New
New
Year 3

Comparing the earliest civilisations

I can compare early civilisations to explain how similar they were.

New
New
Year 3

Comparing the earliest civilisations

I can compare early civilisations to explain how similar they were.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. All of these early civilisations left a nomadic lifestyle because they found ways of farming fertile ground near rivers.
  2. All of them built permanent places to live like cities, along with other buildings for the purpose of religion.
  3. All of these early civilisations traded with people from far away and developed their own forms of writing.
  4. All of these early civilisations made bronze and used this metal for tools, weapons and artwork.
  5. Despite all these similarities, all of these early civilisations had different styles of writing, building and art.

Keywords

  • Permanent - something that is permanent stays the same

  • Style - the special way something is made or designed to look is its style

Common misconception

Nomadic lifestyles no longer exist.

Discuss the fact that many people in different parts of the world still live a nomadic lifestyle, some through choice and others as part of a continuing and ancient tradition.

Make comparative sketches of different buildings, weapons or artwork designs from different early civilisations.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
The civilisation developed by the Yellow River.
Correct Answer: Shang, shang
Q2.
Match the keywords to the definitions.
Correct Answer:cuneiform,Writing invented in Sumer

Writing invented in Sumer

Correct Answer:hieroglyphics,Writing invented in Ancient Egypt

Writing invented in Ancient Egypt

Q3.
Which is the correct definition of trade?
creating beautiful objects
Correct answer: buying and selling goods
writing messages to the gods
Q4.
A religious building from Sumer was called a .
Correct Answer: ziggurat, zigurat, ziggurrat, ziggerat, zigerat
Q5.
Sort the first development of these civilisations from oldest to newest
1 - 4000 BCE Sumer
2 - 3000 BCE Ancient Egypt
3 - 2000 BCE Shang
Q6.
Which materials did ancient artists use?
Correct answer: clay
Correct answer: stone
plastic
Correct answer: bronze
cardboard

6 Questions

Q1.
All ancient civilisations left a lifestyle to live and settle permanently.
Correct Answer: nomadic, nomad
Q2.
Why was farming successful in early civilisations?
They had tractors.
Correct answer: They lived on fertile land.
They lived in the desert.
Correct answer: They lived near rivers.
Correct answer: They learned to control river water.
Q3.
Which sentences are true?
All ancient buildings were the same style.
Only Sumer built cities.
Correct answer: All early civilisations built cities.
Indus Valley did not build cities.
Correct answer: All civilisations built cities in different styles.
Q4.
Cuneiform writing was first used to record of goods.
Correct Answer: trade, trading
Q5.
Ancient civilisations all had different styles of , writing and building.
Correct Answer: art
Q6.
What was bronze useful for making?
Correct answer: art
houses
Correct answer: tools
carts
Correct answer: weapons

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