The document provides guidance and materials for a classroom lesson on the Silk Road. It includes discussion questions, maps, vocabulary terms and definitions related to Islam and Hinduism. Students are assigned a project to create either a trading guide booklet or board game simulating trade along the Silk Road that incorporates key aspects of Islam and Hinduism. Scoring rubrics are provided to evaluate the projects.

1. Bellringer
1. The Silk Road connected which two continents?
2. Do an OPTIC on this map
Title:
World Religions

2. Discuss 2 conclusions with your partner
Title: World wide
religious
membership

3. The Silk Road, notes
Ancient system of trade routes connecting Europe with Asia, Africa and Java

4. Why does Wal-Mart care about religion?
(clues: Holidays, clothing, hours)
• Customers?
• Employees?

6. Islam
Vocabulary:
Muslim
Write sentence
Islamic
Write sentence
Mosque
Write sentence

7. Holy Symbols
Draw & label the symbol
for Christianity
Draw & label the symbol
for Judaism
Technically Islam does
not have an official
symbol
There also is no formal
church
The Crescent and Star is
commonly used

8. Founder
Mohammad (570– 632)
• Often called “The Prophet”
• Raised in Mecca by his uncle
to become a trader
• Received revelation from
angels in 610
• Holy book:
• Quran or Koran
• Picturing his face is against
cultural norms
Mohammad’s name in Arabic –
Why would calligraphy be an
important art form in Islam?
Allah in Arabic

9. Founder
Which person is Muhammad? How do you know?

13. The Silk Road
Ancient system of trade routes connecting Europe with Asia, Africa and Java
Closure: Explain to your
partner why Silk Road
traders needed to know
about other religions?

14. Silk Road project
• Choose either project to do:
• Alone or with the person next to you
• You are starting a trading business in The Byzantine
Empire (modern Turkey) in 1000. Create a 4-6 page
booklet explaining to your traders how they should
trade and what to expect from Muslim and Hindu
traders.
• OR
• Create a game we can play in class with 10 players that
would simulate trade on the Silk Road, must somehow
include the principles of Hinduism and Islam
Ohm – symbol of
Hinduism

15. 7 6 5 4 1
Appearance
Booklet written clearly and
free of obvious mistakes,
outlined color on cover,
one picture per page
Booklet written clearly and 1-2
mistakes, outlined color on
cover, one picture per page
Areas where
writing is
crossed out OR
3 + mistakes
missing
pictures
Students did
not try
Geography
/Trade
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
clearly labeled. Cities of
Constantinople, Mecca
(Makkah), Delhi, Ganges
River properly labeled.
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Map unclear or missing trade
routes. 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Maps are
missing or
difficult to
read
Vocabulary
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+
goods discussed, detailed
explanation of why trade
along Silk Road was
important to Europeans
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+ goods
discussed. Short explanation
of why trade along Silk
Road was important to
Europeans
import/export vocabulary or 4
goods missing. Unclear
explanation of why trade along
Silk Road was important to
Europeans
Vocabulary
missing OR
no
explanation
of importance
of trade
Hinduism
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Hindu, karma,
rebirth) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and vocabulary
(Hindu, karma, rebirth)
explained 1 mistake or
missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, gods, basic
beliefs and vocabulary (Hindu,
karma, rebirth) explained 2
mistakes or missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes
Hinduism
missing fro m
project
Islam
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained with 1
mistake or missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Muslim,
monotheism, Ramadan)
explained with 2 mistakes or
missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes Islam missing
from project
Silk Road Project
Names: __________________________ Score: ____/35

16. 7 6 5 4 1
Appearance
Booklet written clearly and
free of obvious mistakes,
outlined color on cover,
one picture per page
Booklet written clearly and 1-2
mistakes, outlined color on
cover, one picture per page
Areas where
writing is
crossed out OR
3 + mistakes
missing
pictures
Students did
not try
Geography
/Trade
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
clearly labeled. Cities of
Constantinople, Mecca
(Makkah), Delhi, Ganges
River properly labeled.
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Map unclear or missing trade
routes. 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Maps are
missing or
difficult to
read
Vocabulary
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+
goods discussed, detailed
explanation of why trade
along Silk Road was
important to Europeans
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+ goods
discussed. Short explanation
of why trade along Silk
Road was important to
Europeans
import/export vocabulary or 4
goods missing. Unclear
explanation of why trade along
Silk Road was important to
Europeans
Vocabulary
missing OR
no
explanation
of importance
of trade
Hinduism
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Hindu, karma,
rebirth) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and vocabulary
(Hindu, karma, rebirth)
explained 1 mistake or
missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, gods, basic
beliefs and vocabulary (Hindu,
karma, rebirth) explained 2
mistakes or missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes
Hinduism
missing fro m
project
Islam
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained with 1
mistake or missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Muslim,
monotheism, Ramadan)
explained with 2 mistakes or
missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes Islam missing
from project
Silk Road Project
Names: __________________________ Score: ____/35

