Name: Document Packet Week 11 – Golden Ages: Mesoamerica & Africa Date:

In this packet you will have all the documents for the week. This document packet must be in class with you every day. We will work with these documents every day.

WEEK 11 DAY 1 DOCUMENTS: 11.1.1 Whole Class

Mesoamerica

BackgroundThe Mesoamerican civilizations consist of four main cultures, Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Each civilization experienced a time of cultural and intellectual achievement that produced lasting contributions in art, literature, and science.

OlmecsThe Olmec Empire (1400 BCE - 500 BCE) was the first major Mesoamerican civilization. The Olmecs inhabited the Gulf coast of Mexico, and produced a number of achievements that would influence the later cultures. Among these, are ceremonial pyramid shaped temples, a system of writing, and a devotion to religion that would define later Mesoamerican civilizations.

MayaThe Mayan Civilization (300 - 900 CE) lived in various city-states along the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and in much of Central America. The Mayans built an impressive agricultural society which contributed greatly to the cultural and intellectual life of Mesoamerica.

Art & ArchitectureMayan architects built large, elaborate palaces and pyramid shaped temples. These buildings were decorated with a variety of paintings, and carvings in wood and stone that depicted Mayan history. Mayan step pyramids were the tallest man-made structures in the Americas until 1903.

AgricultureMayan farmers developed irrigation systems that allowed them to produce the amount of food necessary to support their large population. They also increased their amount of arable land by clearing large tracts of rainforest. Mayan farmers produced crops such as, corn, beans, and squash. Trade in agriculture products was the basis for the strong Mayan economy.

Education & ScienceMayan civilization developed a writing system using hieroglyphics, that has only recently been deciphered. They also produced books made from bark, of which few still exist. Mayan scientists developed a fairly accurate 365 day a year calendar. They also used an advanced numbering system that included the concept of zero.

AztecThe Aztec Civilization flourished from the late 1200's until the time of European conquest. The Aztecs established an empire that consisted of most of Mexico. They setup a strong, central government, and received tribute payments from many of their subject peoples. Similar to earlier Mesoamerican civilizations, the Aztecs were deeply religious. The practice of their religion included the building of large temples where human sacrifice took place.

AchievementsAztec scientists developed an accurate calendar similar to the Mayan. Physicians were able to treat a variety of wounds and injuries, including setting broken bones and filling cavities in teeth. The Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, was well designed and constructed. It included a large pyramid temple, aqueducts for water, and causeways for travel. Aztec art consisted of large stone carvings and colorful paintings. The Aztecs also setup schools for learning, and kept accurate records of their history.

IncaIn the 1400's, the Inca conquered an empire that stretched along the Pacific coast of South America. They instituted a strong central government, and controlled their empire through the use of an elaborate road system. Incan wealth and stability enabled many intellectual and cultural achievements.

EngineeringThe Inca carved more than 12,000 miles of roads out of the South American rainforests. These roads linked the empire together using a system of relay runners. Incan engineers also designed the Temple of the Sun in Cuzco, the capital city. This complex structure was strong enough to survive centuries of earthquakes and hard weather. Due to the lack of flat land, Incan engineers developed improved methods of terrace farming. Terrace farming cuts strips of flat land into hillsides and uses stone walls to support them. This creates more land for farming, and allowed the Inca to produce the food necessary to support their population.

Science & EducationIncan physicians performed surgery to treat various injuries. They also used herbal remedies against different illnesses. Incan scholars developed a record keeping system that used colored, knotted string called Quipas. This system may have been used for accounting, keeping statistics, and to record dates and events

1. Name two achievements for EACH of the following:

-Olmec:

-Maya:

-Aztec:

-Inca

2. Create a BLPT card for Golden Ages Mesoamerica (Maya, Aztec, Inca, Olmec).

3. Create a BLPT card for Terrace Farming.

WEEK 11 DAY 1 DOCUMENTS: 11.1.2 Groups

African Trading KingdomsBackgroundThe African Trading Kingdoms consist of three main cultures, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, all located in West Africa. All three kingdoms maintained vast trading networks across the Sahara desert and into the Middle East and North Africa. The main export was gold, which made each kingdom wealthy and strong, and provided them with the conditions necessary for cultural and intellectual achievement.

Islamic InfluencesGhana, Mali, and Songhai were all influenced by Islam to different degrees. The kings of Ghana often had Islamic advisors, while Mali and Songhai established Islamic Empires after converting. In Mali, the emperor Mansa Musa was famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. This pilgrimage gained Mali closer ties with the Islamic world, and increased trade between Mali and the Muslim Empire.

