Rome Early Settlers Activity
A Melting Pot - Creating a Cultural Stew
The United States of America prides itself on being melting pot, a place that gains its strength from the intermingling of different cultures. A melting pot borrows different aspects from a variety of cultures. By mixing the traits of many cultures, a brand new culture is created. Call it a "cultural stew." Think of a real stew that you cook on your stove top. A variety of ingredients - vegetables, meats, spices - all get stirred together to create something tasty and, yes, nourishing.
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For this activity, I want you to create your own cultural stew. Before you begin, review your reading and think about all of the different cultures that got stirred together to make Rome unique and, ultimately, powerful. Think about the first peoples to cross the Alps and arrive on the Italian peninsula at the end of the last ice age. Think about the settlers who came from Central Asia and Asia Minor (Turkey), as well as the colonists who came from Greece. Traces of each group could be found in Roman culture.
Now, think about the things the early Romans borrowed from those peoples: language, technology, art, belief systems, trade. Next, put on your Adventurer hat and think about founding a city and creating your own great culture - your own cultural stew. This activity allows you to think about the ingredients you are going to put into your stew. |
Cultures borrow all sorts of thing from one another. Is it just a coincidence that both Roman and American coins have eagles on them?
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Stirring the Pot:
These days, it's easy to discover exciting things from around the globe. Information is at your finger tips. You are going to combine your knowledge of the Seven Themes of History with a quick exploration of global culture to create your own great civilization.
1. As you work, continue to think about values for your civilization. A culture is reflected in what it values!
2. For each of the Seven Themes of History, tell me something about your civilization. You can do this in sentence form. However, I also want to see you support your ideas with info from the web (or your own imagination and creativity). For instance, you might include a video of art or music or fashion (or pictures) that reflects your new culture's values. But, your statement MUST tell me why what you have chosen is important to your civilization. In other words, what does your example tell us about what your civilization values?
These days, it's easy to discover exciting things from around the globe. Information is at your finger tips. You are going to combine your knowledge of the Seven Themes of History with a quick exploration of global culture to create your own great civilization.
1. As you work, continue to think about values for your civilization. A culture is reflected in what it values!
2. For each of the Seven Themes of History, tell me something about your civilization. You can do this in sentence form. However, I also want to see you support your ideas with info from the web (or your own imagination and creativity). For instance, you might include a video of art or music or fashion (or pictures) that reflects your new culture's values. But, your statement MUST tell me why what you have chosen is important to your civilization. In other words, what does your example tell us about what your civilization values?
Seven Themes
Geography: Why do people live where they do?
Geography: Why do people live where they do?
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Picture: Mountains, plains, rivers, seas... Where will you settle to create your new civilization?
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Statement: Why did you choose to settle here? How does your choice help define your civilization?
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Beliefs: Why do people live the way they do?
This theme includes education, religion, philosophy, and traditions that help define a culture.
This theme includes education, religion, philosophy, and traditions that help define a culture.
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Picture:
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Statement: Why have you chosen the gods, type of education, or traditions that you did? What do they tell the historian about your civilization?
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Government: How do humans organize their societies, and why do they organize them the way they do?
Kings? How many? Elected officials? Who gets to choose them? Dictators? Tyrants? A government of your own creation (Don't forget to explain it)? How will your civilization be governed?
Kings? How many? Elected officials? Who gets to choose them? Dictators? Tyrants? A government of your own creation (Don't forget to explain it)? How will your civilization be governed?
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Picture:
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Statement: Why did you choose this type of government? As important, what does this type of government tell us about what your civilization values?
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Technology: How does technology affect people's lives?
What tools define your civilization? In the past, whole eras were defined by their technology. The Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age all get their names from the materials used to make their tools - in other words, their technology. Some refer to our time as the Information Age. Why?
These days, technology has few geographic limits. But, it still has limits. In the ancient world, technology was often the limiting factor. Societies that had access to iron easily defeated societies still using weapons made of bronze. In the ancient world, if you wanted to be a seafaring culture, you better have access to the sea and to lumber with which to build your boats.
What tools define your civilization? In the past, whole eras were defined by their technology. The Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age all get their names from the materials used to make their tools - in other words, their technology. Some refer to our time as the Information Age. Why?
These days, technology has few geographic limits. But, it still has limits. In the ancient world, technology was often the limiting factor. Societies that had access to iron easily defeated societies still using weapons made of bronze. In the ancient world, if you wanted to be a seafaring culture, you better have access to the sea and to lumber with which to build your boats.
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Picture:
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Statement: What technology defines your civilization? Don't forget to say how the technology you choose reflects the values of your civilization.
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Conflict & Cooperation: How has warfare shaped human history?
Warfare has always shaped human history. How does your civilization address conflict? Do you have a large army (costs a lot of money to support one)? If so, what does your army look like? Foot soldiers? Heavy transport, like tanks? Strong navy? How do your neighbors behave? Are they strong, week, large, small?
Warfare has always shaped human history. How does your civilization address conflict? Do you have a large army (costs a lot of money to support one)? If so, what does your army look like? Foot soldiers? Heavy transport, like tanks? Strong navy? How do your neighbors behave? Are they strong, week, large, small?
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Picture:
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Statement: Is your military there to expand your civilization or simply to protect it? Use your statement to explain your military AND how your military reflects your civilization's values.
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Economics: How has the quest for resources and trade shaped human history?
What does your civilization make? How do you get the supplies you need to make those products. Who do you trade them with? What do you get in return?
What does your civilization make? How do you get the supplies you need to make those products. Who do you trade them with? What do you get in return?
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Picture:
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Statement: What product is your civilization known for? Are you agricultural or industrial? How are your values reflected in what you do?
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Culture: How do we know what we know about human history?
This theme has to do with art and written records. The Greeks were known for drama. Rome was known for its architecture. Europe during the renaissance was known for painting and sculpture. Art, including writing, always tells us a lot about a people. What will the art you choose tell me about your civilization?
This theme has to do with art and written records. The Greeks were known for drama. Rome was known for its architecture. Europe during the renaissance was known for painting and sculpture. Art, including writing, always tells us a lot about a people. What will the art you choose tell me about your civilization?
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Picture:
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Statement: You are welcome to choose music here. Rather than simply posting a music video that is popular or that you like, post something that reflects the values of your civilization and explain how it does so in your statement.
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Every Picture Tells a Story (Optional)
Once you finish the worksheet above, I'd love to see what you imagine your civilization looks like. How many themes can you include in your Picture?
