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Meet the Themes (14:39)

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.

Key Ideas

Think about the following questions as you watch the video


  1. 01:27 According to this video, how do historians use themes?
  2. 04:03 According to this video, what’s one way that our environments shape human societies?
  3. 05:45 How does Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage connect to the theme of cultural developments and interactions? What other themes does the story of Mansa Musa connect to?
  4. 09:33 Why did Japanese merchants anger the aristocracy, and what was the result of this relationship?
  5. 10:48 According to this video, who do we have to thank for eyeglasses and contact lenses?
  6. 13:30 To which theme does Rachel’s example of the Aztec pochteca belong?