the background reading, write a paragraph, greater than 100 words and less than 250 words, about how the geography of the civilization you are studying influenced its history. Possible subjects may include access to specific natural resources, proximity to other civilizations, trading or migration options, religious exposure, and cultural evolution, or other subjects.
- Post your lists along with your paragraph to the Experiment 4 discussion board.
