APEX Geography/World Cultures Grade 7 Learning Packet · terrain. As a result, human life in Africa...

SOCIALSTUDIESContemporaryGlobalStudies–Grade7

Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4

CHARLES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

APEX Geography/World Cultures

Grade 7 Learning Packet


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Student:__________________________________________School:_________________________________Teacher:___________________________________________Block/Period:___________________________

PacketDirectionsforStudentsStudentsshouldcompletethefollowingsectionsoftheAPEXGeographyandWorldCulturescourse.WEEK3-7.4LessonOverview:Diversity7.4.1Study:ADiverseContinent7.2.2Study:RulesforLivingTogether7.2.3QuizTakeaquiztoassessyourunderstandingofthematerial.WEEK4-5.1LessonOverview:TheWestEndofAsia5.1.1Study:DefiningEuropeandSouthwestAsia5.1.2Study:TheMediterranean5.1.3QuizTakeaquiztoassessyourunderstandingofthematerial.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4WEEK3 DiversityHumansareaverydiversegroup.Diversityispartofhumansuccess.Itisalsoasourceofhumantragedy.Bythispoint,you'veseenwhatrichdiversityourworldoffers.FromtheisolatedandsparselypopulatedislandsoftheSouthPacifictothemulticulturalanddenselypopulatedcitiesofEurope,thereisanastoundingvarietyofphysicallandscapesandhumancharacteristics.Diversityisoneofhumanity'sgreateststrengths.Humanshavesettlednearlyeverywhereintheworldandadaptedthemselvestoagreatvarietyofconditions.Diversityalsoraisesproblemsthathumanshavetosolveforthemselves.Thereareethnic,cultural,religious,andpoliticaltensionsthatarecreatedbydifferentbeliefsandwaysoflife,andthesetensionssometimesbecomeviolent.Conflictandcompetitioncanmakelifemoredifficultforhumans,makingitimperativethatwelearnhowtolivetogetheramidthegreatdiversitythatwedisplay.Inthislesson,you'llexplorethediversityofAfricaandconsidersomeofthechallengingissuesthatdiverseregionsandnationsface.You'llfindoutwhydiversityleadstoconflictandseehowhumansattempttominimizetheviolencethatcanresult.Objectives• Describethevariousformsofhumandiversity.• ExplainthebasicelementsofAfricandiversity.• Analyzetherelationshipbetweendiversityandhumansociety. 7.4.1 Study A Diverse Continent Usethisstudyguidetotakenotesasyouworkthroughtheactivity.1.Whatisapartheid?2.WhathappenedinRwandain1994?3.MakeapiechartshowingwhatpercentofAfricansfollowChristianity,Islam,andnativeAfricanreligions.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&44.HowandwhenwasChristianitybroughttoAfrica?5.HowandwhenwasIslambroughttoAfrica?6.WhyistheethnicmakeupofmostAfricancountriesverydiverse?7.WhatistheIMF?WhatpoliciesdoestheIMFpromote?8.WhataresomereasonsfortheeconomicdiversityinAfrica?9.WhataresomesimilaritiesamongtheeconomiesofAfricannations?10.HowaretheeconomiesofSierraLeoneandTanzaniadifferent?11.DescribethegoalsoftheAfricanEconomicCommunity(AEC).12.WhataresomegeneralcharacteristicsofthepoliticalsystemsofAfrica?


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&413.HowhavethepoliticalboundariesimposedbyEuropeancolonizerspreventedstablepoliticalsystemsfromdevelopinginAfrica?14.Whatismeantby"minorityrights"?15.ListsomeoftheproblemsproducedbydiversityinAfrica.

7.4.1 Study ADiverseContinentInthisworld,there'sprobablynomorediverseregionthanAfrica.Itvariesgreatlyintypesofclimateandterrain.Asaresult,humanlifeinAfricadisplaysatremendousrangeofcultures,religions,andpoliticalandeconomicsystems.TheSaharaDesertisaphysicalboundary.Partsofitarealsoinhabitedbyhumanbeingswhohavesignificantreligious,political,andeconomicdifferencesfromoneanother.ThereareotherregionsinAfricathathaveproducedtheseriousdifferencesamongitspeople.Theworld'ssecond-largestcontinentismarkedbydramaticnaturalvariety.ThesenaturaldifferenceshavecombinedwiththemigrationsofpeoplesthroughoutthehistoryofAfricatoproduceanunparalleledlevelofdiversity.HundredsoflanguagesexistinAfrica,andthecontinent'sinhabitantspracticemanydifferentworldandlocalreligionsandengageinawiderangeofeconomicactivities.Insomecases,thisdiversityhasresultedinarichnessthatmakesAfricauniqueandalluring.Inothercases,ithasledtoeconomicandpoliticalproblemsthatAfricanscontinuetofacetothisday.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4EthnicandLinguisticDiversity

