International trade from 600 AD to 1450 AD resulted in the flourishing of post-classical civilizations, the expansion of Islam across many regions, and the transmission of rare materials and innovative ideas — not to mention the spread...

What can be learned from ancient art and artifacts? In the second of a series of lessons devoted to the history of Afghanistan, class members assume the role of archaeologists and investigate art found along the Silk Road. They observe,...

The Silk Road connected the European, Middle Eastern, and Asian worlds. It also helped create the modern trade world. An analysis activity makes the importance of this Chinese innovation clear by asking participants to evaluate trades...

Learn more about the history and five pillars of Islam with an extensive resource that focuses on the religion's connection to art. Focusing on calligraphy, textiles, and architecture, the packet illustrates the beauty of the artistic...

Here's a great resource for your curriculum library. The 240-page packet, organized into units by topics, includes sample lesson plans, links to primary and secondary source documents, worksheets, activities, and sample assessments.

Invite your learners to take a closer look at the art and mathematical function of dome buildings as designed by the ancient Romans. In the next segment of this attractive instructional activity set, your young historians will then learn...

What was the the Silk Road and how did it radically expand the scope of trade? What was the value of silk, and how did connections between merchants reshape lives in Africa and Eurasia? Find out by watching this historic episode!

Help your class members to visualize the extent and complexity of classical trade routes as they use this blank map to identify the Silk Road, Indian Ocean Trade Network, Mediterranean Sea Lanes, and Trans-Saharan Trade Routes.

Learners examine cultural diffusion. For this Silk Road lesson, students research primary sources to compare and contrast the religious beliefs encountered and shared by those who traded along the Silk Road route.

The fifth in a series of six lessons focusing on Afghan history and art Here's the amazing story of the Tahilwidar, or Key Holder Tradition in Afghanistan. Class groups are assigned roles and then act out the process, developed to keep...

BCE and CE? Class members create a timeline of key events in the history of Afghanistan before and after the Christian Era using the provided list. They then add their own birth dates and events in American history as well.

Students determine how the geographic features of the Silk Road trade route contributed to the economic development and diffusion of culture in both Eastern and Western Civilizations.

Imagine traveling the Silk Road. Would you go by land or by sea? After adding mountain ranges, deserts, and cities to a topographic map of the area between Antioch, Turkey and Xi'an, China, class members brainstorm the pros and cons of...

What would you save? To launch an examination of how the people of Afghanistan protected precious works of art from Soviet and Taliban invaders, participants consider what they would save if invasion was threatened. They then view a...

Ninth graders examine the goods and culture that was traded along the Silk Road.  In this World History lesson, 9th graders compare and contrast the belief systems of the Silk Roads.  Students analyze a primary text of sacred and...

Students examine the religions that developed along the Silk Road. In this compare and contrast instructional activity, students visit various stations within the classroom to learn about the Silk Road and the two religions that...

Students travel the Silk Road. For this world history lesson, students explore the exports, imports, and ideas that traveled along the Silk Road and design a game that features the Silk Road.

Students explore the music of the Silk Road. In this Asian history lesson, students create a Powerpoint presentation featuring musical diffusion.

High schoolers examine how cultural ideas and thought were exchanged as travelers and traders of the Silk Road met, interacted, and traded with different peoples from different regions and cultures along the Silk Road.

Ninth graders examine the travels of the Silk road.  In this Ancient China lesson, 9th graders analyze slides of artifacts as cultural and social representations of the Silk Road civilizations.  Students create a word map and creative...

Ninth graders travel the Silk Road. In this China lesson, 9th graders collaborate to research the goods and ideas that traveled the Silk Road. Students create presentations about trading centers and trade routes.

Young scholars use various materials to build and play simple percussion based on a Silk Road design, and write step-by-step instructions for others about how to make and play instrument.

How do you bring water to your troops when a mountain is in the way? You blow up the mountain. Part one of this five-part series explores early feats of engineering that permitted Li Bin, of the Qin Dynasty, to begin unifying ChinaÕs...

Students investigate the concepts that are related to the Silk Road trading route. They conduct guided research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to use a shoebox and draw a map of the Silk Road upon it.