Who do you consider popular at school? Are they people everyone talks about and seems to remember? When you think about popularity this way, you may also think about the Sumerians and Egyptians as popular during ancient history. However, just because those two civilizations get the most recognition doesn't mean they are the only important ones to consider.

During the New Stone Age, other smaller, permanent settlements began in river valleys and around the Mediterranean Sea. While the size of these civilizations was smaller, their contributions to human development were instrumental and long-lasting. In this topic, you will explore the ancient cultures of the Hebrews, Phoenicians, Nubians, and Lydians.

Essential Questions

• What were some important secondary ancient river valley civilizations and how were they influential?
• What social, political, economic, and linguistic developments impacted secondary ancient river valley civilizations?
• What role did Judaism play during this time period and how did it compare to other faiths?

Warm-Up

Did You Know?

In this topic, you will learn about the history and basic beliefs of Judaism. The Jewish faith is one of the oldest religions in the world. Today, more than thirteen million people are Jewish. Take a moment to read the below interesting facts about modern Judaism.

• A Jewish teacher is called a rabbi.
• Hebrew was the first language of Judaism and is still used.
• The symbol of the Jewish people is the Star of David, which is found on the Israeli flag.
• Many Jews keep kosher, which means their food and eating habits conform to Jewish law.