LikeEurope,Africaisacontinentofmanydifferentcultures,languages,andethnicities.Theethnicandlinguisticdiversityoccursnotjustbetweencountries,butwithinthemaswell.ThereareoveradozenofficiallanguagesinAfrica,andnearlyathirdofallAfricannationshavemorethanoneofficiallanguage.Additionally,theethnicmakeupofmostAfricancountriesisincrediblydiverse,combiningvariousnativetribeswitheachotherandwithpopulationsofEuropeancolonizersandimmigrantsfromSouthandSouthwestAsia.Somenationsareextremelypolarizedintheirpopulationmakeup.Forexample,SouthAfricahasbeendividedamongitsblackpopulationof,predominantly,ZuluandXhosaorigins,itswhitepopulationofEuropeanorigin,anditsmixedracepopulationofAfrican,European,andAsianorigins.(InSouthAfrica,theselastarecalledCapeColoureds.)Untilveryrecently,asystemofracialsegregationknownasapartheidcreatedthislegal,political,andculturaldivision.Similarlydivisivedifferencesexistinall-blackcountriesaswell.InRwanda,thepopulationisdividedintotwodifferentethnicgroups,theTutsisandtheHutus.AprolongedcivilwarinthatcountryledtothegenocideofnearlyonemillionTutsisin1994.ReligiousDiversityAfricaisdividedbetweenIslamandChristianity,buttraditionalreligionsarealsoprevalent.Africaisthehometoawidevarietyofreligions,thoughthecontinentisdominatedbyIslamandChristianity.Estimatesvary,butnearlyhalfofallAfricansareChristian,about40percentareMuslim,andtherestareadherentsofAfricanreligions.Asthemaptotherightshows,AfricaisdividedintoIslamicandChristianregions,withAfricanreligionsstillsurvivingincertainheavilyChristianareasofsub-SaharanAfrica.ChristianitywasbroughttoAfricabyEuropeanmissionarieswhoenteredthecontinentduringcolonialtimes.ChristianmissionarieswereverysuccessfulinconvertingfollowersoftraditionalAfricanreligions,buttheyhadlittlesuccessconvertingtheMuslimsofNorthAfrica.ChristianmissionariesplayanimportantroleinthereligiousandculturallifeofmanyAfricannationstothisday.Missionariesareengagednotonlyinreligiousactivitiesbutalsoinprogramstoreducepovertyanddisease.IslamwasbroughttoAfricabytheArabMuslimswhoconqueredNorthAfricaduringthe7thand8thcenturies.IslamspreadthroughoutNorthAfricaasthevariousIslamicempiresextendedtheirinfluenceabovetheSahara.Inthe20thand21stcenturies,urbanizationandincreasesintradefueledbythegrowthofoil-richnationshasresultedinincreasingconversiontoIslam.Today,thegrowthrateofIslaminAfricaisabouttwicethatofChristianity.TheMuslimpopulationmaysoonbelargerthantheChristianpopulation.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4EconomicDiversity

TheeconomicsystemsofAfrica'sseveraldozencountriesdifferquiteabitaswell.Somecountriesareheavilyagriculturalwhileothersrelyonmininganddrilling.Afewcountries,suchasSouthAfricaandKenya,haveexperiencedsteadydevelopmentinrecentyears,butmanycountrieshavestoppedgrowingandhavemajoreconomicdisruptions.SomeofthedifferencesamongtheAfricaneconomiesarepoliticalandhistorical.Egypt,forexample,hasapartlySocialisteconomy,thanksinparttoitspastrelationshipwiththeSovietUnion.Manycountries,however,areorientedtothefreemarket,especiallywhentheyrelyonthefinancialsupportoftheInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF).TheIMFtypicallypushesthecountriesitloansmoneytointofree-marketpoliciessuchasfreetradeandprivatizationofindustry.CriticsoftheIMFcomplainthatitpromotesonlyfree-marketideasandcreatesexpensiveprojectsthathelpnationalelitesbutdonotrelievepoverty.SomenationslikeMalawihavebeenexperimentingwitheconomicpoliciesthatcombineagriculturalsubsidiesforseedandfertilizerwithmarket-basedeconomies—anapproachmuchliketheoneusedintheUnitedStatesandEuropeanUnion.LocationofNaturalResourcesAnotherreasonforAfrica'seconomicdiversityisthevarietyinnaturalresourcesindifferentpartsofthecontinent.Inthediamond,gold,andoil-richregions,mininganddrillingarecentraleconomicactivities.SierraLeonereliesontheminingindustryingeneral,anddiamondsinparticular.InthefertilepartsofAfricawhereagreatvarietyofcropsgrowextremelywell,agricultureismorecentral.InTanzania,theeconomyiscenteredaroundfarming,whichprovides80percentofthecountry'sjobsand85percentofthecountry'sexports.Evenwiththesedifferences,therearesomecommonalitiesamongAfricaneconomies:poverty,unemployment,andunderdevelopmentofindustry.EvenSouthAfrica,probablythemosteconomicallydevelopedAfricannation,hasa25percentunemploymentrate,and50percentofthepopulationlivesbelowthepovertyline.PoliticalDiversity

