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Big History Project

Course: Big History Project > Unit 7

Lesson 3: Ways of Knowing: Agriculture and Civilization | 7.2

READ: Taking Root - Ibn Bassal - Graphic Biography

Ibn Bassal was a scholar and expert botanist in Al-Andalus. He developed and spread techniques that transformed agriculture throughout Afro-Eurasia.

The Graphic Biography below uses “Three Close Reads”. If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: skimming for gist

This will be your quickest read. It should help you get the general idea of what the graphic biography will be about. Pay attention to the title, headings, images, and layout. Ask yourself: what is this graphic biography going to be about?

Second read: understanding content

For this reading, you should be looking for unfamiliar vocabulary words, the major claim and key supporting details, and analysis and evidence. You should also spend some time looking at the images and the way in which the page is designed.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

How did Ibn Bassal's pilgrimage to Mecca contribute to the development of agriculture in Al-Andalus?
Why was Ibn Bassal's book Diwan al-Filāḥa (Book of Agriculture) significant?
How did Ibn Bassal improve the efficiency of farming? What evidence can you see of those developments today?
According to the author, the Arab Green Revolution was perhaps the most important event in human production since the agricultural revolution. Why do you think the author makes that claim?
Looking at just the images and colors in the graphic biography, what ideas do you think the author could be conveying about agriculture during this time?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

In this read, you should use the graphic biography as evidence to support, extend, or challenge claims made in the course.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

What does Ibn Bassal's story tell you about the way agriculture expanded collective learning?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.

Taking Root: Ibn Bassal - Graphic Biography

Writer: Molly Sinnott Artist: Argha Manna

Ibn Bassal was a scholar and expert botanist in Al-Andalus. He developed and spread techniques that transformed agriculture throughout Afro-Eurasia.

Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.

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