Discovering Our Past: Ancient Civilizations

Chapter 1: The First Civilizations

Web Activity Lesson Plan

Introduction
Students have learned about the first civilizations. In this activity, students will learn more about the trade and transport of goods in ancient Babylon.

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the British Museum's Mesopotamia site to learn about the trade and transport of goods in ancient Babylon. As they explore the site, students will discover the different modes of transportation used to move items in and out of the city. Students will read an interactive story that allows them to experience first hand the life of a merchant. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by imagining their own trading experience.

Instructional Objectives

Students will be able to describe the trade and transport of goods that took place in ancient Babylon.

Students will apply their knowledge of trade and transportation while engaging in an interactive story. Students will then compose a short essay detailing their experience and explaining their choices.

Student Web Activity Answers

Grains, oils, and textiles were taken from Babylonia to be traded for timber, wine, precious metals, and stones.

Merchants who traveled by foot between villages usually traded items such as grain, meat, and fish. These merchants were limited by how much they could carry or pull.

Gulf boats were used to transport goods from southern Mesopotamia to the Gulf. These boats were larger and stronger than the boats used to transport goods on Mesopotamia's rivers. Items that could be found on these gulf boats included barley, stone, wood, pearls, carnelian, copper, ivory, textiles, and reeds.

Many natural resources were imported into Mesopotamia. Pearls were transported into Mesopotamia from the Gulf. Copper, ivory, and carnelian were imported from India. Chlorite was imported from Iran. Ivory and gold were imported from Egypt.