Topic Options

The topic you choose will be researched and used throughout:

1. Agriculture
   i. How did early humans transition from hunting and gathering to farming, and what impact did this shift have on early societies?
   ii. How did agricultural advancements help the development of empires in the areas we have examined, and what were the main farming techniques used during this period?
   iii. How did the spread of agriculture and the exchange of crops and farming techniques contribute to cultural and economic interactions between regions such as Europe, Africa, and Asia during ancient times?
   iv. How did ancient civilizations manage land and water resources for agricultural purposes, and what were the main irrigation and cultivation methods used during this time?
2. Art and Writing
   i. Discuss the significance of cave paintings and rock art in early human societies. How did these artistic expressions serve as a means of communication and storytelling for ancient communities?
   ii. Analyze the artistic achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization, including the construction of monumental architecture and the creation of hieroglyphic writing.
   iii. Analyze the artistic expressions of ancient China, including the development of calligraphy, ink painting, and the construction of imperial tombs and palaces. How did these artistic forms reflect the philosophical and cultural values of ancient Chinese society?
   iv. Examine the relationship between early art and writing systems, such as cuneiform in Mesopotamia, hieroglyphs in Egypt, and the development of the alphabet in ancient Phoenicia and Greece. How did the emergence of writing systems impact the preservation of historical records and the dissemination of cultural knowledge in early societies?
3. Law and Religion
   I. Analyze the role of religious law and theocracy in ancient civilizations, such as ancient Egypt and the religious institutions of the pharaohs, and its impact on the political and social structures of these societies.
   II. Examine the development of legal and religious institutions in ancient China, including the contributions of Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism to the establishment of social and political order in early Chinese civilizations.
   III. Discuss the impact of religious persecution and religious freedom on the development of legal systems in ancient and medieval societies, including the persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire and the establishment of religious tolerance under certain rulers.
   IV. Analyze the role of religious leaders as lawmakers and arbiters of justice in early societies, including the influence of priests, rabbis, and clerics in interpreting and applying religious laws and moral principles.