Download - Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales Unit 1 Lesson 9

Tools to Organize and Analyze Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scalesthe Past – Using Spatial Scales

Unit 1 Lesson 9Unit 1 Lesson 9

Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial ScalesTools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales

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THINK about the following problems:•What challenges do historians face in using maps created in the present time to study the past?•What challenges do historians face in using old maps to study the past?

DO NOT ANSWER YET. YOU WILL BE INVESTIGATING THESE QUESTIONS IN THE LESSON.

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HANDOUT & HAVE STUDENTS ANSWER HANDOUT & HAVE STUDENTS ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN WRITING:THE QUESTIONS IN WRITING:


REVIEW ANSWERS WITH THE CLASS:REVIEW ANSWERS WITH THE CLASS:

The idea of a “continent” is a man-made construct.The idea of a “continent” is a man-made construct.


Is Europe a continent? DiscussIs Europe a continent? Discuss

The definition of continent:A continuous mass or extent of land.•Does Europe fit this definition?•Given that Europe is only continuous if Asia is included, why is Europe commonly called a continent?•Why aren’t North and South America one continent?


This may have something to do with who writes This may have something to do with who writes history.history.Remember who is between the earth and its representation – a cartographer with all her knowledge, experiences, points of view, etc.

Discuss the factors that contribute to modern world maps (political, historical, and cultural).

See additional information in background reading entitled, “the Architecture of Continents:…”

Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial ScalesTools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales

See Supplements for MORE information

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Additional InformationAdditional Information• The original continental distinction was devised by ancient Greek

mariners, who gave the names Europe and Asia to the lands on either side of the waterways.

• They later added Africa to form a three-continent scheme.• They used to divide Asia and Africa along the Nile River.• In the early sixteenth century maps began to show the Americas as

a single continent. This idea remained common until World War II.• Since the early eighteenth century, one of the most problematic

issues for global geographers was how to categorize Southeast Asia, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific. (Oceania = Australia and New Zealand)

In this topography, the elevations of different physical features are highlighted in different colors. The darkest blue darkest blue represents the lowest points. The orange and red orange and red represent the highest points. In the past sea levels were much lower than today. The features in light blue light blue were actually once above sea level. The light blue light blue areas are also known as continental shelves.



What if I were to draw a line around the map areas, making all the light blue areas part of the existing continents?

Consider theConsider thefollowing following questions.:questions.:


1. According to this way of looking at the world, how many continents are there?

2. How might people have moved from Asia to the Americas?

3. Where else on the map does ice provide a connection to other land masses?

4. Could the Mediterranean Sea be considered a lake from this view? Why or why not? (LAKE: Inland body of water: a large body of water surrounded by land)

5. Think about modern political maps you have seen. How does this new map compare with those maps?

6. What reasons might historians have for thinking about the Earth in this way?


Dissect this word and identifyFamiliar word roots:

(Africa, Euro, and Asia)

This is a term that historians and geographers use to study large scale human activities that span the three continents: Africa, Europe, and Asia.

What human activities could take place in such a large area?

Examples: Migration, trade, foraging

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STUDENT RESPONSES:


REGION: A region is an area that is held together by common characteristics.•A region can be big (a continent) or smaller (the Great Lakes Region);•Or even smaller (metropolitan Detroit)The region is defined by the common characteristic(s) used to hold an area together.Historians studying issues such as migration, trade, and foraging might use a regional map such as the one entitled Afroeurasia.Why might this map be preferable to one of just Africa?The larger geographic container allows them to see movement in and out of a place and the location to where those people, things, and ideas are moving to and from.

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(Picture on next slide)

What types of things could you explore using a big geographic container of “The Americas” rather than just the United States?

DISCUSS


TURN & TALK:TURN & TALK:What types of thingscould you explore usinga big geographic container of “The Americas” ratherthan just the United States? DISCUSSDISCUSS

Remember that geographic containers historians and geographers use can limit or expand limit or expand their view of history or of the world.

Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales #7Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales #7In groups of three: DISCUSS and answer the questions on the handout.DISCUSS and answer the questions on the handout.

When finished -We will review this together in a class discussion


Display: Analyzing Historical MapsAnalyzing Historical Maps•The maps show the trade routes in Afroeurasia in the 1300-1400’s and the route of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague).

Investigate the mapsInvestigate the maps

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Answer the following questions in your SS Answer the following questions in your SS Notebook:Notebook:1.Compare the two maps and the patterns of movement shown on each. What do you notice?2.Looking at the two maps together, how do you think the Bubonic Plague spread?3.Looking at the maps, where might the Black Death have started?4.What might be one consequence of increased trade and increased human interactions?FIRST:FIRST: Turn & TalkNEXT: NEXT: Form geographic groups of 4 by combining pairs to share and check your answers. (Stay seatedStay seated)


CLASS DISCUSSION: CLASS DISCUSSION:


Consider this:•Using large regions like Afroeurasia can benefit our understanding of history.•Large spatial and temporal scales are often used together.•Historians look at maps of large geographic regions like Afroeurasia in order to identify patterns in human activity over large periods of time over great expanses of land.•Understanding how humans populated the Earth during the foraging era requires us to use broader classifications to study human activity on a global scale.


EXIT SLIPEXIT SLIPOn a sheet of paper answer the following questions proposed at the beginning of the lesson:

1.What challenges do historians face in using maps created in the present time to study the past?2.What challenges do historians face in using old maps to study the past?

Tools to Organize and Analyze the Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales #9Past – Using Spatial Scales #9

BONUS QUESTION - ANSWER:Evaluate the use of regions like Afroeurasia:

What are the benefits?What are the limitations?

Vocabulary Quiz

Download - Tools to Organize and Analyze the Past – Using Spatial Scales Unit 1 Lesson 9

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