1. CST Review 6 th Grade  6.1 Students describe what is known through archaeological studies of the early physical and cultural development of humankind from the Paleolithic era to the agricultural revolution.  6.1.2 – identify the locations of human communities that populated the major regions of the world and describe how humans adapted to a variety of environments.  Fertile Crescent – This is the area that is currently located in present day Iraq. –Sumerians and Babylonians: lived in the Mesopotamia region. The two major rivers that provided irrigation for farming were: Tigris River and Euphrates River

2.  Nile River: located in present day Egypt. –Egyptians in the North, Kush and Nubia to the south: Used the Nile river for irrigation and farming.  Kush Empire: used the Nile river in order to collect taxes – “You can’t pass unless you pay the price” …

3. 6.2- Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush  6.3.4 – Know the significance of Hammurabi’s code.  Hammurabi’s code: He was one of the most influential leaders of Babylonians (Fertile Crescent). The Babylonians ruled from 1900 to 1700 BCE. Hammurabi put together the earliest known collection of laws and placed them at the entrance of his empire so that everyone would know the rule of law. It covered criminal law an rules for business, trade, banking, land ownership, military service, and so on.

4. 6.8 – Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Ancient Hebrews.  6.3.2 – identify the sources of the ethical teachings and central beliefs of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible).  Persian control of Judah: In 539 BCE the Persian Empire conquered Babylonia, turned Judah into a province ( a state subject to foreign control), and allowed the Jew to return.  Ezra: 465 BCE Ezra was appointed governor of Judah. He wanted to create a state exclusively devoted to Jahweh (the God who spoke to Abraham). During this time the Torah was written.  Torah: the definitive source of Jewish law. It also gave an account of history in which the Jews were constantly under threat from foreign people; this was intended to increase Jews’ sense of national unity.

5. 6.3.5 – Discuss how Judaism survived and developed despite the continuing dispersion of much of the Jewish population from Jerusalem and rest of Israel after the destruction of the second Temple in AD 70.  Diaspora: (comes from a Greek word meaning “dispersion”)  576 BCE: The Babylonians expelled all Jews from Judah and sent 40,000 Jews, including the political leaders and high priests, to the land of Babylonia. Many Jewish priests said that Yahweh allowed this to happen because many Jews refused to follow the laws of the covenant.  Synagogues: priests established houses of worship in which they would hold regular meetings and teach new ways of devotion. They would learn about fasting, prayer, confession, and study. The synagogues continue to be a house of worship today.