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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 6

Ancient Mediterranean Societies

Learners sail the ancient Mediterranean: Phoenician traders spread an alphabet, Athens invents a democracy that most of its people could not join, Sparta builds a military state, and Rome grows from a republic into an empire. Along the way they source a famous speech reported by Thucydides and judge how far it can be trusted.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 100 minutes
  • Ancient Mediterranean check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, pick map regions, match pairs and type a number
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What learners will discover

  • Explain how Mediterranean geography encouraged sea trade and colonies, and trace how the Phoenician alphabet spread.
  • Describe Athenian democracy and Spartan society, including who could and could not take part, and compare them.
  • Source and closely read an excerpt from Pericles' Funeral Oration in Thucydides, explaining its purpose and limits as evidence.
  • Explain how the Roman Republic was organized and how Rome changed from a republic into an empire.

Lessons

  1. Sea, trade and an alphabet 6 steps4 practiceabout 22 min
  2. Athens and Sparta 7 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  3. Sourcing a famous speech 6 steps4 practiceabout 24 min
  4. Rome: from republic to empire 7 steps4 practiceabout 28 min
  5. Ancient Mediterranean check 9 questions at the end

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Guide for grown-ups