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fandomhigh2005-10-18 07:40 pm
notjustacabbie.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2005-10-18 07:40 pm
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Human geography #1
Keith has tacked maps of various sizes and locations on the walls.
What is a city? Why is a city? What are common features of where cities develop?
Many of the cities of the world today are based on sites with a long and varied history. Please look up the history of cities and discuss how it applies to your point of origin.
Consider the various common features of city site locations. Often cities will either be coastal and have a harbour or be situated near a river giving them an economic advantage,but what other factor are there? Where else might cities have developed?
Take a look at two cities of the ancient world - specifically the Maya and Inca, and their cities Chichén Itzá and Machu Picchu. Look at their surrounding geography, the main structures and their purposes, the inhabitants, the building materials, the general layout, and any other revealing information or artifacts from the city.
Inca: Around A.D. 1200, a powerful South American tribe began to conquer weaker tribes and united them into one empire, known as the Inca Empire. The Inca Empire was a large and successful one that stretched along the western part of South America, down the Andes Mountains, from what is now Colombia to Chile. The empire was ruled by a succession of kings until approximately A.D. 1532, when it was conquered by the Spanish.
Maya: Maya settlements began as early as 2000 B.C. They flourished in the eastern part of Mesoamerica, in what is now southern Mexico and Central America. The Maya were very religious and built vast temples for their gods. They also had sophisticated systems of arithmetic, writing, astronomy, and calendars. They shared a common culture, but did not have a single capital or ruler. Instead, each city governed itself. The decline of the Maya was gradual, accelerating with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.
Investigate these further and discuss how they compare with each other and with cities that you are familiar with.
Machu Picchu
Chichén Itzá
For next week choose another city and research its origins - ancient or modern? planned or organic?
What is a city? Why is a city? What are common features of where cities develop?
Many of the cities of the world today are based on sites with a long and varied history. Please look up the history of cities and discuss how it applies to your point of origin.
Consider the various common features of city site locations. Often cities will either be coastal and have a harbour or be situated near a river giving them an economic advantage,but what other factor are there? Where else might cities have developed?
Take a look at two cities of the ancient world - specifically the Maya and Inca, and their cities Chichén Itzá and Machu Picchu. Look at their surrounding geography, the main structures and their purposes, the inhabitants, the building materials, the general layout, and any other revealing information or artifacts from the city.
Inca: Around A.D. 1200, a powerful South American tribe began to conquer weaker tribes and united them into one empire, known as the Inca Empire. The Inca Empire was a large and successful one that stretched along the western part of South America, down the Andes Mountains, from what is now Colombia to Chile. The empire was ruled by a succession of kings until approximately A.D. 1532, when it was conquered by the Spanish.
Maya: Maya settlements began as early as 2000 B.C. They flourished in the eastern part of Mesoamerica, in what is now southern Mexico and Central America. The Maya were very religious and built vast temples for their gods. They also had sophisticated systems of arithmetic, writing, astronomy, and calendars. They shared a common culture, but did not have a single capital or ruler. Instead, each city governed itself. The decline of the Maya was gradual, accelerating with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.
Investigate these further and discuss how they compare with each other and with cities that you are familiar with.
Machu Picchu
Chichén Itzá
For next week choose another city and research its origins - ancient or modern? planned or organic?