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Contextualization: Agrarian Societies

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Did you know? You can access an editable version of this activity: Google Doc or Word Doc
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 3.5ACTIVITYCONTEXTUALIZATION: AGRARIAN SOCIETIESUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Contextualization: Agrarian Societies,” OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeDeepen your understanding of contextualization by considering conditions from which agrarian societies emerged around the globe. This will highlight how geography is an important factor to consider when you’re contextualizing historical events or processes.ProcessPart 11.Fill outthe Contextualization Tool using what you’ve learned from this lesson about early agrarian societies.Contextualization Tool1.Write the historical event/development being studied.2.Write the date(s) and location(s) of the historical event being studied.3.Event Cards:Cut out the Events Cards,andthen place them on the funnel to show whether they represent narrow or broad context. Be prepared to explain your placement. You can also complete this portion of the activity by clicking the link for Google Slides. You’ll need to create a copy of the slides.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 3.5ACTIVITYCONTEXTUALIZATION: AGRARIAN SOCIETIES2Historical event/development:Broadcontext: Wide ranging or long termDoes the context represent wide-ranging themes, trends, events, eras, or regions related to the historical development?Does it represent a long-term (underlying) cause or contributing factor?Narrowcontext: Limited or short termDoes the context represent limited themes, trends, events, eras, or regions that are more closely tied in time/place to the historical development?Does it help us see the short-term (immediate) causes or contributing factors?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 3.5ACTIVITYCONTEXTUALIZATION: AGRARIAN SOCIETIES34.Write one ortwo sentences that describe the broad context of this event.5.Write one ortwo sentences that describe the narrow context of this event.6.Analyze how the broad and narrow context help you better understand the historical event.7.What geographic contextenabled early agrarian societies to emerge?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 3.5ACTIVITYCONTEXTUALIZATION: AGRARIAN SOCIETIES4Part21.Read one of the articles below. Your teacher may assign you an article and/or a group. If not, choose whichever article you’d like to read. Circle the article. MesopotamiaChina—Shang DynastyNubia and Ancient EgyptMesoamerica—Olmec and ChavínAksumNokIndus River Valley2.As you read, look for answers to the following questions:•Where and how did this agrarian society form?•How does the information from the article support, extend, or challenge the arguments you made about geographic context and the formation of agrarian societies in this activity?