Why do cultures create governments? How do these systems differ across cultures and through time?

Points to consider:

• Consider social structure and other aspects of governing in addition to national or empire leadership.
• Consider how governments have helped or hindered the global exchange of ideas and goods.

Project Suggestions:

Consider and review what you have learned about the benefits of government as you have studied various cultures. Explore the relationship of governments on culture. Do you think that a culture could be successful without a government? Why or why not? Use evidence (and research) from different cultures and eras to answer this question. While researching the answer, keep the following things in mind:

• Would there be law? Are laws necessary?
• Would there be schools? Are schools necessary?
• Would there be an army? Is an army necessary?
• What other aspects of our country would be different without a government?

Select and research a type of government and discuss how it benefited or hindered the culture. Show how different cultures with the same government had similar experiences throughout history.

Types of Government: BBC website

• Monarchy - Ruled by a King or Queen.
• Republic - Ruled by leaders selected by the people.
• Democracy - Ruled by leaders selected by the people.
• Empire - Ruled by one person, the Emperor.
• Theocracy - Ruled by the religious leaders