Whilemuchoftherestoftheworldhasdemocratizedoverthepasttwodecades,Africaisstillhometomanydictatorships,andmanyAfricancountriescontinuetobetornapartbycivilwarsthatkeepanypoliticalsystemfrombecomingfirmlyestablished.ManyAfricannationsaredemocraciesinname,butelectionsarenotalwaysfreeandfair.Inaddition,politicalparticipationisoftenlimitedtogroupsthatfavortherulinggovernment.Thesecountriespracticeundemocraticcensorship,limitationsonvotingrights,andjailingofoppositionpoliticians.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Africa'shistoryofcolonialismhasalottodowithitspresentpoliticalmakeup.Asyou'veseenalready,thenationalboundariesofAfricawerelargelydrawnupbyEuropeancolonizers,andtheseboundariestooklittlenoticeofthetraditionalterritorialdistributions.Thisresultedinsomepeoplebeingdividedandothersbeinglumpedintoartificialunities.Theprevalenceofcivilwarandlimiteddemocracytodayandthroughoutthepost-independenceperiodcanlargelybetracedtotheethnictensionsproducedbytheseEuropean-imposedboundaries.Economicfactorshavealsoresultedindifferentpoliticalsystems.ThestableandopendemocraciesofsouthernAfricahavetakenrootineconomicallyadvancingnationsthathaverichnaturalresources,solidindustrialdevelopment,andvigorousworldtrade.Themoreimpoverishednationstendtoproducepoliticalturmoilasthepopulationcompetesforaccesstowhatlittlewealthisproduced.ManagingDiversityJusticeisnormallypresentedasablindfigure.Thisisbecausejusticeissupposedtoignorewhomitisjudgingandinsteadfocusonthefactsandevidencebeforeit.Whilethisidealisnotalwaysachieved,itremainsanimportantlegalprinciple.Manysocietieshavediversity,butsomeofthemarebetteratmanagingitthanothers.Diversityusuallyleadstoconflictintwoways.Eithertwogroupsturndirectlytoviolencetoresolvetheirdisputes,oronegroupmayusethepowerofthegovernmenttoenforceitspreferences.Thefirstproblem—groupsturningdirectlytoviolence—cansometimesbepreventedifanationhasgoodsystemsforresolvingconflicts.Giventhechoice,wouldyouratherfightsomeoneonthestreetsorfightthemincourt?Ifyouhavesometrustthatalossincourtwon'thurtyoutoobadly,youwouldprobablypreferthesaferalternative.Agoodlegalsystemcanreduceconflict.Thesecondproblemissimilar.Theprincipleofmajorityrulesuggeststhatinademocraticnation,themajoritygroupshouldbeabletogetitswayonmostpolicies.Buttheprincipleofminorityrightsmeansthattherearesomepoliciesthatcannotbeenacted.BytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,nosingle,officialreligioncanbeimposeduponAmericans,who,likeAfricans,practiceawide-rangeoffaithsorevennoneatall.Thisisoneaspectoflimitedgovernment—bothmajorityandminorityrightsareusuallyprotectedbythelegalsystem.Inanauthoritariangovernment,thingsworkdifferently.Thegovernmentmayuseforcetorepressethnicconflict.Oritmaytakeadvantageoftheconflict,eitherbyplayinggroupsagainsteachotherorbyallyingitselfwithonegroupandrepressingallothers.Allinall,thebestwaytomanagediversityappearstobeastronglegalsystemwithaprocedureforprotectingtherightsofminoritygroups.



7.4.2StudyRulesforLivingTogether Usethisstudyguidetotakenotesasyouworkthroughtheactivity. 1. What is meant by a "homogenous society"? 2. What is genocide? 3. Describe Rwanda before Europeans colonized it. 4. What did Europeans decide when they colonized Rwanda? 5. Why is it often easier for a homogenous country to function well? 6. What kinds of disagreements arise in a multicultural society? 7. What is the "rule of law"?


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4 8. What happened in Somalia in 1991? 9. What have been the results of the rule of law breaking down in Somalia? 10. What are some examples of genocides and ethnic killings in the 20th century?



