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    Ancient Man by Hendrik Van Loon Ancient Man by Hendrik Van Loon    

Chapter 14: Damascus—the City of Trade

lesson image


The old cities of Egypt have disappeared from the face of the earth. Nineveh and Babylon are deserted mounds of dust and brick. The ancient temple of Jerusalem lies buried beneath the blackened ruins of its own glory.

One city alone has survived the ages.

It is called Damascus.

Within its four great gates and its strong walls, a busy people has followed its daily occupations for five thousand consecutive years. The "Street called Straight," which is the city's main artery of commerce, has seen the coming and going of one hundred and fifty generations.

Humbly, Damascus began its career as a fortified frontier town of the Amorites, those famous desert folk who had given birth to the great King Hammurapi. When the Amorites moved further eastward into the valley of Mesopotamia to found the Kingdom of Babylon, Damascus had been continued as a trading post with the wild Hittites who inhabited the mountains of Asia Minor.

In due course of time, the earliest inhabitants had been absorbed by another Semitic tribe, called the Aramaeans. The city itself, however, had not changed its character. It remained throughout these many changes an important center of commerce.

It was situated upon the main road from Egypt to Mesopotamia, and it was within a week's distance from the harbors on the Mediterranean. It produced no great generals and statesmen and no famous Kings. It did not conquer a single mile of neighboring territory. It traded with all the world and offered a safe home to the merchant and to the artisan. Incidentally, it bestowed its language upon the greater part of western Asia.

Commerce has always demanded quick and practical ways of communication between different nations. The elaborate system of nail-writing of the ancient Sumerians was too involved for the Aramaean business man. He invented a new alphabet which could be written much faster than the old wedge-shaped figures of Babylon.

The spoken language of the Aramaeans followed their business correspondence.

Aramaean became the English of the ancient world. In most parts of Mesopotamia, it was understood as readily as the native tongue. In some countries, it actually took the place of the old tribal dialect.

And when Christ preached to the multitudes, he did not use the ancient Jewish speech in which Moses had explained the Laws unto his fellow wanderers.

He spoke in Aramaean, the language of the merchant, which had become the language of the simple people of the old Mediterranean world.

    Ancient Man by Hendrik Van Loon Ancient Man by Hendrik Van Loon    

Chapter 14: Damascus—the City of Trade

Directions

Study the lesson for two weeks.

Over the two weeks:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Read the synopsis.
  • Review the vocabulary terms.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

The fourteenth chapter discusses the city of Damascus. Damascus was a city of trade that eluded the fighting that plagued Jerusalem. Damascus was the city of the Aramaic language, a simple, practical language used by traders. Aramaic was the English of the past, the language of the simple people of the old Mediterranean world.

Vocabulary

Glory: High renown or honor won by notable achievements.
Survive: A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing with foreign countries or supplying merchandise to a particular trade.
Artery: An important route in a system of roads, rivers, or railroad lines.
Commerce: The activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale.
Trade: The action of buying and selling goods and services.
Correspondence: Communication by exchanging letters with someone.
Dialect: A particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Chapter

  • After you listen to the chapter, narrate the chapter aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Map the Lesson

Zoom in to find locations related to the chapter.

  • Country of Syria
  • Country of Egypt
  • City of Damascus
  • City of Jerusalem
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • Euphrates River
  • Tigris River
  • Mesopotamia

Activity 3: Can You Find It?

Zoom in and find the following items in 'The Reception of the Ambassadors in Damascus, 1511.'

  • City of Damascus
  • Turbans
  • Male Deer
  • Female Deer
  • Monkey
  • Palm Tree
  • City Walls
  • City Gate

Activity 4: Study a Picture of Damascus Today

Compare and contrast the picture of Damascus today with the image of Damascus in 1511 from Activity 3.'

Activity 5: Copy a Variant of the Aramaic Alphabet.   

  • Click the crayon above. Complete page 42 of 'Second Grade World History Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing.'

Using a pen or pencil, copy each Aramaic letter onto paper.

Activity 6: Complete Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing   

  • Click the crayon above. Complete pages 43-44 of 'Second Grade World History Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing.'

Review

Question 1

Which ancient city in Syria was known for trade?
1 / 3

Answer 1

The ancient Syrian city of Damascus was known for trade.
1 / 3

Question 2

What language was spoken by merchants in Damascus?
2 / 3

Answer 2

The merchants in Damascus spoke Aramaic.
2 / 3

Question 3

Which language was the English of the ancient world?
3 / 3

Answer 3

Aramaic was the English of the ancient world.
3 / 3

  1. Which ancient city in Syria was known for trade? The ancient Syrian city of Damascus was known for trade.
  2. What language was spoken by merchants in Damascus? The merchants in Damascus spoke Aramaic.
  3. Which language was the English of the ancient world? Aramaic was the English of the ancient world.

References

  1. 'Aramaic alphabet.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

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