Massachusetts State Standards for Social Studies: Grade 7

MA.1. Ancient and Classical Civilizations in the Mediterranean to the Fall of the Roman Empire: Ideas that Shaped History: Seventh graders study the origins of human beings in Africa and the early civilizations that flourished in the Mediterranean area. They study the religions, governments, trade, philosophies, and art of these civilizations as well as the powerful ideas that arose in the ancient world and profoundly shaped the course of world history.

7.1. Concepts and Skills: History and Geography: Compare information shown on modern and historical maps of the same region. (G) 24
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.1.

7.2. Concepts and Skills: History and Geography: Use correctly the words or abbreviations for identifying time periods or dates in historical narratives (decade, age, era, century, millennium, AD/CE, BC/BCE, c., and circa). Identify in BC/BCE dates the higher number as indicating the older year (that is, 3000 BC/BCE is earlier than 2000 BC/BCE) (H) 26
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.2.

7.3. Concepts and Skills: History and Geography: Construct and interpret timelines of events and civilizations studied. (H) 25
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.3.

7.4. Concepts and Skills: History and Geography: Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and describe how each kind of source is used in interpreting history. (H) 28
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.4.

7.5. Concepts and Skills: History and Geography: Identify multiple causes and effects when explaining historical events. (H) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.5.

7.6. Concepts and Skills: History and Geography: Describe ways of interpreting archaeological evidence from societies leaving no written records. (H) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.6.

7.7. Concepts and Skills: Civics and Government: Define and use correctly words and terms relating to government such as city-state, dynasty, kingdom, empire, republic, separation of powers, civic duty, rule of law, and military. (C) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.7.

7.8. Concepts and Skills: Economics: Define and apply economic concepts learned in prekindergarten through grade 6: producers, consumers, goods, services, buyers, sellers, natural resources, taxes, specialization, savings, entrepreneur, prices, markets, scarcity, trade, barter, money, medium of exchange, supply, and demand. (E) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.8.

7.9. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Describe the great climatic and environmental changes that shaped the earth and eventually permitted the growth of human life. (H) 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.9.

7.10. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify sites in Africa where archaeologists have found evidence of the origins of modern human beings and describe what the archaeologists found. (G, H) 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.10.

7.11. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Describe the characteristics of the hunter-gatherer societies of the Paleolithic Age (their use of tools and fire, basic hunting weapons, beads and other jewelry). (H) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.11.

7.12. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Explain the importance of the invention of metallurgy and agriculture (the growing of crops and the domestication of animals). (H) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.12.

7.13. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Describe how the invention of agriculture related to settlement, population growth, and the emergence of civilization. (H) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.13.

7.14. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify the characteristics of civilizations (the presence of geographic boundaries and political institutions). (H, G, E) 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.14.

7.15. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify the characteristics of civilizations (an economy that produces food surpluses). (H, G, E) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.15.

7.16. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify the characteristics of civilizations (a concentration of population in distinct areas or cities). (H, G, E) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.16.

7.17. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify the characteristics of civilizations (the existence of social classes). (H, G, E) 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.17.

7.18. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify the characteristics of civilizations (developed systems of religion, learning, art, and architecture). (H, G, E) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.18.

7.19. Learning Standards: Human Origins in Africa through the Neolithic Age: Identify the characteristics of civilizations (a system of record keeping ). (H, G, E) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.19.

7.20. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: On a historical map, locate the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and identify Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria as successive civilizations and empires in this region, and explain why the region is sometimes called 'the Fertile Crescent.' On a modern map of western Asia, identify the modern countries in the region (Iraq, Iran, and Turkey). (H, G, E) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.20.

7.21. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: Identify polytheism (the belief that there are many gods) as the religious belief of the people in Mesopotamian civilizations. (H) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.21.

7.22. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: Describe how irrigation, metalsmithing, slavery, the domestication of animals, and inventions such as the wheel, the sail, and the plow contributed to the growth of Mesopotamian civilizations. (H, E) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.22.

7.23. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: Describe the important achievements of Mesopotamian civilization (its system of writing (and its importance in record keeping and tax collection)). (H, C, E) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.23.

7.24. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: Describe the important achievements of Mesopotamian civilization (monumental architecture (the ziggurat)). (H, C, E) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.24.

