Gr 4 Social Studies- Early Societies

Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia is a region located between modern-day Iraq and Iran.
• The name "Mesopotamia" means "land between two rivers", referring to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• The fertile land in Mesopotamia had rich soil, allowing plants to grow.
• The region's floodplain was created by the annual flooding of the rivers, which would pour water onto the flat land.
• Farmers would plant on this flat land, and the water would seep into the soil.

Importance of Rivers

• The people of Mesopotamia settled between the two rivers intentionally, as they provided three essential things: water for irrigation, transportation routes, and water for basic needs.
• The rivers enabled transportation through boats, making it easier to get around and trade goods.
• The water from the rivers was used for irrigation, helping farmers control their environment.

Irrigation

• Irrigation was a crucial step in human history, as it allowed people to control their environment and no longer rely on rain.
• The people of Mesopotamia developed a system of canals to irrigate their farmland, as they did not have the technology for modern sprinklers.
• When a drought occurred, the water levels would stay low, making irrigation impossible.
• Drought was a serious problem in Mesopotamia, as it was a long period of time with no rain.

The Inca Empire

• Ruled the west coast of South America from the early 1400s to 1532
• Known for complex government and system of roads

Inca Worldview

• Believed the ruler, the Inca Sapa, was part god
• Believed in 5 different gods and goddesses
• Inti, the god of the sun, was the most important
• Believed in an afterlife, and would embalm and mummify the dead before burial

Inca Arts

• Expert weavers and embroiderers
• Spun wool from alpacas and llamas to make colourful clothing for special occasions
• Made pottery for religious ceremonies and everyday items
• Decorated pots with colourful patterns
• Made sculptures from precious stones like turquoise, used as jewelry

Inca Society

• Had 3 social classes
• People were born into a class and couldn't move classes, no matter how hard they worked
• Noble class: rich and wealthy people
• Public administrator class: below the noble class, worked for the government

Clothing

• Andean women wore bright colored clothing, including shawls, capes, skirts, and hats.
• Andean men wore lightweight twill and cotton pants and shirts due to the hot weather in the Andes.
• Brimmed hats protected Andean people from the sun.

Transportation

• The Andean people did not have access to wheeled vehicles or working animals.
• They walked or rode llamas to get around.
• Llamas were not strong enough to carry loads over 45kg.

Food

• Rich and elite Andean people ate corn and meat from llamas and guinea pigs.
• They also ate beans, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and chili peppers.
• Poor Andean laborers received food from the government instead of money for their work.
• Everyone was fed in the Andean community.

Shelter

• Andean people made houses and buildings out of adobe bricks.
• Adobe bricks are made from sand, clay, water, and straw.
• The bricks are formed into rectangular shapes and dried in the sun.
• Adobe shelters are simple to make but not very strong.
• The Andes Mountains are prone to earthquakes, which makes these shelters a risk to live in.

Clothing

• Rich Mayans wore colorful clothing made from animal skins
• Poorer Mayans wore simple clothing
• Men wore loincloths
• Women wore long skirts
• Both genders used a blanket called a manta to keep warm
• Both genders often got tattoos after marriage

Hunting and Food

• Mayans hunted peccary, deer, and smaller animals like dogs, rabbits, frogs, tadpoles, and grasshoppers
• They used bows and arrows to hunt larger animals and nets to catch smaller ones
• They also used harpoons, fishhooks, and bows and arrows to catch fish
• Corn was the main food source, along with vegetables like beans and squash
• Mayans would grind corn into cakes and flatten them into pancakes (tortillas)

Shelter

• Rich kings and nobles lived in large stone palaces
• Poorer commoners lived in small mud huts outside the city near their farms
• Huts were sometimes made from stone
• Mayan shelters were built on platforms to protect them from floods

Entertainment

• The Mayans' favorite game was ulama, a ball game where two teams compete to get a rubber ball through a stone ring
• Players had to keep the ball off the ground using any part of their body except their hands or feet
• Sometimes prisoners of war were forced to play, with the losing team being put to death

