Analyze the civilizations of Mesopotamia (Sumer c. 3500 BCE, Akkad c. 2334 BCE, Babylon c. 1894 BCE, Assyria c. 2000-609 BCE) — including ziggurats, city-states, kingship, polytheistic religion, and the invention of cuneiform writing (c. 3200 BCE)
Exercise Difficulty 3 ~6 min hist.g6.f.ex_07

Source Analysis

MG-7 Interactive Physical / non-image

Ancient-World 6-Question Source Card — 8.5x11 laminated tool with 6 questions: (1) WHO made this source and WHEN? (sourcing); (2) WHAT was happening in this civilization at the time? (contextualization); (3) DOES this source agree or disagree with other sources from the same civilization or other civilizations? (corroboration); (4) WHAT does this source actually SAY (close reading); (5) WHO are the LIVING DESCENDANTS of this civilization today, and what do they say about this source? (NMAI-inspired 5th move); (6) WHO TRANSLATED this source from its ancient language? WHOSE INTERPRETATION are we reading? WHAT IS LIKELY MISSING from the source-record entirely (silences)? (World History Association-inspired 6th move). Scaffolded short-form for Lessons 3-7; full form for Lessons 11-21. Style: educator-tool, durable laminated card.

Prompt

Apply MG-7 Source Card SHORT FORM (4 questions) to the Standard of Ur (c. 2500 BCE, lapis-lazuli and shell mosaic, British Museum BM 121201, Royal Tombs of Ur excavation 1922-1934 by Sir Leonard Woolley): Q1 WHO made it and WHEN? Q2 What was the historical context? Q3 What other Mesopotamian source could corroborate this? Q4 What does the source actually depict?

How it's presented
mode text
Answer criteria
type rubric scored 4 question source card
rubric
3 stars: all 4 questions answered specifically with named details. 2 stars: 3 questions answered. 1 star: 2 questions answered. 0: <2 questions answered.
Hints
  1. WHO: Sumerian craftspeople. WHEN: c. 2500 BCE.
  2. Context: Early Dynastic III period.
  3. Corroborate: Sumerian King List records the period.
  4. Depicts: 'War' side (royal infantry + chariots) and 'Peace' side (king at banquet + tribute-bearers).
Misconceptions to watch
  • Vague answers ('an old thing')
  • Forgetting to name the excavator and date
Used in lessons