7.25. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: Describe the important achievements of Mesopotamian civilization (art (large relief sculpture, mosaics, and cylinder seals)). (H, C, E) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.25.

7.26. Learning Standards: Mesopotamia: Site of Several Ancient River Civilizations, c. 3500-1200 BC/BCE: Describe who Hammurabi was and explain the basic principle of justice in Hammurabi's Code ('an eye for an eye'). (H, C, E) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.26.

7.27. Learning Standards: Egypt: An Ancient River Civilization, c. 3000-1200 BC/BCE: On a historical map of the Mediterranean region, locate the Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Nile River and Delta, and the areas of ancient Nubia and Egypt. Identify the locations of ancient Upper and Lower Egypt and explain what the terms mean. On a modern map, identify the modern countries of Egypt and Sudan. (G) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.27.

7.28. Learning Standards: Egypt: An Ancient River Civilization, c. 3000-1200 BC/BCE: Describe the kinds of evidence that have been used by archaeologists and historians to draw conclusions about the social and economic characteristics of Ancient Nubia (the Kingdom of Kush) and their relationship to the social and economic characteristics of Ancient Egypt. (H, G) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.28.

7.29. Learning Standards: Egypt: An Ancient River Civilization, c. 3000-1200 BC/BCE: Describe the role of the pharaoh as god/king, the concept of dynasties, the importance of at least one Egyptian ruler, the relationship of pharaohs to peasants, and the role of slaves in ancient Egypt. (H, C) 12
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.29.

7.30. Learning Standards: Egypt: An Ancient River Civilization, c. 3000-1200 BC/BCE: Describe the polytheistic religion of ancient Egypt with respect to beliefs about death, the afterlife, mummification, and the roles of different deities. (H) 11
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.30.

7.31. Learning Standards: Egypt: An Ancient River Civilization, c. 3000-1200 BC/BCE: Summarize important achievements of Egyptian civilization (the agricultural system; the invention of a calendar; monumental architecture and art such as the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza; hieroglyphic writing; the invention of papyrus). (H) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.31.

7.32. Learning Standards: Phoenicia, c. 1000-300 BC/BCE: On a map of the ancient Mediterranean world, locate Greece, Asia Minor, Crete, Phoenicia, the Aegean, and the Red Sea. On a modern map, locate Greece, Crete, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria. (G) 22
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.32.

7.33. Learning Standards: Phoenicia, c. 1000-300 BC/BCE: Identify the Phoenicians as the successors to the Minoans in dominating maritime trade in the Mediterranean from c. 1000-300 BC/BCE. Describe how the Phoenician writing system was the first alphabet (with 22 symbols for consonants) and the precursor of the first complete alphabet developed by the ancient Greeks (with symbols representing both consonants and vowels). (H, E) 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.33.

7.34. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Israel, c. 2000 BC/BCE-70 AD/CE: On a historical map of the Mediterranean, locate Asia Minor, Greece and Mesopotamia, the kingdoms of the Hittites and ancient Israel, and Egypt. On a modern map, locate Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the area governed by the Palestinian Authority, Syria, and Turkey. (G) 22
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.34.

7.35. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Israel, c. 2000 BC/BCE-70 AD/CE: Identify the ancient Israelites, or Hebrews, and trace their migrations from Mesopotamia to the land called Canaan, and explain the role of Abraham and Moses in their history. (H, G) 13
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.35.

7.36. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Israel, c. 2000 BC/BCE-70 AD/CE: Describe the monotheistic religion of the Israelites (the belief that there is one God; the Ten Commandments; the emphasis on individual worth and personal responsibility; the belief that all people must adhere to the same moral obligations, whether ruler or ruled; the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as part of the history of early Israel). (H) 14
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.36.

7.37. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Israel, c. 2000 BC/BCE-70 AD/CE: Describe the unification of the tribes of Israel under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, including David's founding of Jerusalem as his capital city in 1000 BC/BCE and the building of the first temple by Solomon. (H) 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.37.

7.38. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Israel, c. 2000 BC/BCE-70 AD/CE: Explain the expulsion/dispersion of the Jews to other lands (referred to as the Diaspora) after the destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD/CE, and the renaming of the country by the Romans. (H) 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.38.

