Download Geographic Characteristics

Day 3
– Geography determines the way in which
humans live, the adaptations they have
developed to survive, and the alterations to
the environment they have made to better
their existence.
– Identify one turning point and a change that
occurred from that event
Geographic Characteristics
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Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Lack of Natural Barriers
Unpredictable river flooding
Fertile soil/warm climate
Impact on Development
• Cultural diffusion due to
frequent invasions and
migrations of people
• Gods viewed as
unpredictable and harsh
• Farming could support
development of
civilizations
Geographic Characteristics
• Natural Barriers
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Nile River
Sahara Desert
Waterfalls to the South
Mediterranean Sea
• Predictable flooding
• Fertile soil/long growing
season
Impact on Development
• Natural barriers
protected Egypt from
invasion
• developed ethnocentric
view and unique
Egyptian culture
• Positive view of their
gods and afterlife
Geographic Characteristics
• Yellow and Yangtze River
• Unpredictable River
Flooding
• Natural Barriers
– Himalayas
– Gobi Desert
Impact on Development
• Natural barriers led to
isolation and limited
cultural diffusion
• Developed ethnocentric
view
• Viewed other cultures
as barbarians
• Thought China was the
Middle Kingdom
Geographic Characteristics
• Archipelago
• Irregular coastline
• Mountainous terrain
• Earthquakes,
Volcanoes, Tsunamis,
Typhoons
Impact on Development
• Good natural harbors
promoted seafaring and trade
• Most people lived close to the
coast
• Terrace Farming
• Feudal system because of
difficulty establishing central
authority
• Respect for forces in nature
led to Shinto religion
Geographic Characteristics
• Mountainous terrain
• Peninsula and many islands
• Irregular coastline
Impact on Development
• Scattered settlements
• Led to the development
of city-states
• Good harbors promoted
seafaring and trade
Geographic Characteristics
• Mountainous terrain
• Peninsula between China and
Japan
Impact on Development
• Served as a cultural
bridge between China
and Japan
• Frequently invaded
Geographic Characteristics
• West coast of South
America
• Andes Mountains
Impact on Development
• Used terrace farming
• Rope Bridges to cross
river valleys and 1,000
of miles of roads
Geographic Characteristics
• Peninsula in the
Mediterranean Sea
Impact on Development
• allowed Roman Empire to
dominate the
Mediterranean
• Italian city-states grew
wealthy from trade and
allowed for the start of
the Renaissance
1. Inca Terrace farming and Aztec
floating gardens are examples of:
A. The ability of civilizations to adapt to
their environment
B. Slash and burn farming techniques
C. Mesoamerican art forms symbolizing the
importance of agriculture
D. Colonial economic policies that harmed
Latin American civilizations
2. An important factor that prevented
the ancient Greek city-states from
uniting to form a single nation was
the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Lack of a common language
Size of desert regions
Mountainous topography of the region
Cold, hostile climate
3. What was one reason that some
Italian cities developed into major
trade and cultural centers during the
13th and 14th centuries:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Unified central government
Isolationist economic polices
Geographic location
System of social equality
4. Before the use of the Silk Road, how
did geography affect early China?
A. The mountains and deserts in western and
southwestern China slowed cultural diffusion
B. The northwestern region provided many
fertile areas suitable for farming
C. The 3 major river systems provided barriers
against invasion
D. The lack of deep water ports on the eastern
coast prevented China from developing
5. The geographic isolation of a society
most often leads to the:
A. Development of trade
B. Ethnocentric view and strengthening of
traditional culture
C. Promotion of cultural diffusion and cultural
diversity
D. growth of international alliances
6. How did the Inca adapt to their
physical environment?
A. They built large fishing fleets to feed their
populations
B. They built footbridges that connected their
roads across the Andes
C. They established extensive trade agreements
with Europe
D. They raised cattle and horses on the pampas