Ancient History Pre-Unit Study

Instructions Student Handout: Section: Terms in Basic Archaeology Fill in the correct term for each blank. Make sure you READ each definition!

Terms in Basic Archaeology Ancient: Belonging to the early history of man, usually before the end of the Roman Empire. Artifact: Any object made by humans for their use. Baulk: Wall of the excavated pit left intact as a record of strata uncovered.

Terms in Basic Archaeology Carbon 14: Dating process which measures amount of radio-carbon left in organic materials. Civilization: The total culture of a people, nation, or period, such as the “Mesopotamian Civilization”. Correlation: A close or mutual relation.

Terms in Basic Archaeology Cross-Dating: Dating process where archaeologists compare artefacts from a dated site with artefacts from an undated site. Culture: The skills, habits, arts, and institution of a given people during a given time in a given civilization. Dendrochronology: Dating process using tree-ring growth.

Terms in Basic Archaeology Dig Team: Archaeologists and workers at a specific site. Excavation: The systematic digging up of an archaeological site. Grid: System of 5-meter squares laid out at an archaeological site.

Terms in Basic Archaeology History: The story of the past; all recorded events of the past. In situ: In the original place or site. Layers: Levels of civilization uncovered on a dig.

Terms in Basic Archaeology Locus: Specific spot where an object is uncovered. Pit: Excavated hole worked by archaeologists. Potassium-argon dating: Dating process used on volcanic rocks which measures the amount of radioactive argon in the rock.

Terms in Basic Archaeology Pottery: Bowls, urns, and other containers made of clay Seriation: System of arranging objects from least to most advanced. Sherd: Fragment of pottery.

Terms in Basic Archaeology Site: Location of an archaeological dig; place where there is evidence of ancient human habitation. Stratigraphy: Study of the layers of strata, or levels of civilization. Tell: Mound which shows evidence of human habitation; from Arabic word meaning “hill” Trench: Deep cut into the earth made by archaeologists to see if a site is worth excavating.

Instructions Student Handout: Section: Pre-test Circle True or False for each statement.

Pre-Test: True of False 1. Archaeology is an exact science. 2. Conclusions can always be made by archaeologists. 3. Archaeological sites can be found all over the world. 4. Archaeologists, when they excavate, can throw away most objects that appear to be unimportant. 5. Archaeologists primarily search for buried treasure.

Pre-Test: True of False 6. Ancient myths may provide clues for archaeologists, telling them where to dig. 7. Archaeology is a modern science. 8. Archaeologists use information provided by other sciences. 9. The picture of a culture’s past is always very clear from the remains preserved. 10. The oldest object in a “tell” is usually at the top.

Instructions Student Handout: Section: Vocabulary Circle the word or phrase which best defines the term given.

Vocabulary Quiz 1. Archaeology: A) study of man B) study of the past by uncovering remains C) Study of bridges 2. Artifact: A) object made or used by man B) fossil C) Painting done in oils 3. Tell: A) mound showing evidence of human life B) an ancient legend C) mythical goddess

Vocabulary Quiz 4. Excavation: A) tomb art B) study of caves C) systematic digging 5. Dendrochronology: A) telling of time B) dating by the use of tree rings C) study of trees 6. Cuneiform: A) ancient Semitic script B) Sumerian mathematics C) temple architects

Vocabulary Quiz 7. Baulk: A) digging tool B) trench wall C) ancient pottery 8. In situ: A) foreign site B) ancient furniture C) in the original location 9. Sherd: A) prehistoric animal B) stone tool C) pottery fragment 10. Stratigraphy: A) study of layers of soil and the artefacts found in them B) type of cloud C) ancient social class

Instructions Student Handout: Section: What is History? Read the note on the next slide and fill in the missing blanks. Complete the activity that follows.

What is History? The study of what human beings have done on earth. Explains how the past and present are connected. It is about political, economical, geographical, social, and cultural changes 3 questions that Historians ask when studying history: 1.Why did a particular event take place? 2.Why is the event important? 3.Why did the event happen when and where it did?

What is History? Consider the 5w’s when studying an event or person. Who? What? When? Where? Why? Primary Source: A document, record or written account made by someone who took part in or witnessed an event. Secondary Source: Is a written account made sometime after an event has taken place and by people who are not eyewitnesses. They are based on research and analysis of primary sources or other secondary sources.

Primary or Secondary Source? Activity: Complete the chart on your sheet by placing the following sources under the proper column. Diary Encyclopedia University Diploma History TextbookJournalTV documentary on the past BiographiesCole’s NotesPhotograph MapMagazineBirth Certificate Census RecordNewspapersShip’s log

Instructions Student Handout: Section: What is a Century? Read the note on the next slides and fill in the missing blanks. Complete the activity that follows,

What is a Century? Western countries place years into groups of one hundred and refer to them as a century. Example: In Canada, we are currently in the 21 st Century. This is how it works: A. D. = 1 st Century A.D. = 2 nd Century A.D. = 3 rd Century A.D. = 4 th Century A.D. = 5 th Century A. D. = 6 th Century A.D. = 7 th Century Decade = ________ years Century = ________ years Millennium = ________ years

What is a Century? Activity State which century for each date: 1.30 A.D A.D A.D A.D A.D A.D A.D A.D A.D A.D

Instructions Student Handout: Section: Timeline Read the note on the next slides and fill in the missing blanks. Complete the activity that follows.

Timeline History began to be recorded when human beings started living in cities over 5 thousand years ago. Western historians used the following reference points to indicate the time in history: Gets closer to zero on a timeline: BCE = Before Common Era BC = Before Christ Moves away from zero on a timeline: CE = Common Era AD = Anno Domini “In the Year of Our Lord”

Timeline Activity Place the events in chronological order (also record the dates for each event on the timeline). You will have to use your textbook to look up the dates. Birth of Christ = 0 1 st battle of the Hundred Year’s War World War II Signing of the Magna Carta Your birth date Today’s date Death of Julius Caesar First Punic War Stone Age Martin Luther Excommunicated Code of Hammurabi Johann Gutenburg invents the printing press Battle of Hastings Hannibal defeats Rome