Understanding Earth - InstructionsIntroductionTo understand the rise and fall of great kingdoms and empires, one must first start with the question of where did humans first settle on earth. More importantly, why did they choose to settle there? To answer these questions we must first look at the make up of planet earth. For the fates of mankind are tied to the layout of earth’s geographic features, climate patterns, flora (plants) and fauna (animals).

For this activity you will be using the attached reading along with the maps in a textbook or online to complete 3 Maps and a Chart.

InstructionsMap 1 - Geographic Features

Rivers-Mississippi! -Nile! -Amazon! -Mekong! -Niger! -Danube! -Yangzi -Congo! -Tigris! -Indus! ! -Yellow (Hueng Hi)! -Euphrates! -Ganges! -Darling

Mountains-Rocky ! -Alps/Alpine! ! -Himalayas ! ! -Appalachian ! ! -Ural - Andes

Deserts/*Other-Saharah ! -Nubia! ! -Kalahari! -Gobi ! -Sierra! -Great Sandy ! -Great Victoria-Thar (Great Indian)! ! -*Sahel

Map 2 - Domesticable Plants Read the following descriptions of each continent. In each description, it states which type of of domesticable plants are found where. Pay attention to what region the plants are found in and then place the appropriate letter on that region on the map.

Map 3 - Domesticable Large MammalsWhile reading the following description, it will state which domesticable large mammals are found in which regions. Color in the region according to the number found there (Hint: If a region is not mentioned, that means there are zero large domesticable mammals there).

ChartAs you are filling out your maps, take a moment an fill out the corresponding sections on the chart. Each region has a section on the chart. Any geographic features, plants or large mammals (LM) that appear in that region should be documented appropriately on the chart. Finally, once you have all of the data collected, think back to our key question: where did humans first settle on earth and why? Rate each region based on whether you there is a good chance of people settling there (high), ok chance (medium) or little chance (low/none). Then, rank the regions based upon how likely YOU think it would be for the first humans to settle there (1 being for where they will settle first to 15 where you think they will settle last).

Reading on Domesticable Plants & Large MammalsOn planet earth there are over 200,000 types of flowering plants. Of those 200,000, only a couple thousand are edible. Of those couple thousand edible flowering plants, only a couple hundred are domesticable. Today, only 12 plant types make up 80% of all the food consumed in the entire world.

Similarly, of the thousands of animals on the planet, large mammals have proved to be the most beneficial to humans. They provide transportation, hard labor, clothing material, milk, and eventually meat. There are 148 large mammals on the planet (large = over 100 pounds). Of those 148, only 14 have been domesticated.

It has been almost 2,000 years since a new type of plant or an large mammal has been successfully domesticated.

Thus, to understand human development, we must first determine where these domesticable plants and large mammals originally existed. Below are descriptions of each continent, discussing the the plant and animal life originally found there over 10,000 years ago. Use these descriptions to fill out the maps and charts. Pay attention to regions that the descriptions discuss.

The AmericasIn North America, the only native domesticable plants were found near the Mississippi River. These plants were a leafy spinach, a squash and 3 types of small cereal crops. In Central America, there were some pulses/beans and squash. In South America there were some root plants, like potatoes and manioc.

In all of the Americas there were 24 large mammals. Only one was domesticable. It was the llama and it was found in South America.

AfricaIn North Africa, the Sycamore Fig Tree and some root plants originate along the Nile River. In West Africa, there were some cereal crops (sorghum and African rice), root plants and fruit trees. In East Africa, there was only the coffee bean plants.

In all of Africa, there are 54 large mammals. Zero of them are domesticable.

Europe & Asia & AustraliaIn Europe and East Asia there were a cereal crops native to those areas. In South-West Asia, there were ten domesticable plants, including cereal crops, beans, potatoes, and leafy vegetables. In South-East Asia, they also had cereal crops, along with some pulses/beans, bananas and leafy vegetables.

In Central Asia and Eastern Europe there were wild horses and Camels. East Asia was home to pigs and two types of buffalo. Buffalo could also be found in South East Asia. In South West Asia, there were cows, pigs, sheep, goats and camels. Of 72 possible large mammals, Europe and Asia are home to 14 in total. Australia had one large mammal in the kangaroo and it is not domesticable.

Domesticable- Able to be tamed for human use- To control when it is planted or

birthed, how it is raised and when it is harvested/killed for the purpose of eating.