KEY
POINTS:
• Trade is older than recorded history
• Most major world explorations were carried out in the
name of trade
• Nearly every developed society has enjoyed the benefits
of trade
• Trade resulted in the dissemination of countless new
ideas that we take for granted
• Throughout history, societies participated in a “global”
economy to the technological extents of what was to them their
known world
ACTIVITY 1: How did trade shape civilization?
(all ages, tailor expectations to grade level)
Class
groups select one of the following historical societies and
prepare a presentation to the class describing how trade shaped
this society.
Babylonian
Berber
Chinese
Chinook
Khmer
Maya
Mongol
Navaho
Phoenician
Roman
Soninke
Viking
Yoruba
Zanj
What
goods were traded?
Who traded what with whom?
What were the trade routes?
What was the means of transportation?
ACTIVITY
2: Historical shifts in trade activities. (High School)
Class
groups or individuals select and report on historical shifts
in trade activities. For example, the industrial revolution
caused major shifts in producing countries, the development
of petroleum as a replacement for coal caused major shifts
in wealth; there are hundreds of examples to choose from.
ACTIVITY
3: How labor practices are changing in today’s world
economy. (High School)
In
addition, students can also explore changing labor practices.
What we view as alarming labor practices today in developing
nations were commonplace in Europe and America not so long
ago.
How
did changing economic and social conditions bring about different
labor practices?
Ideas
for extending the lesson
“History Alive,” 7th grade World History unit on
Africa
Suggestions
for Assessment
Assess for accuracy. Require proof (bibliography) for conclusions
about local customs and traditions. (Assess bibliography for
reliability of sources).
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