Geography Review

Climate Types Savanna Tropical rain forest Desert Taiga Steppe Mediterranean Humid continental Humid subtropical

Rainfall Influences farming Monsoon winds bring wet or dry conditions in India Lack of rain causes droughts and famine

Coastline Rough coastlines can provide harbors which assist economy Africa has a smooth coastline which has slowed development Land-locked nations have no coastline!

Rivers Need for water, irrigation, transportation Can flood causing crop failures and famine Can provide fertile soil particularly in deltas

Arable Land Land that can be used for farming Lack of arable land caused problems in food supply Terracing needed in mountain areas Rivers assist in providing arable land Irrigations systems may help

Resources Vital to a nation’s development Minerals, good farmland, people are resources Lack of resources can handicap a nation – Japan Africa has abundance, but lacks money and technology to develop them

Mountains Are often a barrier to trade Poor farmland Barrier to invasions Haven for Incas Separates people within a nation

Deserts Desertification – spread of deserts Barrier to trade and transportation Not good for farming Desertification – spread of deserts

Islands Often separate people of a nation such as Greece Can provide protection from invaders Can help in isolation Causes people to depend on sea for transportation, food

Islands

Bodies of Water Promote shipping and trading Assist in isolation Influences food supply Promote shipping and trading Promote shipping and trading

Seas of the World

Impact of Geography

Tigris-Euphrates

Middle East Location – “Crossroads of the World” Lack of water Major transportation routes – land and sea Strategic importance led to struggles for control Cultural diffusion occurred here – Crusades Lack of water Little farmland – fertile land is precious People settle near water – Nile, Tigris-Euphrates

Middle East Petroleum – most of world’s oil reserves here Provides high standard of living for nations with oil Struggle for control of area throughout modern history OPEC has used oil for political purposes

China

Yangtze River

China Rivers Mountains and deserts civilization began along Yangtse & Yellow, fertile soil caused floods and famines “China’s Sorrow” Mountains and deserts Led to isolation Limited industrial development of China

India - Physical

Indus Valley

Ganges

India Mountains Monsoons – seasonal winds and rain Himalayas blocked outside invaders Several mountain passes permitted invasions Aryans, Alexander the Great, Mughal invasions Monsoons – seasonal winds and rain Provide rain for crops and flooding Uneven rainfall causes droughts and famine Deccan Plateau – hot and dry, supports few people

Africa - Physical

Niger River

Africa Penetration of interior Smooth coastline, few natural harbors – isolation, little trade Rivers have rapids which stop travel Tropical rain forests are difficult to penetrate Sahara and other deserts difficult to travel Sahel – desertification has cause Sahara to grow due to population demands and overgrazing

Africa Abundance of natural resources – Europeans desired colonies here

Russia - Physical

Volga River

Russia and Eastern Europe Northern European plain Excellent for farming Invasion routes for Napoleon and Nazi Germany Rivers – transportation routes Danube – major artery for trade and commerce, irrigation, hydroelectric Volga – route from Baltic to Black Sea

Russia and Eastern Europe Climate Harsh climate has caused problems for invading armies Siberia – vast Asian wasteland except for minerals Warm-water Ports Has influenced Russian history from Peter the Great to modern times Resources Mineral resources abundant in Russia Vast forests provide lumber

Europe - Physical

Rhine River

Western Europe Location on Atlantic and Mediterranean Led to trade, fishing, exploration, colonization Britain protected by water – island nation Rivers provide transportation systems Rhine River, Seine, Thames Mountains have been obstacles Alps slowed down Hannibal Greek city-states isolated by mountains and water

Western Europe Great Britain Isolated from mainland Europe by English Channel Island nation promoted large navy and exploration Good ports along coasts Coal and iron provided England with resources for Industrial Revolution Rivers and streams provided sources of power and transportation

Japan - Physical

Japan Island nation Sea - offers food and trade opportunities Offers possibility of trade and cultural contacts Being an island also offers isolation from invaders Tokugawa Japan shut itself off for 200 years Sea - offers food and trade opportunities Mountains Little land usable for farming use of terracing to grow crops, Japan must import food Lack of natural resources – aggressive behavior

S. America - Physical

Amazon River

Latin America Amazon River Slavery Tropical rain forests provide rubber and hardwoods Slash and burn farming ruins the land – farming difficult Tropical rain forests have slowed development – barrier Slavery Geography made area suitable for plantations and slaves

Latin America Andes Mountains Pampas of Argentina Limits east/west travel Terracing needed for farming Pampas of Argentina Large grassland area Breadbasket – wheat and beef production