1. Choosing a Location: Why there?

2. 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.

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

4. 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

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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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?

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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).

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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?

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

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

19. 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?

20. 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?

21. 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?

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

24. K J I H L F E

25. I

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