1. Homework Middle East Review Book Assignment due Wednesday. Outline on Belief Systems (essay 11 in the green packet) due Wednesday. Castle Learning #5 (sections 7 and 8 in the yellow packet) due Thursday at 11:59 pm. Extra credit thematic essay due Friday.

2. Task Discuss how this geographic feature influenced the development of a specific civilization or region. Discuss how this geographic feature promoted and/or limited the interaction of this civilization or region with another civilization or region.

3. Sample Thesis The geography in China played a huge role in the development of the country. The Himalayan mountains and the Gobi Desert provided misguided views of superiority while also providing the beneficial Silk Road, while the Huang He River helped to give China irrigation, trade and transportation.

4. Sample Thesis Japan’s mountainous terrain and surrounding bodies of water both promoted and limited Japan’s interactions with other civilizations such as China. Japan adapted writing and religion from China and found new ways of farming. These features also furthered the development of Japan in trade, cultural diffusion and agriculture.

5. For the second part of the task you had to talk about how the geographic feature made it possible for the civilization you are talking about to interact, or not interact, with ANOTHER SPECIFIC CIVILIZATION. Let’s say you chose the mountains of Greece as one of your geographic features: Not acceptable: The mountains in Greece isolated the Greek city-states from each other and from the rest of the world. Acceptable: The mountains in Greece isolated Athens and Sparta from each other, causing their societies to develop in completely different ways.

6. Not acceptable: Japan was an island, which allowed it to trade frequently with surrounding areas. Acceptable: Japan’s close proximity to China allowed the Japanese to gain their writing system and many of their religious and political ideas from China. Location of Japan

7. India Review Day #3: How did India become independent, and what challenges has it faced since 1947? May 27, 2016

8. I. Independence for India (1947) A.In 1947, Great Britain grants independence to India. Unfortunately, Hindus and Muslims in the country can’t agree on a government and fighting breaks out. B.Partition of India (1947): British officials drew up borders that turned India into two separate countries: India (for Hindus) and Pakistan (for Muslims). C.The partition set off mass migrations of Muslims fleeing India and Hindus fleeing Pakistan. Millions were killed crossing the borders. D.Gandhi tries to bring peace, but is assassinated by a Hindu extremist in 1948.

9. II. India Since 1947 A. Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s first Prime Minister (1947- 1964). He was followed by his daughter Indira Gandhi (1966-1984) and her son Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1991). B. India becomes the world’s largest parliamentary democracy (a system taken from the British) and has a growing economy, but it still has many problems: Traditional Hindu caste system and restrictions on the rights of women stand in the way of social equality. Rapid population growth = millions living in poverty Religious extremism: The Sikhs (religious group that combines Hindu and Muslim ideas) wanted their own state in Punjab during the 1980s. They assassinate Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. India and Pakistan compete over the territory of Kashmir (it is controlled by India, but has a mostly Muslim population). They fight wars over it in 1947-1948 and 1965. This could still lead to nuclear war today!

10. III. Green Revolution (1960s-Present) A.Use of advanced irrigation, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and genetically engineered seeds to increase food production B.The Green Revolution has been vital for developing countries like China and India with large populations to feed.