Themes of World History

World History Core

GEOGRAPHY

5 Themes of Geography:LOCATIONHUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL

INTERACTIONREGIONPLACEMOVEMENT

GEOGRAPHY: LOCATION

Where is a place??? Absolute: Latitude and Longitude

Ex. Maine 45*N, 70*W Relative: Describes location, where it

is in terms of other areasEx. South of Canada, West of the

Atlantic, and East of Vermont

MAINE

GEOGRAPHY: HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

How have humans adapted, modified, or depended on the environment.Adapt: heat homesModify: cut down trees for roadsDepend: water for drinking

GEOGRAPHY: REGION

Are there common characteristics?They can be physical: landforms and

climate or cultural: language and religion.

Physical: Maine is in the Northeast Cultural: Maine fishing and hunting

GEOGRAPHY: PLACE

What does the area look like?Physically and in human terms

Physical: landforms, soil, climate, and resourcesMaine: Sebago Lake, warm summers

and cold winters, blueberries, apples... Human: cultures that inhabit an area

Maine: French Canadian

GEOGRAPHY: MOVEMENT

How do items move from one place to another?People, goods, and ideas

People: planes, trains, cars, boat Goods: planes, trains, boat Ideas: newspaper, internet, phones

Geography Example

The ancient Chinese were protected by deserts, mountains, and seas which helped shield them from invaders.

INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

Since the earliest times humans have had to deal with their surrounding for survival.

Key Questions: How do humans adjust to the climate and

terrain where they live? How have changes in the natural world

forced people to change? What positive and negative changes have

people made to their environment?

Interaction with the Environment

The ancient Phoenicians collected sea shells from the Mediterranean Sea. The shells provided purple dye that was popular among Kings and Queens. The Phoenicians have been nicknamed “The Purple People.”

POWER AND AUTHORITY

History is made by people and institutions in power.

Key Questions:Who holds the power?How did that person or group get

power?What system of government provides

order in this society?

Power and Authority Example

Hammurabi, the Babylonian King, developed the first code of law to provide order in his empire. The phrase “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is associated with this code.

RELIGIOUS AND ETHNICAL SYSTEMS

Religion and Ethics is usually a guiding force in decision making throughout history.

Key Questions: What beliefs are held by a majority of people

in a region? How do these major religious beliefs differ

from one another? How do the various religious groups interact

with one another? How do religious groups react toward

nonmembers?

Religious and Ethical Systems Example

The ancient Indians from the Indus River Valley believed in animism, or the idea that all living things have a spirit.

CULTURAL INTERACTION

Today and in the past people have shared ideas ranging from music, food, and philosophies.

Key Questions: How have cultures interacted (trade,

migration, or conquest)? What items have cultures passed on to each

other? What political, economic, and religious ideas

have cultures shared? What positive and negative effects have

resulted from cultural interaction?

Cultural Interaction Example

The Romans were greatly influenced by the Greeks, even adopting similar religious and cultural beliefs.

ZEUS (Greek) JUPITER (Roman)

ECONOMICS

How we use our resources (some) scarce, to meet our needs as a society.

Key Questions: What goods and services does a society

produce? Who controls the wealth and resources of a

society? How does a society obtain more goods and

services?

Economics Example

Following the Crusades, many merchants used the trade routes to the Middle East resulting in an increase of European wealth.

EMPIRE BUILDING

Human desire to grow more powerful, often through domination.

Key Questions:What motivated groups to conquer

other lands and people?How does one society gain control of

others?How does a dominating society

control and rule its subjects?

Empire Building

Alexander the Great of Macedon ruled the land from Macedon to India. It was the largest empire the world had known at the time

REVOLUTION

Through history great change has been achieved by force.

Key Questions:What long-term ideas or institutions

are being overthrown?What caused people to make this

radical change?What are the results of the change?

Revolution Example

The Bolsheviks of the early 20th century overthrew the Czar of Russia changing the way the Russian people were governed.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The endless drive to know more about our world and to solve problems as they occur.

Key Questions: What tools and methods do people use to

solve the various problems they face? How do people gain knowledge about their

world? How do they use that knowledge? How do new discoveries and inventions

change the way people live?

Science and Technology Example

Johann Gutenberg Created the moveable

type 1450 Metal removable

pieces Durable and quick

way of making books Made books cheaper

and more available for the people