Ask yourself… What’s in a name?

Why is this place named…? A story tells us that the MAP MAKER who drew the new maps of the New World in the 1500s was named Amerigo Vespucci. He signed “Amerigo” on the maps. What did people call this “New World?”

Let’s explore how places are named!

You have an island… How will you name its landforms and places?

What can you name… This peninsula? This mountain? This river? This bay? This lake? This port city? The island?? The ocean? The capital city?

Why not name it… Lee’s Peninsula? Mount Endurance? River of Hope? The Bay of Tears? Buddha’s Lake? Port of Plenty? Rabbit Island? Sea of Danger? Democracy City?

Rabbit Island? People sometimes name the place according to what it looks like.

Sea of Danger People sometimes name the place because an EVENT there gave them certain FEELINGS. Mount Endurance The Bay of Tears? River of Hope?

Did people discover something there? Port of Prosperity? Salmon River? Diamond Valley?

The people name the place for something important to them… something they really believe in! Democracy City?

The religious beliefs of people appear in names of places… Buddha’s Lake? Point Providence?

The people’s heroes get places named after them! Lee’s Peninsula? Buddha’s Lake?

Some places are get a name that reminds people of what happened there.

Why not name it… Fan’s Peninsula? Mount Endurance? River of Hope? The Bay of Tears? Buddha’s Lake?

What’s in a Name? Spain conquered Central and South America and brought Spanish language to the new world. Are there any Spanish sounding names of countries that you know? Latin America Your text p. 142 can help. Do you see La Paz? Buenos Aires? Belo Horizonte?

What’s in a Name? Religion inspires people to name cities after people or ideas. Islamabad, Pakistan

What’s in a Name? The Shape of the Land inspires people to name places.

Some places are get a name that simply states where it is or what it looks like.

Shandong = “Mountain East” Yunnan = “Cloud South” Jiangxi = “River West” Heilongjiang = “Black Dragon River ” Translate the Chinese Names of their regions and you will guess why they are named so!

Shandong = “Mountain East” Guanxi= “Wild West” Guandong = “Wild East”

“Quebec” Native American word meaning “narrowing of the rivers”

“Mesopotamia” “Land between the rivers”

Invader Armies sometimes change the names of the places they conquer… They name cities after rulers and famous people from their own culture when they take over.

“Alexandria” was named after Alexander the Great (a conqueror)… till another conquerer took control there!

“Constantinople” was named after Emperor Constantine. >>> “City of Constantine” Turks conquered it and renamed it “Istanbul” (Turkish for “the city”)

Over the years, the descendants of the early immigrants [of Bolivia} became increasingly disturbed at the prospect of remaining forever tied to the throne of Spain, and resentment against Spanish domination increased. On May 25, 1809, a proclamation of independence was issued. On July 16, in the city of La Paz, Pedro Domingo Murillo, one of Bolivia's first martyrs, led an uprising, and the long struggle for self-rule began. It was not until 1824, with the Battle of Ayacucho, that independence was assured, and on August 6, 1825, the Republic of Bolivia was born. The country took its name from the "Great Liberator," Simón Bolívar, and installed as its first president Antonio José de Sucre, marshal of the Battle of Ayacucho. Bolivia Learn about the Origins of Place Names in the Online Databases. Grolier Online Database (Lands and Peoples) tells us…

Who led the United States to rebel against England and create for themselves an independent, democratic country? Washington, DC Washington State

Ang San Suu Kyi is a woman fighting for Democracy in Myanmar. If they overthrow the government, will they rename the country in her honor?

Invader Armies bring new religions to lands… and sometimes change the names of places there.

Ask yourself... Will the religion of your region shape your island’s names?

Source: Road Trip! 20 October California Spanish speaking people also controled California for part of its history. Spain conquered Central and South America and brought Christianity to the New World. Many cities in South America and Mexico are named for the special Christians who were called Saints. Cities were named after them. The Spanish word for “Saint” is Santo or Santa. It is shortened to “San” sometimes. What cities in California are named after Christian Saints?

What language is spoken there? The names of places indicate the language spoken by the ruling government there.

Source: CIA Factbook, 18 Occt. 2007, 24 Oct Can you read any Portuguese (the language of Brazil?)

Ask yourself… What’s in a name?