Biomes & Geography
What is a biome?
A geographic region with a specific climate, vegetation, and animal life.
What resource is necessary for plants and agriculture and is supplied by rivers?
Fresh water
What lifestyle did most early humans follow before the development of agriculture?
Hunting and gathering.
What writing system was developed by the Sumerians?
Cuneiform.
What does BC mean?
Before Christ.
Which biome has four relatively distinct seasons and is dominated by industrialised nations?
Temperate forest.
Name one way rivers helped early civilizations besides providing drinking water.
Irrigation, transportation, or power.
What development allowed people to establish permanent settlements?
Agriculture/farming.
What type of government developed in Athens?
Direct democracy.
What does AD mean?
Anno Domini — “in the year of our Lord.”
Why are grasslands good for supporting large populations?
They are good for farming and producing large amounts of food.
What geographic features act as social barriers?
Mountains, deserts, and oceans
What two rivers were important to the development of Mesopotamia?
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
What religious idea was an important contribution of the Hebrews?
Monotheism.
Name three characteristics commonly found in civilizations.
Any three: stable food supply, permanent settlements/cities, organized government, division of labor, social classes, religion, trade, or writing/record keeping.
Why do deserts often isolate populations from one another?
Their lack of water and difficult travel make them geographic barriers.
What are the advantages of cultural isolation?
Safety from diseases and invaders
What river was essential to the development of ancient Egypt?
The Nile River.
What Chinese dynasty used the idea of the Mandate of Heaven?
The Zhou Dynasty.
How did trade affect civilizations beyond simply exchanging goods?
Trade also spread technologies and ideas between civilizations.
Why can rainforests contain many resources but still make population growth difficult?
Dense vegetation, diseases, pests, dangerous animals, and limited open farmland make settlement and agriculture difficult.
How does technology change the ocean from a geographic barrier into an advantage?
Ships and navigation technology allow oceans to become fast and inexpensive transportation and trade routes.
Name the four river-valley civilizations identified in the class.
Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus River Valley, and the Yellow River/China.
What happened when Greek culture mixed with cultures conquered by Alexander the Great?
Hellenistic civilization developed.
What major factor influenced where civilizations developed?
Geography.