Empires and Belief Systems
Teacher Resources
Lesson Guide
Find lesson timing, sample answers, teaching tips, and important teacher instructions.
PD Event: Rediscovering Ancient Ways
As you gear up to teach about the ancient world, check out these highlights from our PD event with the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures on object-based learning.
Driving Question: How was the emergence of portable belief systems connected to empires in this period?
The rise of extensive regional empires and portable belief systems reshaped life around the world. With the emergence of portable belief systems, beliefs and religions could travel beyond one geographic place. New empires arose across Afro-Eurasia, linking societies and spreading belief systems from the Mediterranean to China.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how portable belief systems and empires were connected during this period.
- Evaluate the continuities and changes that took place as portable belief systems spread and impacted communities and networks.
Vocab Terms:
Ancient empires built monumental symbols of the religions they embraced. In this quick activity, you’ll match the symbols to the societies that built them as you consider the connections that link religion and empire.
Sacred Symbols
Agree or disagree? Evaluate some statements before you dive into Unit 4—then see how accurate you were when you get to the end of the unit.
Preview questions: Give students all the video comprehension questions in advance or highlight anything you want them to focus on in advance to help orient their attention. (Note that students will be prompted to preview the questions and transcript for all videos on the OER Project site.) If you’re looking for closed captioning or subtitles in other languages, you can watch all our videos on the OER Project YouTube channel.
Throughout this unit, you’ll see empires grow and belief systems rise. This video and article will help you find the connections linking the two.
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Guiding Questions
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Guiding Questions
Ancient empires often used religious strategies to gain and maintain power. In this quick activity, you will read a brief excerpt from one emperor and think about his religious strategy.
A great way to improve your own writing skills is to evaluate writing samples. In this activity, you’ll use your own writing or a sample essay to evaluate the use of analysis and evidence.
