About Unit 3

💭 Essential Question: How did the development of agriculture shape early civilizations?

The Seeds of Civilization unit explores how early farming societies developed into the world’s first complex civilizations. Building on their understanding of the Neolithic Revolution, students will examine how agriculture laid the foundation for permanent settlements, social hierarchies, organized religion, government, and cultural advancements. Through case studies of civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Kingdom of Kush, the Shang Dynasty,  the Indus Valley, the Olmec, and Caral-Supe, students will analyze archaeological and textual evidence to understand how geography, environmental conditions, and belief systems shaped early societies. They will continue practicing contextualization while developing skills in comparison and sourcing. The unit culminates in a Curated Research Paper (CRP), where students will create an argumentative essay that demonstrates how agriculture fueled the emergence of civilizations during this time period.