7.4.2Study RulesforLivingTogetherThecountryofRwandawasanancientkingdominAfricathathadahighlyorganizedpoliticalsystemandahomogenoussocietythatsharedacommonculture,religion,andlanguage.Themaindivisionamongthepeopleconcernedpoliticalpower.Thisbreakdownbecameanethnicdivision,withtherulingnobilityknownasTutsisandthepeasantsknownasHutus.Over80percentofthepeoplewereHutus,whowereruledbyasmallTutsiminority.WhenRwandawascolonizedbyEuropeans,thecolonizersacceptedthisethnicbreakdownandsupportedthepoliticalpoweroftheminorityTutsis.Followingindependence,however,themajorityHutusdominatedRwanda'spoliticalsystem,andtherewasfrequentandruthlessoppressionoftheTutsis.InApril1994,HutusbeganmassacringthousandsofTutsis,alongwithmoderateHutuswhosympathizedwiththepositionoftheminorityTutsis.ThisgenocidewaslargelycarriedoutbyregularRwandans,whowereorderedbygovernmentofficialstokilltheirTutsineighbors.ThosewhorefusedwereoftenkilledthemselvesasenemiesoftheHutumajority.Thishorrificincidentisoneofthegreattragediesofhumanhistory.TheDilemmaofDiverseSocietiesInmanyways,Rwandawasthesameasmanyhumansocieties.Considerabledifferencesexistedbetweengroupsofpeople,andthosedifferencescreatedtensionswithinsociety.Allhumansocietiesaremadeupofmanydifferentpeople,eachwiththeirownviewoftheworld,lifeplans,andinterests.Inorderforasocietytofunctionwell,citizensneedtorespectthesedifferencesandallowotherstogoabouttheirbusinesspeacefully.Thisisrelativelyeasytoaccomplishinaculturallyhomogenouscountry.Thedisagreementsthatnaturallyariseinanygroupofhumanbeingsareboundtobeprettysmallandeasilyresolvedbyresortingtosharedvaluesandcommonbeliefs.Butwhathappensinamulticulturalcountry?Incountrieswithadiversepopulation,peoplecanhavemajordisagreementsaboutsuchfundamentalthingsaswhatreligiousbeliefsarecorrect,whatculturalpracticesareacceptable,andhowpoliticalpowerandeconomicadvantagesshouldbedistributed.Indeeplydividedcountries,it'sespeciallyimportantforcitizenstorespecteachother'sdifferences.Otherwise,therights—eventhelives—ofpeopleintheseparategroupscanbeingravejeopardy.Thedilemmaofadiversesocietyishowtoassurethekindofrespectthat'snecessaryformaintainingpeaceamongitsopposinggroups.Withoutthisrespect,ethnicviolencecanbreakout,disruptingsocietyandleadingtounnecessarydeaths.TheRuleofLawAllsocietieshaverulesthathelpmaintainpeaceamongitsmembersandkeepthesocietyfromfallingapart.Someoftheserulesareinformalsocialrules,thoughmanyaremadeintolawsthatareenforcedbythegovernment.Evenwithgovernmentenforcement,thelawswillnotbeobeyedunlessmostmembersofsocietyacceptandrespectthelaws.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Inmulticulturalsocieties,theruleoflawisparticularlyimportant;ifpeopledon'tacceptandobeythelawsthatkeepsocietypeaceful,thenethnic,cultural,religious,andpoliticaldisagreementscaneasilyturnintoviolentclashes.Ifpeopledon'thaveawaytoresolvetheirdisputes,thenquarrelstendtogetworseandworseandendupinviolence.And,ifpeopledon'thavefaiththattheirrightswillbeprotected,theyareunlikelytocooperatewithlegalsystems.InSomalia,forexample,theruleoflawbrokedownwhenthepresidentwasforcedfrompowerin1991.Sincethen,therehasbeennearlyconstantethnicviolenceasopposingwarlords,backedbythearmedmilitiasthattheycontrol,havebattledforpowerthroughoutthecountry.AstateofpermanentcivilwarexistsinSomaliasuchthatthereisnolawatall,muchlesstheruleoflaw.Somaliaisconsideredafailedstatewherenooneissafefromviolenceandhatred.There'spracticallynosuchthingasaso-callednormallifeinSomalia.EthnicViolenceIt'sdifficultenoughfordifferentgroupsofpeopletogetalong,evenunderthebestofcircumstances.Fightingoverreligiousbeliefs,culturalpractices,politicalpower,oreconomicadvantagesoccursinnearlyallsocieties,yetinmostnations,opposinggroupsareabletomaintainarelativelypeacefulcoexistence.Butwhentheruleoflawbreaksdown,asithasinSomalia,normallifedisappears,andinstancesofsevereethnicviolencesuchastheRwandangenocidecanoccur.Whentherearenolegalrestraintsonviolence,hostilitytowardaminoritycanbesopowerfulthatonegroupofpeoplecanbegintokillmembersofanothermerelybecausetherearereligiousorethnicdifferencesbetweenthem.Governmentsthemselvescanalsocarryoutsystematickillingsinanattempttocreateamorehomogenouspopulationbyeliminatingminoritygroups.The20thcenturywitnessedanimmenseamountofethnicviolence.TheNaziexterminationofsixmillionJewsduringWorldWarIIisprobablythebest-knowngenocide,butthereareothermajorinstancesofethnicviolence.OveronemillionArmeniansdiedatthehandsoftheTurkishgovernmentin1915.MillionsofpeoplewerekilledintheSovietUnionduringthe1930sfromboththecollectivizationcrisisandStalin'spurgesoftheCommunistParty.Itwouldbenicetothinkthatthiskindofthingonlyhappenedinthepast,whenhumanswerelesscivilizedandrespectfulthantheyaretoday.Unfortunately,genocidesandethnicviolencearestillapartofthemodernworld.InadditiontotheRwandangenocideof1994,therewasaBosniangenocidefrom1992to1995,andtheongoingDarfurconflictthatcontinuestodayinSudan.PeacefulCoexistenceTheruleoflawisextremelyimportantformaintainingapeacefulsocietywhereallpeoplecanleadtheirliveswithoutfearofviolence.Ageneralobedienceofthelawsandwidespreadacceptanceoftheirlegitimacy,alongwithagovernment'sabilitytoenforcethemareallnecessarytokeeptheruleoflawfrombreakingdown.Whiletheconditionsneededtomaintaintheruleoflawmightseemcomplicated,thevastmajorityofcountriesintoday'sworldarewellgovernedandpeaceful.Still,it'sworthwhiletoconsiderwhyandhowthepeacefulcoexistenceofopposinggroupscansometimescometoaviolentend.It'sunlikelythatalloftheworld'sproblemswillbesolvedpeacefully,butthepossibilityalwaysexists.Despitedeepdivisions,humanshaveoftenfoundwaysofaccommodatingtheirowngreatdiversityandestablishingdecentrulesforlivingtogether.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&47.4.3QuizDiversityQuestion1of15WhatarethetwomostcommonreligionsinAfrica?A. ChristianityandIslamB. JudaismandChristianityC. IslamandBuddhismD. ChristianityandBuddhismQuestion2of15WhichdescribeshowChristianitycametoexistinAfrica?A. Arabsbroughtitinthe8thcentury.B. ChristianitystartedinAfrica.C. Europeansbroughtitwithinthelastfewhundredyears.D. SoutheastAsiansbroughtitinthe14thcentury.Question3of15WhichisgenerallyagoaltheIMFhaswhendealingwithAfricannations?A. PromotinggovernmentownershipofpropertyB. Promotingfree-tradepoliciesC. EliminatingAfricanexportsD. EstablishingtradetariffsQuestion4of15WhydoSierraLeoneandTanzaniahavedifferenteconomies?A. SierraLeonehasnoslaves.B. Theyhavedifferentnaturalresources.C. OnlyoneisaCommuniststate.D. Tanzaniadoesnothaveapartheid.

