Contextualization

The study of ancient and contemporary cities is one of the most revealing ways to learn about the history of humanity. To understand the world we live in today, it is essential to go back step by step through the civilization and discover how a simple agglomeration of people developed over the centuries to transform itself into the modern world city.

To begin with, ancient cities were the centers of commerce, religion, administration, and socialization. They were planned and organized according to the needs and beliefs of the people of that time. Comparatively, contemporary cities are the engines of economic, political, and social development. Their structures are based on advanced technologies and are highly dynamic.

Cities are the mirror of civilization and reveal the evolution of human thought over time. The comparative study between ancient and contemporary cities can help us understand the complexity and diversity of urban life from its origins to the present day.

Throughout our history, cities have been built and collapsed, empires have been founded and fallen, but the human spirit of building, innovating, and adapting has never stopped. Cities are the reflection of this spirit, they contain within them all the marks of our past, all our victories and defeats, all our inventions and discoveries, all our struggles and conquests.

Cities are more than just places, they are stories in constant evolution. Each wall, each street, each building has a story to tell. Exploring these stories gives us a deeper understanding of who we are and where we come from.

The following trusted sources can be useful to deepen your knowledge on the subject:

• Book "The Ancient City and the Contemporary City" by Fustel de Coulanges.
• Documentary "Cities Hidden" available on Netflix.
• Articles available on the BBC History and National Geographic websites.
• Educational videos on the YouTube channel "Crash Course History".

Hands-on Activity

Title of Activity: "Recreating the History of Cities: From Antiquity to Modernity"

Project Objective:

This project aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore and understand the differences and similarities between ancient and modern cities. Through research and teamwork, students will recreate models of ancient and modern cities and finally present a detailed report on what they learned.

Detailed description of the project:

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people and each group will be responsible for creating two models: one representing an ancient city and the other a modern city. Each group will choose an ancient city (for example: Rome, Alexandria, Ur) and a modern city (for example: New York, Paris, Tokyo) to represent in their models.

Students will research the history, culture, religious practices, customs, technological advances, and social structure of that city during the defined period and reflect this in their models.

Required materials:

• Cardboard, colored paper, glue, scissors
• Modeling clay
• Paint and brushes
• Research materials (books, internet access)

Detailed step by step to carry out the activity:

1. Research and Planning (2 hours): In this step, students will research their chosen cities. They should investigate characteristics such as: the architectural style of the buildings, the street patterns, the main landmarks, the religious practices, the social customs, and the technological advances of that time. They will use this information to plan their models.

2. Building the Models (6 hours): In this phase, the groups will use the materials provided to create their models. They should be encouraged to be detailed and accurate in their representations.

3. Preparing the Report (2 hours): Each group will prepare a detailed report explaining what they learned about their cities, how they reflected this in their models, and the conclusions they reached. They will also need to list the sources they used for their research in the bibliography section.

After completing the project, students will present their models and reports to the class. This will allow them to share their learning with their classmates and receive feedback from the teacher and their peers.

Project Deliverables

The project deliverables consist of the two models and the written document. The written document should be submitted following the format of a report containing: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

• Introduction: Students should briefly describe their chosen cities, the relevance of studying these cities, and the relationship to the history of humanity.

• Development: In this section, students should describe in detail what they learned about their specific cities, the theoretical concepts involved, how they applied this knowledge in creating their models, the methodology used in the research and construction of the models, as well as any challenges encountered and how they were overcome.

• Conclusion: Students should conclude the report by summarizing the main points, explaining the learning achieved, and the conclusions drawn about ancient and modern cities.

• Bibliography: Students should indicate all the sources they used for the research, including books, web pages, videos, etc.

This hands-on activity, in addition to reinforcing the theoretical content, will also develop important skills such as teamwork, time management, critical thinking, and problem solving.