17. 7 6 5 4 1
Appearance
Booklet written clearly and
free of obvious mistakes,
outlined color on cover,
one picture per page
Booklet written clearly and 1-2
mistakes, outlined color on
cover, one picture per page
Areas where
writing is
crossed out OR
3 + mistakes
missing
pictures
Students did
not try
Geography
/Trade
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
clearly labeled. Cities of
Constantinople, Mecca
(Makkah), Delhi, Ganges
River properly labeled.
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Map unclear or missing trade
routes. 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Maps are
missing or
difficult to
read
Vocabulary
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+
goods discussed, detailed
explanation of why trade
along Silk Road was
important to Europeans
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+ goods
discussed. Short explanation
of why trade along Silk
Road was important to
Europeans
import/export vocabulary or 4
goods missing. Unclear
explanation of why trade along
Silk Road was important to
Europeans
Vocabulary
missing OR
no
explanation
of importance
of trade
Hinduism
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Hindu, karma,
rebirth) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and vocabulary
(Hindu, karma, rebirth)
explained 1 mistake or
missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, gods, basic
beliefs and vocabulary (Hindu,
karma, rebirth) explained 2
mistakes or missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes
Hinduism
missing fro m
project
Islam
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained with 1
mistake or missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Muslim,
monotheism, Ramadan)
explained with 2 mistakes or
missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes Islam missing
from project
Silk Road Project
Names: __________________________ Score: ____/35

18. 7 6 5 4 1
Appearance
Booklet written clearly and
free of obvious mistakes,
outlined color on cover,
one picture per page
Booklet written clearly and 1-2
mistakes, outlined color on
cover, one picture per page
Areas where
writing is
crossed out OR
3 + mistakes
missing
pictures
Students did
not try
Geography
/Trade
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
clearly labeled. Cities of
Constantinople, Mecca
(Makkah), Delhi, Ganges
River properly labeled.
Map of trade routes clearly
drawn, 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Map unclear or missing trade
routes. 5 modern countries
missing or unclearly labeled.
Cities of Constantinople,
Mecca (Makkah), Delhi,
Ganges River in wrong
locations or unlabeled.
Maps are
missing or
difficult to
read
Vocabulary
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+
goods discussed, detailed
explanation of why trade
along Silk Road was
important to Europeans
Import/export vocabulary
used correctly and 4+ goods
discussed. Short explanation
of why trade along Silk
Road was important to
Europeans
import/export vocabulary or 4
goods missing. Unclear
explanation of why trade along
Silk Road was important to
Europeans
Vocabulary
missing OR
no
explanation
of importance
of trade
Hinduism
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Hindu, karma,
rebirth) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, gods,
basic beliefs and vocabulary
(Hindu, karma, rebirth)
explained 1 mistake or
missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, gods, basic
beliefs and vocabulary (Hindu,
karma, rebirth) explained 2
mistakes or missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes
Hinduism
missing fro m
project
Islam
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained
completely and correctly
Holy places, important
people, places, dates, basic
beliefs and vocabulary
(Muslim, monotheism,
Ramadan) explained with 1
mistake or missing
Holy places, important people,
places, dates, basic beliefs and
vocabulary (Muslim,
monotheism, Ramadan)
explained with 2 mistakes or
missing
Same as 3,
but 3+
mistakes Islam missing
from project
Silk Road Project
Names: __________________________ Score: ____/35

19. Bellringer
1. What is the name of a person who practices Islam?
2. What city was Islam founded in? (also the most important
city)
3. What country is that city in today? (page 41)
4. Why are good business people sensitive to different
cultures?

21. Bellringer
1. OPTIC on the two graphs on the
bottom of the slide
Source: Washington Post 2012

22. Silk Road project
• Choose either project to do:
• Alone or with the person next to you
• You are starting a trading business in The Byzantine
Empire (modern Turkey) in 1000. Create a 4-6 page
booklet explaining to your traders how they should
trade and what to expect from Muslim and Hindu
traders.
• OR
• Create a game we can play in class with 10 players that
would simulate trade on the Silk Road, must somehow
include the principles of Hinduism and Islam
Ohm – symbol of
Hinduism