Across the Atlantic

In the 15th century there were important civilisations and empires on both sides of the Atlantic.

In West Africa, the powerful kingdom of Benin.

In North Africa, the Muslim Empire of Songhay (or Songhai).

In Central America, the Aztec Empire.

In the South American Andes mountains, the Incas.

Your task is to find out about these four kingdoms. Visit the websites and find our about the way people lived, what they ate, how they dressed, their beliefs, their warfare...

Then choose two objects from each society. They could be buildings, weapons, jewellery, statues, pots, clothing.... They must be objects that represent the society and people they came from.

Copy each object onto a PowerPoint slide and write on the slide why you chose that object and what it teaches us about the society it came from. Add some relevant and interesting information that you have discovered.

Remember to save the Powerpoint as you go along... Call it 'Across the Atlantic' followed by your name.

LINKS:
Benin:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page86.shtml

http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/beninsp.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Benin http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlights_search_results.aspx?searchText=benin
Songhay:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songhai_Empire
http://www.history.com/classroom/unesco/timbuktu/goldenage.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page83.shtml

Aztecs:
http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/mexico.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sacrifice_in_Aztec_culture
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/everyday4.htm
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/aztecdr.htmlhttp://www.indians.org/welker/aztec.htm Incas:
http://coe.fgcu.edu/students/webb/meso/inca.htm
http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/myths/english/eng_inca_pantheon.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incas
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/inca/eg_inca_menu1.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/incan.html
http://www.42explore2.com/inca.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/5058/inca.htm

You will have 8 slides, two for each kingdom.