Arts & LiteratureAfrican art is often religious in nature. Religious statues and masks were carved from ivory, wood, and bronze. Some art was decorative, usually identifying royalty or membership in a particular clan.

Africans used both oral and written literary traditions. Most written material is in Arabic due to the influence of Islam. These writings contain information on government and law. Histories and folktales were usually passed from generation to generation orally. These stories often contained moral lessons and were used as a teaching device.

EducationDuring the 1400s, Timbuktu became a center of learning under the leadership of Mali emperor, Mansa Musa. Again, this is the influence of Islam, with Islamic scholars traveling from around the Muslim world to study and teach and the University of Timbuktu.

CommerceGhana, Mali, and Songhai established trade routes that were in use for centuries. Besides gold, these kingdoms transported a number of agricultural products to the Mediterranean and then on to Europe. A negative effect of this interaction was the start of the slave trade.

1. Why did the African Trading Kingdoms have such good conditions necessary for cultural and intellectual achievements?

2. What is the connection between the Islamic Empire and the African Trading Kingdoms of Mali, Ghana and Songhai?

3. What are some of the achievements of the African Trading Kingdoms?

4. What was a negative effect of transporting agricultural products to Europe?

5. Create a BLPT card for African Trading Kingdoms (Mali, Songhai, Ghana)

WEEK 11 DAY 2 DOCUMENTS: 11.2.1

Between 700 and 1067, the Kingdom of ancient Ghana rose in power and gained control of the trans-Saharan gold and salt trade. This description of the king’s court in ancient Ghana was written by the Arab scholar, Al-Bakri.

“The court of appeal is held in a domed pavilion around which stand ten horses with gold embroidered trappings. Behind the king stand ten pages holding shields and swords decorated with gold, and on his right are the sons of the subordinate kings of his country, all wearing splendid garments and with their hair mixed with gold. The governor of the city sits on the ground before the king, and around him are ministers seated likewise. At the door of the pavilion are dogs…[wearing] collars of gold and silver, studded with a number of balls of the same metals.”

What evidence of wealth is described? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11.2.2

This explanation for the wealth of Ghana is taken from Through African Eyes.

“The Arab traders of this region wanted gold as much as the Wangara wanted salt, but both had to pass through Ghana to trade…Ghana controlled land…it had the military forces…to maintain peace in the area, thereby assuring safe trade for the Arabs and the Wangara. Ancient Ghana was an extremely complex empire. It possessed many of the characteristics of powerful nations today: wealth based on trade, sufficient food to feed its people, income derived from taxes, social organization that ensured justice and efficient political control, a strong army equipped with advanced weapons, and a foreign policy that led to the peace and cooperation with other people.”

Explain ancient Ghana’s role in the gold-salt trade.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What characteristics of an advanced civilization did ancient Ghana possess?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11.2.3

Mansa Musa expanded the Mali empire to twice the size of the Ghana empire it replaced. On his hajj to Mecca, Mansa Musa stopped in Cairo, Egypt, and was described by the Egyptian official in this way:

This man Mansa Musa, spread upon Cairo the flood of his generosity: there was no person, officer of the court, or holder of any office of the Sultanate who did not receive a sum of gold from him.

What about Mansa Musa impressed the Egyptian official?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11.2.4This description of farming in the Incan empire in 1539 was provided by Garciasco de la Vega, a son of an Incan princess and a Spanish explorer.

As soon as the Incan ruler had conquered any kingdom and set up his government, he ordered that the farmland used to grow corn be extended. For this purpose, he ordered irrigation channels to be constructed. The engineers showed great cleverness and skill in supplying water for the crops, since only scattered sections of the land could grow corn. For this reason, they endeavored to increase its fertility as much as possible.

What engineering technique was described by this sixteenth-century author?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why was this a significant achievement?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11.2.5 Tenochtitlan: Capital City of the Aztecs

Based on this document, state one way the canals were vital to the functioning of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Tenochtitlan was crisscrossed by canals

- Canals served as the major streets of the city

- Merchant canoes carried goods to the city’s major market, Tlateloco

- Tribute in the form of gold, silver, beautiful feathers, cocoa, bark paper, as well as victims for human sacrifice were brought into Tenochtitlan on the canals.

WEEK 11 DAY 3 DOCUMENTS 11.3.1 DOCUMENT 1 WHOLE CLASS

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DOCUMENT 2 PAIR WORK 11.3.2

Timbuktu

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DOCUMENT 3 INDIVIDUAL WORK 11.3.3

We are going to _________________________________.

