Conditions and Connections © 2010 P Gersmehl, Michigan Geographic Alliance Geographic Conditions and Connections In this lesson, you will learn how to tell the difference between a geographic condition and a geographic connection (and why the difference is important).

The place you are about to investigate is a real place, at a real time in history.

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

You are looking for a place to built a fortified city some time after Columbus sailed to America. Here is a map of the area around your homeland. You do not have a cell phone ! The mapmaker followed the general rule in choosing colors: make the water blue and the land green (even though we know that all land is not green, and all water is not blue!) The map shows a small continent (about the size of Australia or Brazil) and a large island.

Which one would you vote for? Why? Your scouts suggest these four places as possible locations for your new city/fort. Which one would you vote for? Why? D C B A

Advantage ? Disadvantage ? Asking you to vote after looking at a simple map exposes the basic dilemma of a democracy: Advantage ? Disadvantage ?

Advantage: people cannot blame anyone else Asking you to vote after looking at a simple map exposes the basic dilemma of a democracy: Advantage: people cannot blame anyone else when they get what they voted for. Disadvantage ?:

Advantage: people cannot blame anyone else Asking you to vote after looking at a simple map exposes the basic dilemma of a democracy: Advantage: people cannot blame anyone else when they get what they voted for. Disadvantage: it takes time and effort to gain the knowledge needed to cast an informed vote.

D C B A Here is that map again, with your five choices on it. What else would you like to know? D C B A

Before we look at more maps, perhaps we should make sure that we all know what is meant by the concept of “location.”

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

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 Wind Far from camp To a geographer, the idea of location has two parts: The Conditions in a specific place, Trade Alliance Canal 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

D C B A Here is that simple map again, with the four suggested locations for your city/fort. D Is it easier to see geographic conditions or geographic connections on a simple map like this one? C B A

Would you still vote for the same place? B A

Would you still vote for the same place? B Let’s add three facts. Suppose “you” lived on some good land here. A

D C B A Would you still vote for the same place? US N Let’s add three facts. Suppose “you” lived on some good land here. A You have “neighbors” who live here. Their land is not so good. But in general, they are allies, not enemies. For many centuries, they have occasionally tried to steal or capture your resources.

Would you still vote for the same place? The people on the island could be a bigger problem. Their land is really bad, and they live by trading (and raiding). D C US B N A

of people thinking about geographic connections? Why is that location a good illustration of people thinking about geographic connections? To protect their homeland, the island people built a fort here. D C US B N A

Which location would you choose for your city/fort? What else would you like to know? D C Using that fort as a base, the island people have invaded “your” continent. US B N A

Which location would you choose for your city/fort? The map now shows major rivers. C US B N A

Which location would you choose for your city/fort? Green stripes show good cropland. C US B N A

Which location would you choose for your city/fort? We’ve added mountains to the map. C US B N A

D C B A Which location (A, B, C, or D) has the best conditions? Which location (A, B, C, or D) has the best connections? D C US B N A

As we said, this is a real place. Do you know where it is? D C US B N A

A B C D

Let’s use a few photos to make a summary. Vienna has been important since Roman times, because it has such a strategic location, where the Danube River (#1 in Europe) cuts through the mountains.

Here is a hint of the wealth that was concentrated in Vienna: the “summer cottage” of the Hapsburg rulers. 1443 rooms

Vienna remains a major political center. The United Nations has many offices in this group of modern buildings.

In this lesson, we learned how to save a lot of time and effort. If you know how to think about geographic conditions and connections, you can understand why: 1) Istanbul was an important city for thousands of years. 2) Venice was an important port in the era of sailing ships. 3) Poland was a great place to live, but a difficult place to defend. 4) Vienna was a key battleground in many different wars.