Question5of15WhichisagoaloftheAEC?(checkallthatapply)A. EstablishingacentralbankB. PromotingethnicparityC. CreatingacommoncurrencyD. CreatingtradebarriersQuestion6of15HowdidtheboundariesdrawnupbyEuropeancolonizersaffectAfrica?A. Theyledtocivilwars.B. Theydecreasedethnicdiversity.C. Theystabilizedmanypoliticalsystems.D. Theyestablishedasinglemarket.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Question7of15Whyareminorityrightsimportantindiverseregions?A. Diverseregionstendtohavelessminoritygroups.B. Ethnicgroupstendtobethemajority.C. Minorityrightsprotectmanyethnicgroups.D. Majoritygroupstendtolookoutforminorities.Question8of15Matchthetermwithitsdefinition

Term DefinitionA. Apartheid AsystemofracismB. Polarized Anattempttoeliminatean

ethnicgroupbymurderC. Genocide DividedintoopposinggroupsD. Homogenous Havingthesameorsimilar

characteristicsQuestion9of15WhichwastrueinRwandabeforeEuropeanscolonized?A. TutsisinstitutedapartheidwiththeHutus.B. Aminoritygroup,theTutsis,ruledovertheHutumajority.C. HutusbrutallyslaughteredTutsienemiesbythethousands.D. HutusandTutsissharedcontrolofthegovernmentequally.Question10of15Whichregionshavebeenthesitesofgenocideorattemptedgenocideinthelast30years?(checkallthatapply)A. BosniaB. RwandaC. TurkeyD. DarfurQuestion11of15WhichbestdescribestheeventsinSomaliainthelast20years?A. Theruleoflawwasfirmlyestablished.B. Warlordssignedapeaceagreement,unifyingthecountry.C. HutuscommittedgenocideagainsttheTutsis.D. Thegovernmentcompletelylostcontrolofitsterritory.Question12of15Whichbestdescribestheruleoflaw?A. TheideathatfailedstatesshouldhavenorulesorlawsB. TheideathatwhomeverwritesthelawsshouldruleC. TheideathattradeagreementsshouldbewrittenintolawD. Theideathatlawsshouldbegenerallyobeyedatalltimes


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Question13of15Whichwasaresultofapartheid?A. Theblackpopulationbecameaminority.B. Blacksgainedequalrightsunderthelaw.C. HutusandTutsisengagedinabrutalcivilwar.D. NelsonMandelawasjailedfor27years.Question14of15WhowasNelsonMandela?A. ThefounderoftheIMFB. TheMuslimleaderofAfricaC. AnopponentofapartheidD. TheleaderoftheTutsisQuestion15of15WhichistrueaboutAfrica?A. Africaisapredominately-Muslimcountry.B. Nationaleconomicpoliciesarethesamethroughoutthecountry.C. ThereisagreatdealofdiversitywithinAfricancountries.D. ApartheidisinplaceinmostAfricannations.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4WEEK45.1–TheWestEndofAsia

Thisisonewayofdividingtheworldintoregions.

Regionsplayacentralthemeinworldstudy.Rememberthatregionshavesomekindofunityintermsofterrain,climate,government,language,andsoon.That'saprettystraightforwarddefinition,butyou'veseenthatdefiningspecificregionscanbetricky.There'salotofroomfordifferentapproachesandinterpretationsoftheworld'sterritories.Theworldsimplyisn'tdividedintoneat,distinctregions.HumansimposeregionalnamesanddescriptionsontheEarth,drawinglinesthatyouwouldneverseeinapicturetakenfromspace.Thethingtokeepinmindisthattheseboundariesarealwaysanattempttodividetwoplacesthatareconnectedinmanyways.Whateveraregionmapmaylooklike,inreality,thelinesbetweenregionsarealwaysblurry.Inthefollowingpages,you'llgetanoverviewoftwocloselyrelatedregions,EuropeandSouthwestAsia.You'lldiscoverregionaldifferencesbutalsocloseconnections,especiallywithintheculturalmeltingpotoftheMediterraneansub-region.Becauseofalltheeconomic,cultural,religious,andpoliticaltrafficthatflowsbetweentheseregions,thethemeofmovementisveryimportant.Objectives• UsethefivethemesofgeographytodescribeEurope,CentralAsia,andSouthwestAsia.• ExplainwhyEuropeandSouthwestAsiashouldbestudiedtogether.• AnalyzethelocationandculturesoftheMediterraneanSea.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&45.1.1StudyDefiningEuropeandSouthwestAsiaUsethisstudyguidetotakenotesasyouworkthroughtheactivity.1.Filloutthetablebelowwithinformationrelatingtoeachofthefivethemesofgeographyfortheregioncovered.For"Location,"besuretoincludedescriptionsofbothabsoluteandrelativelocation.