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DOCUMENT 4 INDIVIDUAL WORK 11.3.4

We are going to _________________________________.

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Week 11 Day 4: Grouping and Ordering Golden Ages: African Trading & Mesoamerica 11.4.1

In your groups arrange the documents into different groups. You should have at least 2 different groups of at least 3 documents EACH. Your groupings can be based on anything that you can support. When you have made your groups list them below. Then answer the questions about your choices.

Group 1: Group 3:

Group 2: Group 4:

1) What is the main idea that holds each of the groupings together?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What did you see that made you combine the documents into each group?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Write the main idea for each grouping.

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4) Do any of them overlap or fit together in some way?

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5) Do they address similar elements or similar points of view?

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If you have finished and there is time left create a new order of groups for your documents. List your groups below and then answer the questions. Remember these groups must be different from your previous groups.

Group 1: Group 3:

Group 2: Group 4:

1) What is the main idea that holds each of the groupings together?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What did you see that made you combine the documents into each group?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Write the main idea for each grouping.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Do any of them overlap or fit together in some way?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) Do they address similar elements or similar points of view?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Week 11 Day 5: Current Day Connections African Trading & Mesoamerica 11.5.1

This is a new section to our week. In this section you will read a newspaper article FROM TODAY’S NEWS and connect it to our topic. There are vocabulary words missing that you need to fill in while we are reading the article.

Mali: Al-Qaida playing role in insurgencyBy MARTIN VOGL Associated Press Posted: 01/27/2012

BAMAKO, Mali—Fighters from al-Qaida's North African branch helped an ethnic Tuareg rebel group attack a town in northern Mali this week, Mali's government said Friday.

The allegation was immediately denounced by the Paris-based spokesman of the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad, or NMLA, the Tuareg group that has claimed responsibility for the attacks on five towns in the past 10 days.

"There were no other fighters other than NMLA fighters who took part in the attack," Tuareg leader Moussa Ag Acharatoumane told The Associated Press by telephone on Friday. "I reject the statement that fighters from AQIM (al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb) fought with us."

As the Tuareg rebellion enters its second week, questions emerging about the identity of the fighters. Local officials and Tuareg experts say that a large number of the fighters are Tuaregs that fought as hired guns for Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, then returned to Mali after the fall of his regime.

But an al-Qaida offshoot, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, has also made its home in the north of Mali. AQIM claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of five foreign tourists in two northern towns last year, as well as the killing of a German tourist.

The al-Qaida group, however, has traditionally not attacked in Mali even through they maintain at least three bases in the country. The group has kidnapped over 50 foreigners since 2003 and nearly all the kidnappings happened in neighboring countries. The hostages were then brought back to AQIM bases in Mali where they are held during ransom negotiations.

In a statement, the ministry of defense said Tuesday's attack on the town of Aguelhok was led by "jihadists from AQIM" in addition to members of the NMLA. The statement said that important losses were registered, but it did not say how many people were killed.

"We've heard all this before. Every time Mali finds itself unable to battle our fighters, the Malian government tries to link us to terrorists," said NMLA leader Ag Acharatoumane. "We reject all forms of terrorism. Our intention is to get rid of the drug traffickers and AQIM from our soil."

The Azawad is the traditional home of the Tuaregs in northern Mali, and the rebel group says they are fighting for it to become autonomous. The Tuaregs, a traditionally nomadic people spread across the Sahara Desert, have risen up against the central government in Mali three times since the country's independence from France in 1960.

Previous rebellions, including the most recent which ended in 2009, have in part been sponsored by Gadhafi, who claimed to have blood ties to the Tuaregs. He felt such affinity with the ethnic group that he entrusted a part of his security to the Tuaregs, and it was Tuareg guides who evacuated his son to Niger across the massive desert border after the fall of Tripoli.

1) Write a summary of this article. (3 sentences) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) How does this article about MODERN Mali, a Muslim country, compare or contrast to how the ANCIENT Mali Trading Kingdom was during a golden age? You must include 1 quote from the article AND 1 quote from a document. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WEEK 11 DAY 6: Writing Skills Mesoamerica & African Trading Kingdoms 11.6.1

Independent Work: Write 2 paragraphs (minimum 8 sentences each) about the golden ages of Mesoamerica and the African Trading Kingdoms. You must include engineering and agricultural achievements for Mesoamerica and why the African Trading Kingdoms were so successful. You must also include at least 4 documents to support your information. You will receive 5 extra credit points if you write a 3rd paragraph about the article on Day 5 and relate it to Golden Ages. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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