Influential Civilization Worksheet
Review your timeline carefully as you complete all parts of the worksheet.
Part 1
Write a short answer response to both questions for the first civilization you
studied. Responses should be 3–4 sentences.
Civilization #1:
1. Describe major innovations, advancements, achievements, or cultural
practices of this civilization.
2. How did these advancements or practices affect the development and growth
of the civilization? How did they affect the other civilization you selected?
Part 2
Write a short answer response to both questions for the second civilization you
studied. Responses should be 3–4 sentences.
Civilization #2:
1. Describe major innovations, advancements, achievements, or cultural
practices of this civilization.
2. How did these advancements or practices affect the development and growth
of the civilization? How did they affect the other civilization you selected?
© 2018 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.
Part 3
If your civilizations had contact with each other:
Write a summary about how advancements or practices of one civilization
influenced the other civilization. Your summary should be about a paragraph in
length.
As you write your summary, use the following questions as a guide. Note, you
do not need to answer every question.
• How did the development of one culture influence or impact advancements or
development of the other culture?
• How did factors such as trade or migration affect the spread of cultural
practices or ideas?
• In what ways were cultural practices of one civilization adapted or adopted
by another civilization?
If your civilizations did not have contact with each other:
Write a summary about how the advancements or practices of each civilization were
similar and different. Your summary should be about a paragraph in length.
As you write your summary, use the following questions as a guide. Note, you do
not need to answer every question.
• Did these two cultures develop any technologies that were similar to each
other?
• Is there anything that these cultures did that was very different from each
other?
• Is there something that developed in one culture that would have solved a
problem for the other?
Part 1
Civilization #1: Ancient Egypt
1. Major innovations and advancements of this civilization include the invention of papyrus, the use of hieroglyphics for writing, the construction of monumental structures such as the pyramids, and advancements in medicine and mathematics. Cultural practices included mummification and the worship of many gods and goddesses.
2. These advancements and practices allowed for the growth and development of Ancient Egypt as a stable and prosperous civilization. The construction of monumental structures like the pyramids also demonstrated the power and wealth of the rulers of Ancient Egypt. Their cultural practices and advancements influenced neighboring civilizations, such as the Nubians, by introducing them to new technologies and religious beliefs.
Part 2
Civilization #2: Ancient Greece
1. The major innovations and advancements of this civilization were numerous in fields such as philosophy, literature, art, and science. Some key achievements include the invention of democracy, important works in literature like the Iliad and the Odyssey, and significant contributions to fields like mathematics, physics, and astronomy.
2. The advancements and cultural practices of Ancient Greece allowed for the development and growth of a unique and powerful civilization. Their influence on the world of democracy and philosophy established Greece as a significant cultural and intellectual force. Their advancements in mathematics, science, and astronomy affected civilizations around the world.
Part 3
If your civilizations had contact with each other:
Egypt and Greece did have contact with each other, as Greek soldiers under Alexander the Great invaded and occupied Egypt in the fourth century BCE.
The Greeks were influenced by the monumental architecture of the Egyptians, with some scholars arguing that the Greeks based their own temple architecture on that of the Egyptians. The Greeks also adopted and adapted the concept of mummification from the Egyptians, albeit in a different form. Cultural practices and ideas via trade and migration, such as the Greek adoption of the Egyptian goddess Isis, show that the Egyptians had a significant impact on Greek society.
If your civilizations did not have contact with each other:
Egypt and Greece developed certain technologies and practices that were similar, such as their advancements in mathematics and architecture. However, their cultural practices and religions were very different, with Ancient Greece worshiping a pantheon of gods and goddesses and Ancient Egypt practicing a polytheistic religion that revolved around the concept of life after death. While they may have had similar ideas, such as honoring the dead through monumental architecture, each culture did so in their own unique way.
Part 1:
Civilization #1: Ancient Egypt
1. Ancient Egyptians had several major innovations and achievements, including the construction of pyramids, the development of hieroglyphic writing, and advancements in agriculture such as the invention of irrigation systems. They also had a highly developed religious and cultural belief system.
2. These advancements and practices greatly influenced the development and growth of Ancient Egypt. The construction of pyramids, for example, was a major feat of engineering that demonstrated the wealth and power of the pharaohs. The development of hieroglyphic writing enabled the communication and record-keeping necessary for the administration of the civilization. These cultural practices also influenced other civilizations, such as the spread of pyramid construction and hieroglyphic writing to neighboring cultures in the region.
Part 2:
Civilization #2: Ancient Greece
1. Ancient Greece made significant advancements in various fields, including philosophy, mathematics, and democracy. They developed the concept of democracy, made significant contributions to mathematics and geometry through the works of mathematicians like Pythagoras and Euclid, and laid the foundation for Western philosophy through the teachings of philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
2. These advancements had a profound impact on the development and growth of Ancient Greece. The concept of democracy allowed for citizen participation in government and influenced political systems in other regions. The mathematical and philosophical advancements contributed to the intellectual and cultural flourishing of Ancient Greece. These practices also had an influence on other civilizations, as Greek ideas and philosophies were spread through trade and cultural exchanges.
Part 3:
If the civilizations had contact with each other:
The advancements and practices of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, if they had contact with each other, would have influenced each other in various ways. The development of Ancient Greek democracy and philosophy could have impacted Ancient Egypt's political and philosophical systems. Cultural practices and ideas may have spread through trade and migration, leading to an exchange of knowledge and innovations. For example, Greek mathematicians could have shared their mathematical theories with the Egyptians, while the Egyptians might have influenced Greek architecture and engineering techniques.
If the civilizations did not have contact with each other:
If the civilizations did not have contact with each other, they would have developed their own unique technologies and cultural practices. Ancient Egypt's focus on monumental architecture and hieroglyphic writing would have been distinct from Ancient Greece's emphasis on democracy, philosophy, and mathematics. The two cultures might have had different approaches to solving problems and addressing societal issues. However, it is possible that certain technologies or practices developed by one culture could have been beneficial to the other, had they been shared or adopted.