Geography Review Climate Types Savanna v Tropical rain

Geography Review

Climate Types Savanna v Tropical rain forest v Desert v Taiga v Steppe v Mediterranean v Humid continental v Humid subtropical v

Rainfall Influences farming v Monsoon winds bring wet or dry conditions in India v Lack of rain causes droughts and famine v

Coastline Rough coastlines can provide harbors which assist economy v Africa has a smooth coastline which has slowed development v Land-locked nations have no coastline! v

Rivers Need for water, irrigation, transportation v Can flood causing crop failures and famine v Can provide fertile soil particularly in deltas v

Arable Land that can be used for farming v Lack of arable land caused problems in food supply v Terracing needed in mountain areas v Rivers assist in providing arable land v Irrigations systems may help v

Resources Vital to a nation’s development v Minerals, good farmland, people are resources v Lack of resources can handicap a nation – Japan v Africa has abundance, but lacks money and technology to develop them v

Mountains Are often a barrier to trade v Poor farmland v Barrier to invasions v Haven for Incas v Separates people within a nation v

Deserts Barrier to trade and transportation v Not good for farming v v. Desertification – spread of deserts

Islands Often separate people of a nation such as Greece v Can provide protection from invaders v Can help in isolation v Causes people to depend on sea for transportation, food v

Islands

Bodies of Water Assist in isolation v Influences food supply v v. Promote shipping and trading

Seas of the World

Impact of Geography

Tigris-Euphrates

Middle East v Location – “Crossroads of the World” v Major transportation routes – land sea v Strategic importance led to struggles for control v Cultural diffusion occurred here – Crusades v Lack of water v Little farmland – fertile land is precious v People settle near water – Nile, Tigris-Euphrates

Middle East v Petroleum v Provides – most of world’s oil reserves here high standard of living for nations with oil v Struggle for control of area throughout modern history v OPEC has used oil for political purposes

China

Yangtze River

China v Rivers v civilization began along Yangtse & Yellow, fertile soil v caused floods and famines “China’s Sorrow” v Mountains v Led and deserts to isolation v Limited industrial development of China

India - Physical

Indus Valley

Ganges

India v Mountains v Himalayas blocked outside invaders v Several mountain passes permitted invasions v Aryans, Alexander the Great, Mughal invasions v Monsoons – seasonal winds and rain v Provide rain for crops and flooding v Uneven rainfall causes droughts and famine v Deccan Plateau – hot and dry, supports few people

Africa - Physical

Niger River

Africa v Penetration v Smooth of interior coastline, few natural harbors – isolation, little trade v Rivers have rapids which stop travel v Tropical rain forests are difficult to penetrate v Sahara and other deserts difficult to travel v Sahel – desertification has cause Sahara to grow due to population demands and overgrazing

Africa v Abundance of natural resources – Europeans desired colonies here

Russia - Physical

Volga River

Russia and Eastern Europe v Northern European plain v Excellent for farming v Invasion routes for Napoleon and Nazi Germany v Rivers – transportation routes v Danube – major artery for trade and commerce, irrigation, hydroelectric v Volga – route from Baltic to Black Sea

Russia and Eastern Europe v Climate v Harsh climate has caused problems for invading armies v Siberia – vast Asian wasteland except for minerals v Warm-water Ports v Has influenced Russian history from Peter the Great to modern times v Resources v Mineral resources abundant in Russia v Vast forests provide lumber

Europe - Physical

Rhine River

Western Europe v Location on Atlantic and Mediterranean v Led to trade, fishing, exploration, colonization v Britain protected by water – island nation v Rivers provide transportation systems v Rhine River, Seine, Thames v Mountains v Alps have been obstacles slowed down Hannibal v Greek city-states isolated by mountains and water

Western Europe v Great Britain v Isolated from mainland Europe by English Channel v Island nation promoted large navy and exploration v Good ports along coasts v Coal and iron provided England with resources for Industrial Revolution v Rivers and streams provided sources of power and transportation

Japan - Physical

Japan v Island nation Offers possibility of trade and cultural contacts v Being an island also offers isolation from invaders v Tokugawa Japan shut itself off for 200 years v Sea - offers food and trade opportunities v Mountains v Little land usable for farming v use of terracing to grow crops, Japan must import food v v Lack of natural resources – aggressive behavior

S. America - Physical

Amazon River

Latin America v Amazon River v Tropical rain forests provide rubber and hardwoods v Slash and burn farming ruins the land – farming difficult v Tropical rain forests have slowed development – barrier v Slavery v Geography slaves made area suitable for plantations and

Latin America v Andes Mountains v Limits east/west travel v Terracing needed for farming v Pampas v Large of Argentina grassland area v Breadbasket – wheat and beef production