Theme EuropeandSouthwestAsia

Location

Place

Sixsub-regionsofEurope

Twosub-regionsofSWAsia

Movement

Human-environmentalinteractions


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&42.Explaintheregiondefinitionsinthetablebelow.

Definition Example

Formal

Functional

Perceptual

3.WhyisitdifficulttoclassifyRussiaandTurkeyaseitherEuropeanorAsian?4.WhatarethelargestcountriesinEurope?5.WhatreligionsaremostprominentinEuropeandSouthwestAsia?6.WhatdocountriesintheEuropeanUnionshare?



5.1.1Study:DefiningEuropeandSouthwestAsia

Russiaisagiantanddiversecountry.ItspansfromthePacificOceanintheeasttotheBalticSeainthewest.Ithas11timezonesandatleast4distinctclimatezones.Russiaissomassivethatitisdifficulttogeneralizeaboutitsweather,nottomentionitsculture.Here'saquestion:WhatcontinentisRussiain?MostofitslandareaisclearlyinAsia.ButmostofitspopulationlivesinEuropeandthinksofitselfasEuropean.Sowhichisit,AsiaorEurope?Mostcontinentsareconnectedtoothercontinents,makingittrickytosayexactlywhereoneendsandtheotherbegins.Onlytwocontinents—AustraliaandAntarctica—arecompletelyseparatedfromeveryothercontinent.Andonceyoustarttalkingaboutregionsandcountries,thedifficultiesbecomeevengreater.That'swhytherearealwaysalternatewaysoflumpingcountriesintoregions.Learninggeographymeansdealingwithcontinents,countries,andregions.Decisionshavetobemade.It'salwaysagoodideatothinkaboutalternatewaysofdividingtheworldintoregions.Formal,Functional,andPerceptualRegionsGeographersusedifferenttypesofregionstodividetheworld.Aformalregionisonethatisbasedoncommonhumanorenvironmentalproperties,suchaspopulation,averagetemperature,orpoliticalboundaries.ThestateofColoradoisaformalregion,andtheGreatPlainsmakeupanother.Theseregionsreflectcold,hardfactsabouttheworld,thoughgeographerswhouseformalregionsarestillleftwithalotofchoicesaboutwhichfactstouse.Afunctionalregionisbasedonconnections.Theseregionsareorganizedaroundafocalpointandincludetheareaslinkedtothepointthroughpatternsoftrade,communication,ortransportationroutes.Forexample,theNewYorkCitymetropolitanareaisafunctionalregion.Functionalregionsallowgeographerstoexaminetheformsofinterdependenceamongdifferentpeoplesandareas.Aperceptualregionishighlysubjective.Theseregionsarebasedonattitudesaboutdifferentareasoftheworld.Perceptualregionsincludereferencestoaspecifictownorneighborhoodasaplacewhere"mostofthepeopleare..."followedbyaclass,ethnic,orprofessionaldescription(suchas,"That'swheretherichfolkslive,"or"Thatneighborhoodisfulloflawyers").SouthernCaliforniaisaperceptualregion.Geographerstendnottouseperceptualregionstodividetheworldbecausethey'rebasedonopinionratherthanfactandcanoftenbeverymisleading.TheLayoftheLandConsiderEurasia—theverylargelandmassthatdominatestheEasternHemisphere.Itiscommonlydividedintotwocontinents:EuropeandAsia.ThegreatestuncertaintyaboutwhatterritorytoputinwhatcontinentoccursinthecaseofEuropeandAsia.There'snoclearnaturalboundarybetweenthetwo,andthere'salargeamountofculturaloverlapwhereveryouthinkthesetwocontinentscometogether.Thatmakesittricky—evencontroversial—todecidehowtodividethetwocontinents.AndcountrieslikeRussiaandTurkeycouldeasilybeconsideredpartofbothEuropeandAsia.



Forthepurposesofthiscourse,RussiaandTurkeywillbeconsideredpartofEurope.EuroperunsfromtheAtlanticalongthenorthernshoreoftheMediterraneanSeatotheAnatolianpeninsulaandincludesRussia.SouthwestAsiaincludestheArabianPeninsula,theeasternpartoftheMiddleEast,theregionsthatusedtobeSovietCentralAsia,andAfghanistan.GeographersnormallybreakEurasiaintoseveralparts.ThiscoursedividesEurasiaintofourregions:Europe,SouthwestAsia,SouthAsia,andEastAsia.BecauseoftheclosetiesbetweenEuropeandSouthwestAsia,thosetworegionsarestudiedtogether.ABigArea

ThetworegionsofEuropeandSouthwestAsiacoveraverybigarea.Usingthefivethemesofgeographycanhelpinyourexaminationofthiscrossroadsoftheworld.



