1. History has a pattern and patterns repeat themselves. With your group, use the pictures below and list four parts of the pattern that happen in an empire’s history.

2. There are seven key places in the world that you will discover this year. In each place you will learn how empires rose and fell, new ways of thinking developed, religions spread, and cultures flourished. Use pages H26, and H27 to find the names and locations of these places.

3. Many of the ancient empires were linked through a global trade network. Rome, China, India, Arabia, and Europe were all connected by such major trade routes as the Silk Road, the Saharan Trade routes, and shipping trade routes. Along this trans-Asian caravan route, goods and ideas were exchanged between many cultures. In fact, Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula and Constantinople in the Byzantine Empire were crucial trade centers between Europe and Asia. What are some goods and ideas that might be exchanged along these routes?

4. Group Test What are the seven key places you will learn about this year? What four things will you learn about each empire? What connected ancient empires and what was exchanged between these empires?