Year 3 - History
Similarities between the earliest civilisations
Sumer and other early civilisations: what made them similar?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit analyses the similarities and differences between early civilisations. Pupils learn about Mesopotamia as a 'cradle of civilisation' and compare it to other civilisations, such as the Shang and the Indus Valley civilisations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe some of the similarities between the early civilisations' religions and writing systems.
Key Notes
- Despite having different gods and goddesses, all of these ancient civilisations built special religious buildings.
- Many of them, like the Shang, the Egyptians and the Indus people, offered sacrifices to their gods.
- All of these civilisations produced writing about trade, religion, laws and rulers.
- Archaeologists and historians have managed to understand this writing, apart from that of the Indus Valley civilisation.
Vocabulary To Learn
- decipher: to first understand a different language or code you must decipher it
- sacrifice: to give up something valuable for a reason is a sacrifice
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Ancient writing was only for stories about rulers and gods.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Despite having different gods and goddesses, all of these ancient civilisations built special religious buildings. Many of them, like the Shang, the Egyptians and the Indus people, offered sacrifices to their gods.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'decipher'
to first understand a different language or code you must decipher it.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Ancient writing was only for stories about rulers and gods. Correction: Discuss the four different uses of ancient writing: trade, laws, religion and rulers. Discuss how these are similar to modern use, like laws needed for an ancient civilisation to develop, and think about the kinds of laws they would have needed.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 3 History guide library.