Choosing a Location: Why there?

The place you are about to investigate is a real place, at a real time in history. One of your goals is to try to figure out where in the world this is. We are keeping its identity secret, for now, in order to focus on a more important question.

Here is the big question: How do people decide where to locate a town at a particular moment in time?

how you are making a decision, what decision you are making In other words, you should think about how you are making a decision, not just what decision you are making

where you might choose to live. Here are a dozen places where you might choose to live. Which one would you choose?

Before we go any farther, maybe we should review what is meant by the concept of “location” and add a little bit of knowledge.

To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: The Conditions in a specific place, right there

To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: Cold Bears Iron ore To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: Low Hills The Conditions in a specific place, Sandy Trees Rainy

To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: The Conditions in a specific place, Can you name a kind of place condition that did not flash on the screen?

To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: Road Canal To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: Far from camp The Conditions in a specific place, Treaty Trade The Connections with other places Upstream

To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: Can you name any kind of connection that did not flash on the screen? To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: The Conditions in a specific place, The Connections with other places

Upstream from swamp Good well water Part of NATO Level land for house To make sure you understand the distinction, here is a quick review. When you click, a phrase will flash on the screen. Decide whether the phrase is a geographic condition or connection. Then click. Upstream from swamp Good well water Part of NATO Level land for house Close to town Fertile soil Geographic Condition Geographic Connection

No snow! (Is that good or bad?) Think Brazil, or Africa, China, India . . . Some place where people could get two or three crops in a single year. Most of the area, however, is much warmer than most of the U.S. This map shows a part of the world that is about two thirds as large as the United States (w/o Alaska).

Which place would you choose? Discuss, and choose up to three places. It’s in the middle. You can rule. It’s on a coast. You can fish. It’s by a bay, safe from wind. Which place would you choose? Discuss, and choose up to three places. Write down the main reason why you chose each place. Here are a dozen places where you might choose to live. That’s not much information, but there are some principles that are valid even when you don’t have much data, It’s on a peninsula, easier to defend.

Did you change your mind because of that new information? Where would you live now? Did you change your mind because of that new information? Some information about conditions: The yellow color shows areas that are sunny and hot all year. The green areas are cooler, especially in the rainy season.

only information about the location of some lakes? Where do you think What if you had only information about the location of some lakes? Where do you think a tribe of hunters and gatherers would choose to live?

Let’s connect this to some of the 5 Themes!

Physical Features The map now shows hills, mountains, and lakes. You are a hunter. Where would you choose to live?

Human Features/Agriculture People have learned how to plant seeds. The green areas are fertile soil, You are a farmer. Where would you choose to live?

Trade/Movement People have learned how to build boats. The blue lines are rivers, You are a trader. Which place would you choose as your base?

Urban Civilization The map now shows mountains and hills as well as rivers, lakes, and cropland. You are a powerful ruler. Where would you put your capital?

Human Characteristics Another powerful overseas people have divided your land into two countries. Where would you put the capital of each new country?

K J I H L F E

I

Looking at all of the information available, what conditions do you think are most important to consider when establishing a permanent settlement?