Comparison – Empires
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-1COMPARISON – EMPIRES WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 3.1 ACTIVITYPreparation•Download “A Sublime Empire: Ottoman Rule on Land and Sea”•Download “The Safavid Empire”•Download “China Under Ming and Qing Rule”•Download “From Muscovy to the Russian Empire”PurposeIn this activity, you will be comparing across time and place to find similarities and differences between empires. From a broader perspective, empires may all seem the same; however, by comparing and contrasting, we’re able to see the differences between similar concepts. You will also continue to evaluate how historical events and processes relate to the AP themes, deepening your understanding of how the themes can be used to make sense of large periods of time. PracticesReading, writingYou will use your close-reading skills to pull out information from the articles to complete the Comparison Tool, which is included in the worksheet. Comparison provides structure and organization to idea development and writing. In addition, you will be writing thesis statements in response to two comparison prompts.ProcessIn this lesson, you’ve read a number of articles about empires. Now, you’ll take what you’ve learned, categorize that information, and focus on the similarities and differences between these empires. This will help you understand how early empires functioned and will also help you identify the common threads that led to these empires’ successes and failures.Your teacher will either hand out or have you download the Comparison—Empires worksheet, and will then break up the class into small groups and assign two articles to each group. Read your assigned articles on your own. Then, complete Part 1: Identifying and Describing of the Comparison Tool individually for your group’s assigned articles. Next, discuss your answers with your group members.Once all groups have discussed Part 1 of the tool for their assigned articles, each group will share their similarities and differences by writing them on the chart your teacher creates on the board. Take a few minutes to read what the other groups found and look for similarities and differences across all of the empires. Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Comparison - Empires”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/
STUDENT MATERIALSSTUDENT MATERIALSS-2COMPARISON – EMPIRES WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 3.1 ACTIVITYFinally, return to your group and use these similarities and differences to develop two thesis statements in response to the following prompts:•To what extent were these empires politically, economically, and socially similar?•To what extent were these empires politically, economically, and socially different?As an extension, your teacher may ask you to individually write a one-paragraph introduction to an essay for the prompt:To what extent were these empires politically similar and different? At this point, your teacher will review the elements of how to write an introduction for an essay. The introduction should briefly preview the topic—in this case the comparison of empires—and introduce your thesis statement or the claim you’re making that answers the comparison prompt. The thesis could be the first or last sentence of your paragraph. However, you must fully address the question and explain how these empires were politically similar and different. Note that your teacher may extend this by asking you to answer the same question for different themes such as economy or social.Your teacher will collect your worksheets and responses at the end of the activity to assess your understanding of the topic and this historical re asoning process.
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-3COMPARISON – EMPIRESWORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 3.1 ACTIVITYPart 1: Identifying and Describing1. Write the topic of comparison at the top of the chart, and then add the cases you’re comparing and their associated time periods and locations. 2. Respond to the questions in the Part 1 chart for each case you’re comparing. Use the resources provided. 3. After responding to the questions for each case, identify and describe the similarities and differences between these cases. Part 2: Analyzing1. If you were going to write two essays about the similarities and/or differences you’ve identified for this topic, what are two thesis statements you might use? Write one thesis statement about similarities and one about differences.2. If required, use your thesis statements to craft a response to the comparison prompt for this activity.Topic of ComparisonPart 1: Identifying and DescribingCases You’re ComparingTime PeriodLocation
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-4COMPARISON – EMPIRESWORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 3.1 ACTIVITYPolitical How was the government structured in this empire? SimilaritiesDifferencesEconomicWhat types of economic systems were used in this empire?SimilaritiesDifferencesSocial How was society organized in this empire?SimilaritiesDifferences
Name:Date:Name:Date:STUDENT MATERIALSS-5COMPARISON – EMPIRESWORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 3.1 ACTIVITYPart 2: AnalyzingThesis Statement 1: SimilaritiesThesis Statement 2: DifferencesResponse