New Patterns of Civilization – Post-Classical Societies, 600-1450 Group Lesson Plan

Directions: As you and your fellow historical travelers pass through and interact with the post-classical societies along the Silk Roads and the Indian Ocean Basin; witness the collapse of Han China and the Roman Empire in the West; and the emergence of the Byzantine Empire, the expansion of Islam, and new dynasties in China, collect data in your notebook to be used at a historic roundtable next week.  Each group will be responsible for teaching the other stations about themselves, their place in society, and the important aspects of their society.  Individuals are expected read the assigned chapter, select a historical character, do some extra research on their character at Hope College, present in character and bring at least one visual to share via a group PowerPoint.  Also, note the bibliographies at the end of each chapter!  Great places to look for sources if you are doing research in this period!  Each group will be given a class period in which to present why their society is the most "civilized" of all the post-classical societies.

Group 1: The Commonwealth of Byzantium                                                                                   Monday, Oct. 13

·          Read Bentley, pp. 322-352 (Chapter 13)

·          Historical Characters:  Emperor Justinian, Empress Theodora, St. Basil, Cyril,     Emperor Leo III, Byzantine merchant (female), Byzantine peasant (female) 

Group 2: The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia                                                                       Tuesday, Oct. 14

·          Read Bentley, pp. 322-325, 383-410 (Chapter 15)

·          Historical Characters: Tang Taizong, Zhu Xi, Silla Queen, Vietnamese peasant (female), Murasaki Shikibu, Japanese samurai, female from the Fujiwara family in Japan

Group 3: India and the Indian Ocean Basin                                                                                  Wednesday, Oct. 15

·          Read Bentley, pp. 322-25, 413-438 (Chapter 16)

·          Historical Characters: Buzurg ibn Shahriyar, Mahmud of Gazni, Harihara, Shiva, Shankara, Ramanuja, Guru Kabir, Khmer Queen, Malaka merchant (female)

Group 4: The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe                               Thursday, Oct. 16

·          Read Bentley, pp. 322-25, 441-464

·          Historical Characters: Charlemagne, Leif Ericson, female serf, female peasant,           Pope Gregory I, St. Benedict, St. Scholastica

Looking Ahead…                 Research Proposal and Bibliography                                                Friday, Oct. 31

                                                      Secondary Source Review # 1                                                               Friday, Nov. 21

                                                      Unit 2 Exam                                                                                                  Wednesday, Nov. 26