Aztec Clothing

• Aztec clothing was made by the wife of the family
• Men wore loincloths and long capes, while women wore long skirts and blouses
• Poor commoners had to weave their own cloth to make their clothing
• Richer Aztecs could purchase clothing or cloth already made
• There were laws dictating what colors certain people could wear
• Only rich nobles could wear clothing decorated with feathers
• Only the emperor could wear a turquoise-colored cloak

Aztec Food

• Aztecs mainly ate maize (corn)
• They ground corn to make tortillas
• They also ate beans, squash, insects, fish, honey, dogs, and snakes
• As a treat, Aztecs made chocolate from cocoa beans

Aztec Shelter

• Poorer commoners lived in shelters made from adobe bricks (made from sun-dried clay)
• Average homes had four areas: sleeping area, family shrine, meal preparation area, and eating area
• Nobles had similar homes made from stone, which were bigger and decorated with artwork

Aztec Entertainment

• Aztecs played games for fun
• One popular game was Patolli, a board game played with dice
• The object of Patolli is to move your piece around the gameboard

Clothing

• Inuit people wear thick and warm clothing to survive the cold temperatures.
• They use animal furs to make jackets, pants, shirts, and boots.
• Anoraks, a type of jacket, are made from caribou and seal skin.
• The inside of anoraks are lined with fur from foxes, polar bears, and rabbits to make them even warmer.

Transportation

• Inuit people use dog sleds called qamutiks to travel large distances on land.
• Qamutiks are made from whale bones and wood.
• They bred strong dogs from wolves and dogs that eventually became the husky dog breed.
• Inuit people use two types of boats for transportation on water: kayaks for hunting and umiaqs (long boats similar to canoes) for getting around.

Hunting

• Inuit people are unable to farm due to the cold temperatures, so they need to hunt for their food.
• They use harpoons to hunt seals, walruses, and bowhead whales.
• They also eat wild berries and fish.
• Their high fat diet gives them the energy they need to survive the cold temperatures.

Governance

• Inuit people live in small communities that are far apart from each other in Nunavut.
• They elect 19 people, who then choose the government leader and ministers.
• The government leader works with the Canadian government to ensure the Inuit people have a voice in Canada.

The Algonkin First Nation

• The Algonkin people can also be referred to as Algonquin, meaning "our allies".
• They lived in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, which spans across southern Ontario and Quebec.

Shelter

• Most Algonkin lived in wigwams, which are small, domed-shaped shelters made of birch bark.
• Each wigwam housed only one family.
• Some Algonkin lived in longhouses, larger shelters made of birch bark, which were shared by multiple families.

Daily Life and Gender Roles

• The daily life of an Algonkin member varied depending on their age and gender.
• Children helped around the house, played outside, and accompanied their fathers on hunting and fishing trips.
• Men were responsible for hunting, fishing, and protecting the community or family in war.
• Women took care of the children, gathered plants, and managed the shelter and cooking.

Food

• The Algonkin were a hunting-based society.
• Their diet consisted of deer, moose, small game, fish, corn, squash, and berries.
• They used bows and arrows, spears, and traps to hunt their food.
• Maple syrup was a treat made from the sap of maple trees.

Tools and Weapons

• Algonkin warriors used war clubs, spears, and tomahawks in battle.
• Fishermen used spears to stab fish from their canoes or through holes in the ice.
• To hunt larger game like deer, the Algonkin set up traps using fences to direct deer movement and then speared them as they approached.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy

• The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is also known as the Iroquois Confederacy by the French and the League of Five Nations by the English.
• The name "Haudenosaunee" means "people of the long house" and refers to the peaceful uniting of five nations under one government.
• The Confederacy was formed by five First Nations: the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and the Senecas.

The Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee

• The original five nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy were the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and the Senecas.
• Over time, the Tuscarora joined the confederacy, and it became known as the Six Nations.

Founding of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy

• The exact date of the Confederacy's founding is unknown, but it is considered "immemorial".
• The Confederacy was founded by the prophet known as the Peacemaker, who was sent by the Creator to spread the Kariwiio, or "good mind".
• The Peacemaker worked with Hiawatha to teach the laws of peace to the Haudenosaunee and stop the fighting between the five nations.
• The goal of the Peacemaker and Hiawatha was to promote peace and unity among the five nations.