GeographyGeography

Other Essay TopicsOther Essay Topics

How has a region’s geography How has a region’s geography shaped its history?shaped its history?

How has man adapted his How has man adapted his environment to shape his needs?environment to shape his needs?

Types of MapsTypes of Maps

Physical/Topographic

Political

Cartographic

Terms to KnowTerms to Know

Water: Oceans (Atlantic, Indian, Pacific), Seas Water: Oceans (Atlantic, Indian, Pacific), Seas (Mediterranean, Black, Red, Arabian), Rivers (Nile, (Mediterranean, Black, Red, Arabian), Rivers (Nile, Tigris/Euphrates, Indus, Yellow), StraitsTigris/Euphrates, Indus, Yellow), Straits

Land: Mountains (Himalayas, Alps) Plateaus Land: Mountains (Himalayas, Alps) Plateaus (Deccan) Deserts (Sahara, Lybian, Nubian, Gobi, (Deccan) Deserts (Sahara, Lybian, Nubian, Gobi, Arabian) Peninsulas (Italy, India, Saudi Arabia), Arabian) Peninsulas (Italy, India, Saudi Arabia), Archipelago (Greece, Japan)Archipelago (Greece, Japan)

Modifications – terraces (Yellow), roads (Silk, Modifications – terraces (Yellow), roads (Silk, Roman legions, Persians), walls (Great Wall, Roman legions, Persians), walls (Great Wall, Hadrian), irrigation (aqueducts), canals (Grand) Hadrian), irrigation (aqueducts), canals (Grand)

Which letter identifies the peninsula that is home to Mecca, the religious center of Islam?

(1) A (3) C(2) B (4) D

Where did Asoka erect the Sacred Pillars or his Edicts(1) A (3) C(2) B (4) D

A geographic similarity between Italy and India is that both of these countries are located

(1) on peninsulas(2) on archipelagos(3) between two oceans(4) south of the equator

EgyptEgypt

Key Terms for Essay on EgyptKey Terms for Essay on Egypt Deserts – “Red Lands” – Nubian, Libyan, Deserts – “Red Lands” – Nubian, Libyan,

and Saharaand Sahara Nile River – “Black Lands” surround w/silt; Nile River – “Black Lands” surround w/silt;

floods annually – need to build irrigation, floods annually – need to build irrigation, has cataracts (waterfalls), delta has cataracts (waterfalls), delta (tributaries protect)(tributaries protect)

Impact – protects, stability of dynasties, Impact – protects, stability of dynasties, need for strong central authority, culture need for strong central authority, culture based on Nile “Land of Living” vs. “Land of based on Nile “Land of Living” vs. “Land of Dead”, architecture of sandstone, papyrus Dead”, architecture of sandstone, papyrus for books; build Aswan High Dam (no oil); for books; build Aswan High Dam (no oil); Suez Canal built to capitalize on strategic Suez Canal built to capitalize on strategic location btw Mediterranean and Red seas.location btw Mediterranean and Red seas.

Which geographic feature had the Which geographic feature had the greatest influence on the greatest influence on the development of ancient development of ancient civilizations?civilizations?

1.1. Dense forestsDense forests2.2. Mountain passesMountain passes3.3. Smooth coastlinesSmooth coastlines4.4. River valleysRiver valleys

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Key Term for MesopotamiaKey Term for Mesopotamia

Fertile Crescent – two rivers: Tigris Fertile Crescent – two rivers: Tigris and Euphratesand Euphrates

Flood erratically – need to build dams Flood erratically – need to build dams and dykesand dykes

Easy to navigate rivers – lots of Easy to navigate rivers – lots of invasions (Akkadians, Babylonians, invasions (Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrian, Persians….), cultural Assyrian, Persians….), cultural diffusion, political instabilitydiffusion, political instability

ChinaChina

Key Terms for ChinaKey Terms for China

ETHNOCENTRISM – caused by geographic ETHNOCENTRISM – caused by geographic barriers – Gobi Desert, Tien Shen Mts., barriers – Gobi Desert, Tien Shen Mts., Himalayas, Pacific OceanHimalayas, Pacific Ocean

Rivers – Yellow (Huange-He) “River of Rivers – Yellow (Huange-He) “River of Sorrow” – heavy silt, cut deep into mts; Sorrow” – heavy silt, cut deep into mts; Yangtze – both rivers flow west to eastYangtze – both rivers flow west to east

Adaptations – Silk Road, Great Wall, Grand Adaptations – Silk Road, Great Wall, Grand Canal, terrace farming along YellowCanal, terrace farming along Yellow

IndiaIndia

Key Terms on IndiaKey Terms on India Sub-continent of AsiaSub-continent of Asia PeninsulaPeninsula MonsoonsMonsoons Indus River – navigable (similar to Tigris)Indus River – navigable (similar to Tigris) Hindu-Kush mts and Himalayas protect and Hindu-Kush mts and Himalayas protect and

isolateisolate Deccan plateau – center – inhospitable Deccan plateau – center – inhospitable Most live near Indus/Ganges (sacred to Most live near Indus/Ganges (sacred to

Hinduism)Hinduism) Lots of trade in Indian OceanLots of trade in Indian Ocean Railroad handy to unite large landmassRailroad handy to unite large landmass

