By the Rivers of Babylon
Throughout history, people have relied upon our natural resources for survival. The availability of water, food and other resources determined where people settled. The availability of these resources has also influenced how cultures have evolved over time. Many civilizations have endured for thousands of years, while others were unable to survive for so long. What are the reasons behind these declines? Did these civilizations use more resources than the environment was able to renew? Or were there other factors such as politics, war or a changing environment that caused the eventual decline? Use Project Learning Tree’s “By the Rivers of Babylon” to explore how an ancient civilization changed over time and explain possible causes for that change.
Enrichment Activities:
Students can research and discuss present-day issues related to our natural resources and land use.
Students can write an update on the land areas that were once home to great civilizations. For example, ancient Babylonia is now Iraq.
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Green, J. and M. Gordon. 2005. Why Should I Protect Nature? Barron’s Educational Series, Incoporated.
Green, J. and M. Gordon. 2005. Why Should I Save Water? Barron’s Educational Series, Incoporated.
Deedy, C.A. and L.L. Seeley. 1994. Agatha’s Feather Bed: Not Just Another Wild Goose Story. Peachtree Publishers.
Priceman, M. 2008. How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. Random House Childrens Books.
Berenstain, S. and J. Berenstain. 1991. The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore). Random House Children’s Books.
Hennessey, B.G. and L. Cravath. 2001. One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Grades 3-5
Pearson, A. 2007. Eyewitness Ancient Greece. DK Publishing, Inc.
Gruber, B. and J. Reinhard. National Geographic Investigates Ancient Inca: Archaeology Unlicks the Secrets of the Inca’s Past. National Geographic Society Childrens Books.
Apel, M.A. 2004. Land and Resources in Ancient Greece. Powerkids Press.
Gedacht, D. 2004. Land and Resources in Ancient Rome. Powerkids Press.
Kaplan, L.C. 2004. Land and Resources in Ancient Egypt. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Cherry, L. 2002. A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History. Harcourt Children’s Books.
Petersen, C. 2004. Conservation. Children’s Press (CT).
Petersen, C. 2004. Land Preservation. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Grades 6-8
Baquedano, E. and M. Zabe. 2005. Aztec, Inca and Maya (Eyewitness Books Series). D.K. Publishing, Inc.
Schomp, V. 2005. Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians (People of the Ancient World Series). Scholastic Library Publishing.
Roberts, P.C. 2003. Ancient Rome (Discoveries Series). Barnes & Noble.
Pearson, A. 2007. Eyewitness Ancient Greece. DK Publishing, Inc.
Adams, S. and K. Baxter. 2006. The Kingfisher Atlas of the Ancient World. Roaring Brook Press.
James, S. 2008. Ancient Rome. DK Publishing, Inc.
Hart, G. 2008. Eyewitness Ancient Egypt. DK Publishing, Inc.
Gruber, B. and J. Reinhard. National Geographic Investigates Ancient Inca: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of the Inca’s Past. National Geographic Society Childrens Books.
Stille, D.R. 2005. Natural Resources: Using and Protecting Earth’s Supplies. Capstone Press, Inc.
Morgan, S. 2009. Natural Resources. Black Rabbit Books.
Spilsbury, R. and L.A. Spilsbury. 2006. Earth’s Resources. Chelsea House Publishers.
Lindeen, C.K. 2007. Natural and Human-Made. Pebble Books.
Grades 9-12
Schomp, V. 2005. Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians (People of the Ancient World Series). Scholastic Library Publishing.
Larsen, C.E. Life and Land Use on the Bahrain Islands: The Geoarchaeology of an Ancient Society. University of Chicago Press.
Kliot, N. 2005. Water Resources and Conflict in the Middle East. Taylor & Francis, Inc.
Winters, A. 2006. Destruction of Earth’s Resources: The Need for Sustainable Development. Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated.
Parks, P. 2004. Global Resources. Cengage Gale.
Desonie, D. 2008. Geosphere: The Land and Its Uses. Facts on File, Incorporated.
