The World and Its People, Florida Edition

Chapter 16: Birthplace of Civilization

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about the early civilizations that flourished in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. In this activity, they will learn more about one of these groups, the Phoenicians, and their contributions to the ancient world.

Lesson Description
Students will visit the Ancient Civilizations Web site to learn more about the culture and contributions of the Phoenicians. After answering questions about the location, manufacturing, and trade of this civilization, students will create a travel brochure of one of the major cities of ancient Phoenicia.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe the location and major cities of the Phoenician civilization.
2. Students will be able to summarize the contributions of the Phoenicians to the ancient world.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. the Mediterranean Sea
2. The Phoenicians made glass from coastal sand, produced a purple dye from a tiny sea snail that became the favorite of royalty, and used papyrus to make scrolls.
3. Due to their advanced sailing skills, they brought eastern Mediterranean products and culture to less developed peoples. Phoenician traders traveled as far west as England and may have rounded the southern tip of Africa.
4. They replaced the cuneiform alphabet of 550 characters with a phonetic alphabet of 22 letters. After further alterations from the Greeks and Romans, it became the alphabet we use today.
5. Students' brochures will vary.