Geography & Six Blind Men from India A short story illustrating why we study geography

The Blind Men and the Elephant It was six men of India To learning much inclined Who went to see an elephant (though all of them were blind) That each by observation Might satisfy his mind

The Blind Man & The Elephant The first approached the elephant And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side At once began to bawl, “God bless me! But the Elephant Is truly a brick wall!”

The Blind Man & The Elephant The second feeling of the tusk Cried, “Ho! What have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ‘tis very clear. This wonder of an elephant is actually a spear!”

The Blind Man & The Elephant The third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands Thus boldy up and spake: “I see,” guoth he, “the elephant, Is indeed a squirming snake!:

The Blind Man & The Elephant The fifth who chanced to touch the ear Said: “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most Deny the fact who can, The marvel of this elephant is that in fact it is a fan!”

The sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, The Blind Man & The Elephant The sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Then seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, I see, “guoth he, “the elephant Is very like a rope!”

The Blind Man & The Elephant And so these men of India Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong. Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

The Blind Man & The Elephant And so it is with Historians Who generally are mature. They memorize facts about history And think they have it for sure, But very like the blind men will miss what actually occurred If they don't see the place and time where the events concurred

Think About It The Blind Man & The Elephant What Relationship is there between the study of Geography & History and the Blind Man & The Elephant.” Explain your answer, and be prepared to defend your answer.

Unit I Introduction to US History Enduring Understanding: Geography and the story of mankind are interconnected Essential Questions 1. Where are the major political features including countries, regions, and states located that have impacted American History? 2. What are the major physical features including bodies of water, mountains, and plains?

DEFINITION OF GEOGRAPHY Geography is the study of everything on earth from rocks and rainfall to people and places.

Geography and the development of American History 1. Complete a Venn diagram identifying at least five unique or different features on the each set of maps representing knowledge of the world before 1492 and after 1492. 2. Identify at least five similarities between the two sets of maps. 3. When finished write a paragraph, providing three specific examples defending the following statement: “The knowledge gained from the 1300’s-1600’s, shaped the development of American and World History.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PTOLEMY. AD 200 SET 1 THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PTOLEMY. AD 200

THE ANGLO-SAXON MAP 900 SET 1

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO EDRISI. c. 1150 Arabic SET 1 THE WORLD ACCORDING TO EDRISI. c. 1150 Arabic

MAP OF 1492 SET 1

Waldessmuller World Map, SET 2 Waldessmuller World Map, Amerigo Vespucci AD 1507

Map of the World 1600 SET 2

World Map 2013

Write a paragraph, providing three specific examples defending the following statement: “The knowledge gained from the 1300’s-1600’s, shaped the development of American and World History.” "In the past," it began, "I have written to you in rather ample detail about my return from those new regions...and which can be called a new world, since our ancestors had no knowledge of them, and they are entirely new matter to those who hear about them. Indeed, it surpasses the opinion of our ancient authorities, since most of them assert that there is no continent south of the equator....[But] I have discovered a continent in those southern regions that is inhabited by more numerous peoples and animals than in our Europe, or Asia or Africa.“ Amerigo Vespucci

What are various ways we (you and others) use maps What are various ways we (you and others) use maps? How might you use them locally, nationally, internationally? How different would our lives be if we did not have access to accurate maps? Explain your answer. Be prepared to share your answer with others.

Why Geography? "A map says to you read me carefully, follow me closely, doubt me not... I am the earth in the palm of your hand"  Beryl Markham in West with the Night

US Geography Basics An Example….

Third largest country in the world. US Geography Basics Third largest country in the world.

Map of Contiguous United States Overlaid on the Moon -

One third the size of the continent of Africa. US Geography Basics One third the size of the continent of Africa.

US Geography Basics Half the size of Russia. Half the size of the continent of South America. 2 ½ times the size of Western Europe.

Economic Size of the US (GDP)

Visualizing Global Population Density

US Territories The United States currently administers 16 territories as insular areas: American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Minor Outlying Islands Bajo Nuevo Bank Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Islands Navassa Island Palmyra Atoll Serranilla Bank Wake Island

US Territories

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