The ancient Egyptians wrote on a. paper b. papyrus c. parchment
Ts’ai Lun’s paper was made of rags, bark, and a. animal skin b. papyrus stems c. old fishing nets
In the 11th century, paper came to Morocco and Spain with a. the Roman Empire b. the Islamic Caliphate c. the Mongol Empire
Discussion/essay questions
Some historians believe that the most powerful society during each period in history was often the one with the most access to paper. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
Over the last few decades, information has been moving online. Do you think paper will continue to be important in the future? Why or why not?
Transcript
In ancient times, people carved words on stone. The earliest paper-like material was papyrus, which ancient Egyptians made from the stems of the papyrus plant. However, the basic paper-making process began in China around 100 CE. A courtier named Ts’ai Lun mashed rags, bark, and old fishing nets into a pulp. He used water to hold the pulp together and let it dry into a sheet. Before, Chinese scribes had written on woven fabric. Ts’ai Lun’s process made it easier to copy books and spread information. Paper spread first to Korea and Japan, and then to the Middle East through the Silk Road. The Islamic Caliphate brought paper to Morocco and Spain in the 11th century. Europe took a while to start using paper. Roman officials thought parchment was more refined. However, the invention of the Gutenberg press changed this. Paper was cheaper to make than parchment, which made it better for mass printing. As production of paper increased around the world, so did literacy.
The first known script comes from a. Greece b. Egypt c. Rome
The single performer in an early Greek play was called a. the lead b. the antagonist c. the protagonist
A satirical play a. always has a tragic ending b. has a religious purpose c. uses humour to criticize something
Discussion/essay questions
How often do you go to the theatre? Do you think movies have replaced traditional theatre? Why or why not?
What are some examples of satirical stories? Do you think satire is an important kind of art? Why or why not?
Transcript
Many ancient cultures used performance to tell stories. Early performances often had no “audience.” People would gather in groups and act out scenes to each other. The first known script is the ancient Egyptian Passion Play, which tells the story of the god Osiris. In ancient Greece, outdoor theatres were built to display performances. The earliest Greek plays often had a single performer, who was called the protagonist. Over time, more complex comedies and tragedies developed. Throughout history, plays often had religious purposes. However, many plays were also satirical. They used exaggerated characters and plots to mock social institutions, including religion. For this reason, the theatre was often controversial.
Cleopatra’s body was a. mummified b. destroyed c. never found
Some historians have suggested a. that Cleopatra never really existed b. that Cleopatra’s beauty was a myth c. that Cleopatra was actually multiple people
Aside from her beauty, Cleopatra was known for her a. intelligence b. kindness c. physical strength
Discussion/essay questions
Do you know of any other people who have been mischaracterized by history?
Why is history difficult to agree on?
Transcript
Cleopatra VII, or simply Cleopatra, was the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt. She reigned from 51–30 BCE. There are conflicting stories about Cleopatra’s life. Her body was never found, and most surviving accounts of her are secondhand. Although she is often depicted as a beautiful seductress, some historians have claimed that this was a Roman fabrication meant to delegitimize her as a leader. Records suggest that Cleopatra was known for her intelligence rather than her beauty. She spoke several languages, and was ruthless in protecting her throne. Still, she is remembered for her romantic involvement with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The “seductress” persona has made her an iconic figure in popular culture, and it is now difficult to separate history from myth.
Why do you think it was so important to ancient Egyptians to honour their dead rulers? How is this different from the ways people acknowledge death today?
Transcript
The Egyptian pyramids are some of the most fascinating structures in the world. Although they are popular tourist attractions today, the pyramids were originally built as tombs for ancient Egyptian kings. At the time, it was customary to mummify dead rulers and bury them with their possessions. However, many pyramids have been robbed throughout history, and most are empty today. The first known pyramid was built around 2600 B.C, for a king named Djoser. The largest and most famous Egyptian pyramids – the Great Pyramids of Giza – were built between 2500 and 2400 B.C, and there is still a lot of mystery surrounding their construction. It would have been very difficult to build such massive structures without modern technology. Historians believe that at least 20,000 workers were needed to complete the Great Pyramids.
What do you think the world would be like today if the Library of Alexandria was never destroyed?
Transcript
The Library of Alexandria was an ancient library in Egypt. It was built in the third century B.C. by a former Greek politician named Demetrius of Phalerum. For years, it held up to 500,000 scrolls of writing about law, history, math, science and more. But at some point in history, the library was destroyed, and all of that knowledge was lost. A popular myth is that the library burned down in 48 B.C, when the Roman emperor Julius Caesar attacked the city of Alexandria. In truth, historians still don’t know exactly what happened to the library. However, many people believe that society would have advanced much faster if the scrolls had never been lost.
