Grade 2 - Early Asian Civilizations

8 Early Asian Civilizations: Supplemental Guide | Introduction

Components of a Civilization

Farming Cities Writing Leaders Religion

Grade 1,

Early World

Civilizations

Mesopotamia farmed

along the

Euphrates

and Tigris

Rivers

Babylon Cuneiform King Hammurabi:

created one of the

first laws; King

Nebuchadnezzar:

made the Hanging

Gardens of

Babylon for the

queen

belief in

many gods;

ziggurats:

a place to

worship

gods

Ancient Egypt farmed along

the Nile River

Had cities

along the

Nile River

Hieroglyphs Pharaoh

Hatshepsut;

Pharaoh

Tutank hamun

belief in

many gods

Grade 1,

Early

American

Civilizations

Maya farmed along

the Yucatán

Peninsula;

grew maize

(corn)

Baakal n/a King Pakal belief in

many gods;

pyramids

used to

worship

gods and

bury kings

Aztec farming

on the

chinampas—

or small

islands

Tenochtitlan n/a Emperor

Moctezuma

belief in

many gods

Inca farmed

potatoes in

the Andes

mountains

Machu

Picchu

n/a had emperors belief in

many gods;

the Sun

Te mple

Students will first learn about early India and will be introduced to the

basics of Hinduism and Buddhism—two major religions from this area—

as major forces shaping early Indian civilization. They will also hear two

works of fiction originally from India: “The Tiger, the Brahman, and the

Jackal” and “The Blind Men and the Elephant.” Then, students will learn

about early Chinese civilization and the many contributions made by the

early Chinese, including paper, silk, and the Great Wall of China.

The content in this domain is reinforced through the informational/

explanatory writing genre.

This domain will lay the foundation for further study of Asia in later grades

and will help students better understand world history in later years.