Geography
Main features of Africa
Deserts Sahara isolated the southern part of Africa from the north Separated people from one another leads to different cultures Sparsely populated
Isolated people Source of medicines Rainforest
Smooth coastline Protection from invasion Made trade and travel more difficult
Rivers with rapids and waterfalls Made trade and travel more difficult Made communication more difficult Isolated people
Savanna Better farmland area Many people live there
Natural Resources Source of wealth Reason for European imperialism
Main features of Latin America
Amazon River Allows trade and transportation easily navigable
Rainforest Poor soil= lack of farmland Source of medicines
Pampas and llanos Provide food for raising animals Many people live there
Near the equator Most people live in higher altitudes where it is cooler
Andes Mountains Separates people from one another Led to cultural diversity Prevented unification
Caribbean Islands Led to use of slaves on sugar plantations
Japan
Archipelago Island allowed it to keep its own culture and selectively borrow Barrier to invasion
Mountains Covers large part of island > little fertile land Terrace farming Most of population lives in coastal plains
Few Natural Resources Must import most natural resources Led to Japan s imperialism and militarism Must trade with other countries
Ring of Fire Religion of Shinto relates to many volcanoes, earthquakes, and tidal waves that Japan experiences People have a resilient nature
Irregular coastline Good seaports Good for trade Importance of fishing and shipbuilding
China
China was isolated from other civilizations Allowed China to develop an independent culture Promoted the idea of ethnocentrism
Mountains Protection from invasion Isolated from other parts of world Unified people within China Sparsely populated
Deserts Protection from invasion Isolated from other parts of the world Mineral resources Sparsely populated
Rivers and River Valleys Provides water for crops > fertile topsoil from flooding Good for trade Most people live there (Eastern China) Flooding can destroy crops, homes and people
Heavy Rainfall and Wet Climate Promotes the growth of rice as a staple crop > rapid population growth Need rain for crops
South Asia
Subcontinent Separated from the rest of Asia >development of its own culture
Mountains Himalaya Mountains to north separated people >developed its own cultures Hindu Kush Mountains Khyber Pass
Rivers Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra Sites of early civilizations Provided water from irrigation fertile land Most people live along rivers Ganges considered holy
Nearness to Middle East Invasions through Khyber Pass Spread of Islam
Monsoons Can bring needed rainfall or cause flooding Too little rainfall, crops may die
Southeast Asia
Monsoon climate Brings needed rainfall Can also cause flooding, property damage and death
Natural Resources Source of spices, teas, rice, palm oils and tropical woods Cause for imperialism
Location Provided the shortest trade route between the Pacific and Indian Oceans Has been deeply influenced by traders and merchants > cultural diffusion [especially Indian and Chinese]
Many Islands Allowed people to develop separate cultures > cultural diversity
Rivers Serve as water routes connecting people
Middle East
Connects Africa, Asia, and Europe Crossroads of trade and cultural diffusion
Deserts Little good farmland Difficult to travel People live nomadic lifestyle
Rivers Tigris and Euphrates Rivers birthplace of civilization Nile River site of ancient civilization Source of irrigation
Natural Resources (Oil) Source of wealth for region Has led to wars
Scarcity of water Competition for source of water may led to war Desalinization projects
Europe
Mountains Protection by creating defensible borders Development of separate nationalities with own languages and culture
Natural Resources Abundance of coal and iron ore made Industrial Revolution possible
Location Allowed Europeans to borrow from the cultures of all other regions [Africa, Middle East, Asia]
Coastline Provides many harbors Some European nations became great commercial and seafaring countries
Seas and Rivers Allows easy access across the continent Water to irrigate farmland Fishing is major occupation in some countries
Plains Great European Plain provides fertile farmland Made it easy for Poland to be invaded