Objective In our study of early human civilizations

Objective: In our study of early human civilizations, SWBAT apply historical thinking to determine why and where early civilizations emerged and expanded over time and the impact of the geography by examining maps and visuals, analyzing vocabulary, and by gathering details from media to draw conclusions. NCSCOS 6 H 1, GH 2

Setting the Stage: Map Challenge Using the blue atlas (pages 10 -11, 74 -75, 84) complete the following mapping activity. With every geographic feature you label on your map, consider how it would impact life there. . Neatly label the continent of Africa and the continents to the north and northeast of it. . Label the bodies of water that border Africa to the west and east. . Locate and label the Nile River and the body of water it flows into. . Locate and shade the Nile River valley. . Label the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. 7. Label the Great Rift Valley 8. Label the following on your map: Sahara Desert, Arabian Desert, Syrian Desert, Namib Desert, Nubian Desert and Libyan Desert

Geography Challenge Questions You must answer in complete sentences. Number your paper 1 -6 skipping lines. 1. Why do you think the area between and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers is called the “Fertile Crescent”? Why were settlements established in this area? 2. Why is the Great Rift Valley so important when studying prehistory? 3. Most of the land of North Africa and the Middle East is desert. How did this impact the settlement of early people? 4. Considering the physical features, why did early humans migrate eastward to the Fertile Crescent, rather than north to Europe? 5. The Fertile Crescent was made up of mostly grassy plains. While this area was good for farming, it lacked resources such as stone, wood, and metal. Why might these shortages have caused hardship for the people who lived there? 6. Why do you think Mesopotamia was often called the “cradle of civilizations”?