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Course: World History Project - Origins to the Present > Unit 3
Lesson 5: What is a State | 3.4READ: The Nobleman of Rao (Graphic Biography)
The objects buried alongside a wealthy man in Rao, West Africa, more than seven hundred years ago, can help us understand some of the effects hierarchies had on communities.
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:
- What was the Nobleman of Rao buried with? Which of these items led archaeologists to believe that he was a nobleman?
- According to the biography, what do the items found with the nobleman’s body tell us about trade in this region during his lifetime?
- How does the text of the biography suggest that there were both positive and negative sides to the development of hierarchy?
- How does the artwork depict a “bad” side of the development of hierarchy? How does the artwork depict a “good” side of the development of hierarchy?
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 evidence does this biography provide for how the development of complex societies changed communities during Era 3?
- How does this evidence support, extend, or challenge what you have learned about the development of complex societies?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading .
The Nobleman of Rao (Graphic Biography)
Writer: Trevor Getz
Artist: Peter Quach
The objects buried alongside a wealthy man in Rao, West Africa, more than seven hundred years ago, can help us understand some of the effects hierarchies had on communities.
Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.
Want to join the conversation?
Where did the states come from?(4 votes)
States were (Most likely) "naturally formed" in the sense that people needed leaders at certain points, and states gradually formed around that need, even beyond the immediate need for a leader.(1 vote)
- how does come to africa(3 votes)
- when did states like Egypt decline(1 vote)