Cooperation vs. conflict

Brainstorm

What do you think?

Let’s brainstorm ideas of cooperation and conflict.

Consider the following:

• How would you describe cooperation and conflict?
• What are some examples of cooperation and conflict?
• How do you know when people are cooperating?
• How do you know when there is conflict?

While brainstorming, create a mind map illustrating as many possible examples for cooperation and conflict. Consider connections you can make to yourself and the world around you.

Complete the Cooperation and Conflict Mind Map activity in your notebook, in the following fillable and printable document, or in a method of your choice.

Press the Cooperation and Conflict Mind Map button to access the Cooperation and Conflict Mind Map.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

Conflict

Throughout history, many societies have traded and formed partnerships. However, societies have also frequently found themselves unable to cooperate, which has resulted in conflict.

There are many reasons for conflict.

Press Examples to explore examples of conflict.

Example

As a result, societies have found many ways to protect their citizens. Often, they constructed fortresses, established a military, and engaged in warfare.

Press Let's Check! to explore a hint.

Hint

Structures

Let’s explore the following structures that were created to ensure the safety of civilians during times of conflict.

Press the following tabs to access and explore the many different structures that were designed to protect civilians.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is a medieval castle in England. It was built with stone in the eleventh century. It is located on a hill on the coast, with easy access to the sea. Its position on the hill was strategic because it allowed the inhabitants to see who was approaching in all directions and prepare their defenses.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is located in China. The most well-known sections of the wall were built during the Ming Dynasty between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries with earlier sections being built as early as the seventh century BCE. It was built with stone and served the purpose of protecting Chinese populations from the Mongolian populations. It is the longest wall in the world and is visible from space.

Mehrangarh Fort

The Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India began construction in 1459 by Rajput ruler, Rao Jodha. It is located on a hill overlooking plains and is walled with all structures being made from stone. Like Bamburgh Castle, its high position made for strategic defense from approaching military forces.

Indigenous Villages

First Nations villages could be walled or open. For example, the Haudenosaunee lived in longhouses which were built from saplings, thick bark from elm trees, and animal hide for door coverings. Longhouses were surrounded by wooden walled structures called palisades. These palisades protected the community, especially when engaging in battle.

First Nations from the Plains regions, such as the Cree, positioned their teepees (also spelled tipis) so that they could defend their village from conflict in the open plains. Teepees are tent-like structures constructed from wooden poles and covered with animal hides, such as bison hide.

On the west coast, some villages were fortified to protect trade routes, resources, and from outside threats. For example, the Gitwangak or Kitwanga, which means people of the Place of Rabbits, a Gitxsan village on the Skeena River was fortified to protect their clans from invasion. The original fort was built on a hill with a fence of spiked logs surrounding the homes. The logs could be released to roll down onto the invaders.

When possible, Indigenous communities selected locations that provided natural defences from the elements (weather) and allowed for protection during potential conflicts and from outside communities.

Exploring structures

Choose three of the structures you explored.

As you carefully examine each structure, think about its location, the materials used in its construction, and its design.

Complete the Exploring the Structures activity in your notebook, in the following fillable and printable document, or in a method of your choice.

Press the Exploring the Structures button to access the Exploring the Structures.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

Brainstorm

Let’s think!

In each of the structures and villages previously explored, describe what it is in the materials or design that provides protection.

Record your ideas in a notebook or a method of your choice.

Think of the strength of materials and the location of the buildings.

Mayan civilization

The Mayan society developed in 300 BCE in modern day southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. They formed a series of city-states, so each city was independent and ran its own economy and military. They were also known for their writing system and written language, architecture, and the invention of chocolate. Their city-states could form alliances, like joining forces with other city-states against a common threat, but this resulted in conflicts with one another from time to time.

Let’s explore!

Press the following tabs to access and explore the different features of Mayan Civilization as they relate to cooperation and conflict.

Military

Many of the Mayan cities had large, well-trained armies available for defence and ready to attack. The military faced many conflicts due to the land, water, and authorities.

Trade

• The Mayans had multiple trade routes over short, medium, and long distances.
• They often traded with Olmecs, Zapotecs, Aztecs, and those around their society.
• They traded many things, including cacao, salt, seashells, jade, cotton, ceramics, tools, granite, marble, limestone, wood, and obsidian.

Weapons

The Mayans had many weapons like the bow and arrow, blow gun, slings, throwing spears, and war clubs.

City design

Some of the Mayan cities had protective walls, with water surrounding the city, also known as moats. The main centres of each town were temple pyramids. Pyramids also served as military fortresses in times of conflict. These pyramids were enormous with flat tops and had several platforms with many steps. They had ramps and intricate hallways or passageways.

La Cuernavilla was known for its incredible defence system in the Mayan civilization.

Pyramid materials

The Mayans used limestone, sandstone, and volcanic tuff to build the pyramids. The blocks were cut using only stone tools. The burnt lime cement was used to create a type of concrete, and they sometimes used mud as mortar.

Cooperation

The states within the Mayan empire formed alliances. An alliance is an agreement between two or more people to work together for shared benefits.

Conflict

The Aztecs were involved in conflict with some Mayan states, but never the whole Mayan civilization. The biggest conflicts were between Mayan city-states, as they often fought against each other.

Cooperation and conflict

After examining the information on Mayan civilization, think about the conflict and cooperation that occurred within the Mayan civilization and with other societies.

Consider:

• What were some reasons for conflict?
• What was the main reason for cooperation among Mayan states?
• How was the city designed for protection?
• What materials were used to help protect Mayan citizens?
• How could trade with other societies result in cooperation?
• How could trade with other societies cause conflict?

You may complete the Cooperation and Conflict activity in your notebook, in the following fillable and printable document, or in a method of your choice.

Press the Cooperation and Conflict button to access the Cooperation and Conflict.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

Learning check!

Match the images of protective structures to the society who built them

Designing a structure

Imagine you are the architect in charge of designing a structure or building meant to provide civilians with housing and protection during times of both peace and conflict.

1. Based on the structures you explored from a variety of societies, design or construct a fortress, temple, castle, wall, or other protective structure that you think would keep conflicts away from your area. This can be a 3D model, a diagram, a detailed description, or another method of your choice.

2. Next, label the features of your structure.

3. Finally, explain why you think it would be effective against conflict with others. Describe how you designed it and the features you included that would have offered protection and safety for those living within.

Record your ideas in a notebook or a method of your choice.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

I have an excellent understanding of the concepts   I have a very good understanding of the concepts   I have some understanding but need to review some more  my understanding of the concepts needs a lot more work

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ’Discover More’ to extend your skills.