In India, Bangladesh and much of In India, Bangladesh and much of Southeast Asia, agricultural Southeast Asia, agricultural productivity is most affected by theproductivity is most affected by the

1.1. Seasonal monsoonsSeasonal monsoons

2.2. Unnavigable riversUnnavigable rivers

3.3. Numerous desertsNumerous deserts

4.4. Cold climatesCold climates

GreeceGreece

Key Terms on GreeceKey Terms on Greece

ArchipelagoArchipelago Polis/Poleis will be divided by mountainsPolis/Poleis will be divided by mountains Great natural harbors for fishing and trade; Great natural harbors for fishing and trade;

strength of military is triremes for Athens strength of military is triremes for Athens not hoplitesnot hoplites

Few natural rivers/springs – need to import Few natural rivers/springs – need to import food – coloniesfood – colonies

Volcanic area – angry gods (land and sea – Volcanic area – angry gods (land and sea – Zeus/Poseidon)Zeus/Poseidon)

Rich volcanic soil good for olives and grapesRich volcanic soil good for olives and grapes

Which was one cause of the development Which was one cause of the development of many small independent city-states in of many small independent city-states in ancient Greece?ancient Greece?

1.1. Greece and Rome were often at WarGreece and Rome were often at War2.2. The mountainous terrain of Greece The mountainous terrain of Greece

resulted in widely scattered settlementsresulted in widely scattered settlements3.3. Military leaders found small Greek Military leaders found small Greek

settlements easy to controlsettlements easy to control4.4. The Greek people had many different The Greek people had many different

languages and religionslanguages and religions

Roman EmpireRoman Empire

Key Terms for Roman EmpireKey Terms for Roman Empire Italy is PeninsulaItaly is Peninsula Expanded over three continents Expanded over three continents

around Mediterranean Sea – several around Mediterranean Sea – several wars such as Punic (Carthage fighting wars such as Punic (Carthage fighting over Sicily)over Sicily)

So large – Roman legions need to So large – Roman legions need to build roads, aqueducts, bridges, wallsbuild roads, aqueducts, bridges, walls

Too large – Diocletian will divide, later Too large – Diocletian will divide, later easily invaded by Huns, etc.easily invaded by Huns, etc.

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

PeninsulaPeninsula Arabian Desert – will need camels to Arabian Desert – will need camels to

cross to oases (fleet of the desert), cross to oases (fleet of the desert), leads to Bedouin (nomadic) lifeleads to Bedouin (nomadic) life

Access to Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Access to Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf for trade – trade will be Persian Gulf for trade – trade will be key (Mecca located centrally on Red)key (Mecca located centrally on Red)

Intersection of 3 continents – Africa, Intersection of 3 continents – Africa, Asia, and EuropeAsia, and Europe

IMPACTS OF IMPACTS OF MOUNTAINSMOUNTAINS

DIVIDE PEOPLE DIVIDE PEOPLE – creates cultural – creates cultural diversity (Andes Mts for Incas, diversity (Andes Mts for Incas, Greece) even isolation (China)Greece) even isolation (China)

PROTECTS PEOPLEPROTECTS PEOPLE – Alps for Italy, – Alps for Italy, Himalayas for China and India, Andes Himalayas for China and India, Andes for Incafor Inca

DIFFICULT TO FARM DIFFICULT TO FARM – have to – have to introduce introduce terrace farming terrace farming – Japan, – Japan, Incan, Yellow River (China)Incan, Yellow River (China)

IMPACTS OF IMPACTS OF RIVERSRIVERS

UNITES PEOPLE UNITES PEOPLE – unifies cultures, – unifies cultures, ease of communication, increases ease of communication, increases tradetrade

HELPS FARMING HELPS FARMING – creates fertile soils – creates fertile soils (early river civs – Nile (Egypt), (early river civs – Nile (Egypt), Mesopotamia, Indus, and Yellow Mesopotamia, Indus, and Yellow (China), may need to build (China), may need to build dams/dykes/irrigationdams/dykes/irrigation

SACREDSACRED – Ganges (Hindus) – Ganges (Hindus)

IMPACTS OF IMPACTS OF DESERTSDESERTS

DIVIDES PEOPLE DIVIDES PEOPLE – hard to cross, – hard to cross, creates cultural diversity and creates cultural diversity and isolation (Sahara in Africa)isolation (Sahara in Africa)

LACK OF RESOURCES LACK OF RESOURCES – no food can – no food can cause famines, need for tradecause famines, need for trade

IMPACTS OF IMPACTS OF CLIMATECLIMATE

MONSOONSMONSOONS – India, China, Indonesia need – India, China, Indonesia need rains to make food grow – if drought – rains to make food grow – if drought – famine, if floods – famine (build houses on famine, if floods – famine (build houses on stilts to protect from floods) // monsoon stilts to protect from floods) // monsoon winds also help sailboats to travel Indian winds also help sailboats to travel Indian OceanOcean

COLDCOLD – Russian steppes frozen – Russian steppes frozen (permafrost) – can not farm, need special (permafrost) – can not farm, need special houses, need access to warm water portshouses, need access to warm water ports