ARegionofDiversityandUnificationThesub-regionsofEuropeandSouthwestAsiavarygreatly.Forexample,Scandinaviacontainsthecoldersubarcticclimate,whilemostofIberiacontainsthewarmerMediterraneanclimate.Thelanguagesofthesesub-regionsarealsoverydifferent.InScandinavia,thedominantlanguageshaverootsinfar-offAsia.InIberia,thepeninsulaisdominatedbylanguagesderivedfromLatin.Therearemanyotherexamplesthatshowthedifferencesamongthesub-regionsofEuropeandSouthwestAsia,buttherearealsoforcesbringingtheseplacestogether.TheEuropeanUnionisapowerfulunifyingforcethathasbeenexpandingforthepast50years.IttiestogethercountriesasdistantanddistinctasEnglandandCyprus.ThenationsoftheEUhaveasharedeconomy,easymigrationbetweencountries,andasinglecommoncurrency.Together,theyformthemostpowerfuleconomicunitonEarth.



5.2.1Study:TheMediterranean1.Filloutthetablebelowwithinformationrelatingtoeachofthefivethemesofgeographyfortheregioncovered.

Theme TheMediterranean

Location

Place

PartsofwhatlargerregionsmakeuptheMediterranean?

Movement

Human-environmentalinteraction

2.WhywastheMediterraneanidealforthedevelopmentofsailingandnavigation?3.WhatdidtheSuezCanalaccomplish?4.DescribeMediterraneanarchitecture.Howisitconnectedtotheregion’sclimate?


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&45.FillintheprimaryreligiouscharacterofregionsaroundtheMediterraneanonthismap.

6.TheEuropeansideoftheMediterraneanwasinfluencedmostlybywhichcultures?7.ListatleastthreecommonalitiesthatexistaroundtheMediterraneanregion.8.Whyarereligion,governments,andeconomiessodifferentthroughouttheMediterraneanregion?



5.2.1 Study: The Mediterranean TheMediterraneanGotoaseafoodrestaurantintheProvenceregionofsouthernFrance,andyou'resuretonoticethebouillabaisse(pronouncedeitherboo-yuh-baseorbool-yuh-base).Thisfishandseafoodstewismadeofadozenorsokindsofseafood,avarietyofvegetables,andsomedistinctiveMediterraneanherbsandspices.It'sanamazinglydeliciouscombinationwitharichflavorandacentralplaceinthecuisineofsouthernFrance.IfyoulikebouillabaisseandyouhappentobeinPortugal,you'llhavetoordercaldeiradainstead,butyou'llfindittobeverysimilar.InItaly,youcanorderalmostthesamedishwithyetanothername:cioppino.SimilarfishandseafoodstewsareavailableallaroundtheMediterranean,fromLebanonintheeasttoMoroccointhewest.BouillabaisseanditsclosecousinshavespreadtotheentireregionbecauseoftheabundanceofseafoodavailablethroughouttheMediterraneanSea.Themanytradeandtransportationconnectionsmadepossiblebytheseaarealsoresponsible.Thisdishissymbolicoftheinterconnectednessoftheregionalcultures,resultingfromtheresourcesandtransportationroutesofthisvastsea.TheLayoftheLandandtheSeaThesimilaritiesamongMediterraneanculturesaren'tlimitedtocuisine.TheMediterraneanSealinkssuchdiverseplacesasEurope,SouthwestAsia,andNorthAfrica.Thesharedclimateandtheconnectionsthroughtradeandseatravelhavemadethisregionaculturalmeltingpot.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4AWater-CenteredRegionTheMediterraneanisoneoftheworld'swater-centeredregions.You'veseenbeforethathumanstendtosettlenearthewaterbecauseofthemanyadvantagesitprovides.AlthoughtheMediterraneanSeaisfilledwithsaltwaterthatcan'tbeusedfordrinkingorirrigation,itcanstillbeusedfortransportation.ThelongseacoastoftheMediterranean,combinedwithamildclimateandrelativelycalmseas,madethisregiontheperfectsettingforthedevelopmentofsailingandnavigation.TheMediterraneanwasoneofEarth'searliesttransportationroutes.AncientpeoplestraveledtheMediterraneanbysealookingfornewlandstosettleandotherpeoplestotradewith.Numerouspolitical,economic,andculturalconnectionswerecreatedasaresultofMediterraneanseatravel.Theprevalenceofwaterinthisregionledtoothercommonalitiesaswell.


