WHAP: PERSIAEns Chart

The PERSIAEn Chart Graphic Organizer

The purpose of the PERSIAEn Chart is to provide a graphic organizer for your reading/lecture
information, both so you can
summarize
information
and
so that studying is easier (you have
an at-a-glance view of continuity and change over time and an at-a-glance comparative
view of any given civilizations/empires within multiple categories of information). While
completion of the chart is easy, its sometimes difficult to determine what information, or what
kind of information, should be noted on the chart. Use the guidelines specified below to help in
this endeavor.
Note 1
: Sometimes, we simply dont know enough information about a civilization for certain
categories. If your readings do not cover a category, or is very vague about that category, feel
free to write currently unknown in the appropriate box.
Note 2
: As you work on successive charts, you may find continuities in certain categories.
When that occurs, simply write continued from before or continuity in the appropriate box.

P
stands for Political System. For this category, you should note information such as:

(1) the
FORM
of political system that civilization/empire had (
e.g.
, monarchy,
theocracy, democracy, tyranny, etc.),
NOT
the office (
e.g.
, king, emperor, etc.);
(2) important political leaders from that civilization/empire (as noted in the text/
lecture); and
(3) important political/military events (such as wars); and
(4) known legal codes.

E
stands for Economic System. For this category, you should note:

(1) the
type(s)
of economic exchange(s) that civilization/empire had (
e.g.,
agriculture,
trade/commerce, etc.); and
(2) important and/or unique products they produced/exported.

R
stands for Religious Beliefs & Institutions. For this category, note down information like:
(1) the type of belief system that civilization/empire had (
e.g.
, polytheism,
monotheism, dualist [two major/competing deities], etc.);
(2)
if applicable
, the NAME of their religion (
e.g.
, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.); and
(3) important religious texts (by title).

S
stands for Social Structure. For this category, you should note:

(1) whether that society is patriarchal, matriarchal, or some combination of the two;
(2) whether that society is stratified/hierarchical or not and if known AND important,
the various levels/classes of hierarchy in that society (
e.g.,
slaves, peasants/free
agricultural workers, artisans, nobility/royalty, religious leaders, etc.); and

I
stands for Inventions & Innovations. For this category, note down information like:

(1) original inventions (including language) developed that civilization/empire;

(2) innovations to others inventions developed by individuals in that civilization/
empire; and
(3) the name(s) of important inventor(s), if known.

WHAP: PERSIAEns Chart

A
stands for Art & Literature. For this category about fine arts, you should note:

(1) the type of visual/auditory art created by individuals in that civilization/empire

(
e.g.
, pottery, metallurgy, sculpture, mosaics, music, etc.);
(2) if known, the type of literature composed by individuals in that civilization/empire
(
e.g.
, poetry, plays, novels, etc.);
(3) if known, the titles of important literary works; and
(4) if known, the names of important artists and literary figures.

En
stands for Environmental Manipulation. For this category about applied arts and
engineering, you should note:
(1) how the people of that civilization/empire manipulated their environment (
e.g.
,
they cleared forests; they built canals/dams/roads/bridges; they created ports; they
mined for metals/gems, etc.);
(2) what their grand architecture was made of (
e.g.
, they built stone stepped pyramids,
pyramids, ziggurats; they built stone temples/public spaces; they built wooden
temples/public spaces, etc.)
A sample entry for, say, early Neolithic societies might look like:
Category

early Neolithic societies

Political System

chiefs/shaman (continued from Paleolithic)

major cities: Jericho, Catal Huyuk

Economic System

agriculture, trade

Religious Beliefs
& Institutions

animism
early evidence of polytheism?

Social
Structure

egalitarian, but growing stratification

growing patriarchy

Inventions &
Innovations

pottery, the loom

building in stone

Art & Literature

sculpture, pottery, textiles

Environmental
Manipulation

semi-permanent and permanent buildings

clearing land for agriculture

The goal is to be
succinct
, but to include the MOST IMPORTANT evidence/examples for each
civilization/ empire, as noted in your readings. Youll find that, as with completing your terms
lists, completing your PERSIAEn Charts works best if you take the categories as a reading
guide and fill each chart in as you read.