The Phoenicians - Punic Wars

The Journeys of Hannibal by Mike Rosen

Discussion:
Review of location of Carthage
Rome - what did Rome want?  Why did they fight?
Who won?

Activity:
Picture Study: navies and armies of Rome and Carthage
Reenactment with Playmobil people
Narration: parts of the journey, explanation of Rome's motives

The Phoenicians - Writing

Discussion:
Phoenicia: a Greek word meaning "purple", because they traded purple cloth
phonetic: written symbols that stand for sounds
Modern alphabets that come from Phoenicia

Activity:
Look at different kinds of writing.  Decide which ones are related to the Phoenician alphabet and which are not.

The Phoenicians - Geography

Discussion:
Location of Phoenicians' home base and cities (Sidon, Tyre, Byblos)
Recall other civilizations that interacted with those cities
Other important cities (Carthage, Tangier, Cyrene)

Activity:
Map study - locate cities mentioned
Playmobil reenactment of Phoenician settlements on the Mediterranean

Ancient Africa - D'mt and the Aksum Empire

A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Silly Mammo = Kilu Mammo: an Ethiopian Tale by Gebregeorgis Yohannes

Discussion:
The Silk Road from Africa through Asia; trade with Saba (Yemen)
Rise/fall of nations - why do nations come and go?

Activity:
Locate D'mt and the Aksum Empire on a map
Picture study: Aksumite stelae

Ancient Africa - (Nubia) - Meroe

African Beginnings by James Haskins
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Discussion:
Meroe - an "island" city
Why Egypt could not conquer Meroe
Meroe's written language - still undeciphered

Activity:
Locate Meroe on a map
Picture study: Meroe's pyramids, statues, temples, city plan

Ancient Africa - (Nubia) - Kush

African Beginnings by James Haskins
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Discussion:
Egypt's New Kingdom collapses; Kush founded
Kush grows stronger, takes over Egypt
Assyria defeats Kush

Activity:
Recreate the story with Playmobil figures

Ancient Africa - Nubia vs. Egypt

African Beginnings by James Haskins
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Discussion:
Review of Egypt: basic culture, government, geography, history
Egypt vs. Nubia
-differences in culture, religion
-why they fought each other

Activity:
Picture Study: scenes from King Tut's tomb
Recreate the ongoing wars between Nubia and Egypt with Playmobil figures

Ancient Africa - Nubia - Geography and Culture

African Beginnings by James Haskins
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport
Wonders of the African World by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Discussion:
nub: gold
Riches: ivory, incense, ostrich feathers, slaves
Divine kingship

Activity:
Locate Nubia on a map

Ancient Africa - Nok

Master Man: A Tall Tale of Nigeria by Aaron Shepherd

African Beginnings by James Haskins
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport

Discussion:
Development of culture in isolation
Iron - what is it?  Why is it important?

Activity:
Locate the Jos Plateau in modern-day Nigeria
Picture study: Nok culture: Chin-resting figure, Nok rider and horse

Ancient Africa - Bantu

The Name of the Tree: A Bantu Folktale by Celia Barker Lottridge
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa by John Davenport

Discussion:
Expansion of Bantu peoples from West Africa

Activity:
Locate (modern day Cameroon) West Africa on map; trace expansion South toward Great Lakes

Ancient Africa - Ghana Empire

"Ghana" from African Beginnings by James Haskins & Kathleen Benson, and Floyd Cooper
"The Black Snake" - Oral Tradition
A Brief Political and Geographic History of Africa  by John Davenport

Discussion:
West African climate; desertification
Domestication of the Camel
Gold and salt

Activity:
Locate the Ghana Empire on the map of Africa
Narration: The Black Snake

Ancient Africa - Khoi and San People

"Click Language" and the San Bushmen People (start at :45-1:00, then 3:00 to end)

Discussion:
Khoi: pastoral life (Hottentot)
San: foraging life (Bushmen)

• finding water
• gathering food
• hunting

What does derogatory mean?  Examples of other derogatory names already learned
What happened to the Khoi/San when the Bantu came?
Name other cultures with similar lifestyles (aspects from Native Australia, Native America)

Activity:
Locate the Kalahari desert on a map
Picture Study: Kalahari desert, hunting etc

Ancient Africa - Geography

Continents of the World: Africa by Rob Bowden

Discussion:
Overview of African environments, animals, civilizations

Activity:
Locate Africa on a world map
Review where Egypt is
Label and color a map of Africa: rivers, deserts, lakes, forests
Picture study: African environments