On the show, Vikings, we will see how important it was for the Norse to willingly offer their lives to their gods. It was seen as an honorable act that would send the sacrificed to Valhalla to feast and drink with the gods. It was also a way of gaining favor with the gods. In one Norse tale a man, Domalde, sacrificed nine of his own sons to Odin in exchange for a longer life. Nine was an important number in Norse mythology as it was connected to the nine worlds they believed in.
It can be challenging to look upon these acts and understand their purpose. The Christians who saw these acts thought that it confirms the barbarism of the Pagans they sought to destroy, but you will be tasked to seeing human sacrifice a different way. Our modern and Christian based society biases our perspective when it comes to human sacrifice.
It will be your job to create a informative presentation on human sacrifice from the perspective of a culture of your choosing. When you present to the class not only will it be important to have accurate information but also to present without a negative bias towards human sacrifice. Present as though you were a member of that culture.
Cultures which have Practiced Human Sacrifice:
Ancient Egyptian
Mesopotamian
Greek or Roman
Celts
Ancient Chinese
Tibet
India
Ancient Hawaii
Mayan
Aztec
West Africans
Some Native American tribes (more research is needed)
Where to go to gather research:
Rubric
| Elements of the Project |
Points Possible |
Points Earned |
|
Accurate Information
- The presentation should provide information on human sacrifice that is accurate for the chosen culture. (If information comes from a legend or myth and therefore cannot be verified as a fact, students should recognize this in their presentation.)
- Use reputable sources and cite them so that they can be referenced by the teacher if need be.
|
25
|
|
|
Avoid Bias
- Recognize that other culture may be reporting on human sacrifice and therefore be projecting a negative tone.
- Keep your presentation factual rather than focus on the horror of human sacrifice.
|
15
|
|
|
Presentation format
- Visually interesting
- Clear presentation of information
- Unbiased
- Edited for grammatical errors
|
10
|
|
| Total |
50 |
|
Comments (10)
Nathan Lomas said
at 7:00 am on May 21, 2015
Mayans.
Clara Moyer said
at 7:00 am on May 21, 2015
Clara and Jozee - Celts
Gabe Davis said
at 7:01 am on May 21, 2015
Ancient Hawaii
Justin Mason said
at 7:01 am on May 21, 2015
Ancient Egyptian
Amber Whitehead said
at 7:02 am on May 21, 2015
Amber & Devyn: Roman
Jacob Cyphers said
at 7:03 am on May 21, 2015
Jake and Jason - Aztec
Sarah Cashion said
at 7:04 am on May 21, 2015
West Africans
Grace Anderson said
at 7:04 am on May 21, 2015
tibet
Courtney Rankin said
at 7:07 am on May 21, 2015
mesopotamian
Grace Evans said
at 7:14 am on May 21, 2015
Kat & Grace-Japan
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