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4MediterraneanArchitectureThe mild Mediterranean climate creates many similaritiesthroughouttheregion.TheMediterraneanisknownasaplacewhereaneasygoinglifestyleprevails.The climate has also had an influence on Mediterraneanarchitecture.Evenwithdifferent religious influencesandhistoricalexperiences, homes and buildings throughout the region havecertaincommonfeatures.Mediterranean architecture often includes open-air terraces andbalconies, large windows, pastel-colored decorations, and lushgardensandcourtyards.Architecture is not the only shared cultural element in theMediterranean region.Other commonalities canalsobe traced tomovementandculturalmixing.Forexample,theMuslimoccupationoftheIberianPeninsuladuringthe8thto15thcenturiesleftadeepimprintofNorthAfricanandMiddleEasterncultureonSpainandPortugal.DuringtheEuropeanRenaissance,thecity-statesofItalyconductedalotoftradewithNorthAfricaandtheeasternMediterranean.TwoShoresoftheSameSeaDespitethesimilaritiesincuisine,climate,andarchitecture,theculturesoftheMediterraneanregiondiffergreatlyinlanguage,religion,andhistory.TheEuropeanshoreoftheMediterraneanishometolanguagesthatderivefromancientGreekandLatin,whiletheAfricanshoreisdominatedbyArabiclanguages.Historically,theEuropeansideoftheregionwasmostheavilyinfluencedbyGreekandRomanculture,whiletheAfricansidewasdominatedbyArabandMuslimculture.Therewas,however,quiteabitofmixing;atonetime,boththeRomanandOttomanempirescontrolledlargetractsofterritoryonbothshores.Theseempiresleftalastingmarkontheregion.Inparticular,thereisadefinitereligiousdivide.TherearefourdistinctreligiousregionssurroundingtheMediterranean:

• ThewesternpartofsouthernEuropeismostlyCatholic.• TheeasternpartofsouthernEuropeismostlyOrthodoxChristian.• ThenortheasternpartoftheMediterraneananditssouthernshorealongNorthAfricaarebothmostly

Muslim.• TheveryeasternedgeoftheMediterraneanisthehomeofJudaismandareligiouslymixedarea.



5.1.3Quiz:TheWestEndofAsiaQuestion1of15Whichisaformalregion?A. ThestateofIllinoisB. TheChicagometropolitanareaC. ThetraderoutealongtheMississippiRiverD. ThehistoricneighborhoodsinBostonQuestion2of15WhatisthelargestcountryinEurope?A. KazakhstanB. RussiaC. MacedoniaD. England

Question3of15HowarecountriesintheEuropeanUnion(EU)linked?A. Theyhaveestablishedacommonreligion.B. Theyhaveasharedeconomy.C. Theyalloweasymigration.D. Theyhaveasinglesharedlanguage.Question4of15WhyisitdifficulttodeterminewhichcountriesbelongtoEuropeandwhichbelongtoSouthwestAsia?A. TheEuropeanUnionallowsalmostanycountrytojoin.B. PoliticalchangeshappeninEuropeveryfrequently.C. MostcountrieswanttobeassociatedwithSouthwestAsia.D. ThereisnonaturalphysicalboundarybetweenEuropeandSouthwestAsia.Question5of15WhichreligionswerefoundedinEuropeandSouthwestAsia?(checkallthatapply)A. ChristianityB. JudaismC. HinduismD. BuddhismQuestion6of15WhichdescribesEurasia?A. LocatedsouthoftheIndianOceanB. LocatedintheEasternHemisphereC. LocatedwestoftheAtlanticOceanD. LocatedintheSouthernHemisphere


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Question7of15WhichcontinentsformtheboundaryoftheMediterraneanSea?(checkallthatapply)A. AsiaB. EuropeC. AustraliaD. AfricaQuestion8of15WhichisamajorfeatureofMediterraneanarchitecture?A. LackofwindowsB. ExtensiveuseofgrayanddarkbrownC. HeavywoodendoorsD. Open-airbalconiesandterracesQuestion9of15Matchtheregionincolumnonewithitsreligiouscharacteristicincolumn2

Region CharacteristicA EasternpartofsouthernEurope

Catholic

B WesternpartofsouthernEurope

OrthodoxChristian

C NorthAfrica

Muslim

Question10of15WhichbestdescribestheMediterraneanclimate?A. DesertB. ExtremeC. ColdD. MildQuestion11of15WhatislinkedtogetherbytheSuezCanal?A. TheMediterraneanSeaandtheAtlanticOceanB. TheYangtzeRiverandtheIndianOceanC. TheIndianOceanandthePacificOceanD. TheMediterraneanSeaandtheIndianOcean

Question12of15WhichfeaturedoMediterraneancountrieshaveincommon?A. OfficialreligionB. FormofgovernmentC. ClimateD. Language


Packet2–(April20–May1)–Weeks3&4Question13of15HowdidtheMediterraneanclimateinfluencecultureintheregion?A. Itforcedpeopletoworkharder.B. Itpreventedseatravel.C. Itcreatedacommoncuisinethroughouttheregion.D. Itreducedthedependenceonagriculture.Question14of15Historically,theEuropeansideoftheMediterraneanwasmostlyinfluencedby:A. ArabandMuslimcultures.B. GreekandRomancultures.C. RomanandMuslimcultures.D. OttomanandArabcultures.Question15of15Whichinformationdoesageographeravoidusingwhendefiningregions?A. CulturaltiesB. OpinionsaboutregionsC. PoliticalboundariesD. Geographicfeatures

APEX Geography/World Cultures Grade 7 Learning Packet · terrain. As a result, human life in Africa...

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