In Search of History
Ancient Inventions (2 Parts)
The quest to make life and work easier is as old as humankind itself is. Human beings have been inventors since they walked upright, whether it was the momentous invention of the wheel, or the complicated computers that are an everyday staple of modern life. Ancient Inventions examines some of humankind’s early inventions, dispelling our complacent notion that sophisticated inventions are characteristic of the modern age. Ancient Inventions would be useful for classes on World history, World Culture, and Science and Technology. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.
Discussion Questions
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Define the old adage “necessity is the mother of invention.”
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One of humankind’s earliest discoveries was fire. What did the discovery of fire do for humankind? How is fire a part of our lives today? How would our lives be different if fire had never been discovered?
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The ancients accomplished some amazing feats that we are still unable to reproduce. What are some of these marvels?
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The Great Library at Alexandria, Egypt was a repository for the knowledge of the ancient world. Why did conquerors destroy this precious commodity?
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How do we know about ancient inventions?
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What is a hypothesis? What is the hypothesis about the Baghdad battery?
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Why were many of the ancient inventions abandoned?
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Pyramids have fascinated scholars for centuries. Why are these massive structures so intriguing that many scholars spend their entire lives studying them?
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Discuss the theory of what made Machu Picchu possible.
Extended Activities
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Design plans or blueprints for an invention of your own.
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Formulate your own theory for one of the ancient inventions shown in the program.
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