7.39. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: On a historical map of the Mediterranean area, locate Greece and trace the extent of its influence to 300 BC/BCE. On a modern map of the Mediterranean area, Europe, England, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, locate England, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and other countries in the Balkan peninsula, Crete, Egypt, India, the Middle East, Pakistan, and Turkey. (H, G) 22
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.39.

7.40. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Explain how the geographical location of ancient Athens and other city-states contributed to their role in maritime trade, their colonies in the Mediterranean, and the expansion of their cultural influence. (H, G, E) 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.40.

7.41. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Explain why the government of ancient Athens is considered the beginning of democracy and explain the democratic political concepts developed in ancient Greece (the 'polis' or city-state; civic participation and voting rights; legislative bodies; constitution writing; rule of law). (H, C) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.41.

7.42. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Compare and contrast life in Athens and Sparta. (H) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.42.

7.43. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Describe the status of women and the functions of slaves in ancient Athens. (H) 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.43.

7.44. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Analyze the causes, course, and consequences of the Persian Wars, including the origins of marathons. (H) 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.44.

7.45. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Analyze the causes, course, and consequences of the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta. (H) 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.45.

7.46. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Describe the rise of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture. (H) 8
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.46.

7.47. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Describe the myths and stories of classical Greece; give examples of Greek gods and goddesses, heroes, and events, and where and how we see their names used today. (H) 13
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.47.

7.48. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Explain why the city-states of Greece instituted a tradition of athletic competitions and describe the kinds of sports they featured. (H) 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.48.

7.49. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece, c. 800-300 BC/BCE: Describe the purposes and functions of the lyceum, the gymnasium, and the Library of Alexandria, and identify the major accomplishments of the ancient Greeks (Thales (science) ; Pythagoras and Euclid (mathematics); Hippocrates (medicine); Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle (philosophy); Herodotus, Thucydides, Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and Euripides (history, poetry, and drama); the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and the Temple of Apollo (architecture); the development of the first complete alphabet with symbols for consonants and vowels). (H) 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.49.

7.50. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: On a historical map, identify ancient Rome and trace the extent of the Roman Empire to 500 AD/CE. (H, G) 20
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.50.

7.51. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Explain how the geographical location of ancient Rome contributed to the shaping of Roman society and the expansion of its political power in the Mediterranean region and beyond. (H, G, E) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.51.

7.52. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Explain the rise of the Roman Republic and the role of mythical and historical figures in Roman history (Romulus and Remus; Hannibal and the Carthaginian Wars; Cicero; Julius Caesar and Augustus; Hadrian). (H) 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.52.

7.53. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Describe the government of the Roman Republic and its contribution to the development of democratic principles, including separation of powers, rule of law, representative government, and the notion of civic duty. (H, C) 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.53.

7.54. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Describe the influence of Julius Caesar and Augustus in Rome's transition from a republic to an empire and explain the reasons for the growth and long life of the Roman Empire (Military organization, tactics, and conquests; and decentralized administration; the purpose and functions of taxes; the promotion of economic growth through the use of a standard currency, road construction, and the protection of trade routes; the benefits of a Pax Romana). (H, E) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.54.

7.55. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Describe the characteristics of slavery under the Romans. (H) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.55.

7.56. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Describe the origins of Christianity and its central features (monotheism; the belief in Jesus as the Messiah and God's son who redeemed humans from sin; the concept of salvation; belief in the Old and New Testament; the lives and teachings of Jesus and Saint Paul; the relationship of early Christians to officials of the Roman Empire). (H) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.56.

7.57. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Explain how inner forces (including the rise of autonomous military powers, political corruption, and economic and political instability) and external forces (shrinking trade, attacks, and invasions) led to the disintegration of the Roman Empire. (H, E) 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.57.

7.58. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Describe the contribution of Roman civilization to law, literature, poetry, architecture, engineering, and technology (e.g., roads, bridges, arenas, baths, aqueducts, central heating, plumbing, and sanitation). (H) 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.58.

7.59. Learning Standards: The Roots of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome, c. 500 BC/BCE-500 AD/CE: Explain the spread and influence of the Roman alphabet and the Latin language, the use of Latin as the language of education for more than 1,000 years, and the role of Latin and Greek in scientific and academic vocabulary. (H) 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Social Studies State Standard 7.59.