1. The GeoHistory Diagram
A product of the Geo-History curriculum project,
administered by the Michigan Geographical Alliance,
with support from the National Geographic Society.
Copyright 2008, 2012, 2013.
The GeoHistory Diagram
History-Geography Project
Michigan Geographic Alliance
Mississippi Geographic Alliance
New York Center for Geographic Learning
Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education
(San Marcos, Texas)

2. The GeoHistoGram

3. The GeoHistoGram a tool to fit how the human brain
actually organizes knowledge
in a space-time context.

4. This is the basic GeoHistoGram –
seven vertical bars.
basic form

5. Space . . .
from west on the left
to east on the right.
basic form

6. basic form Time . . . from the past on the bottom
to the present at the top.
basic form

7. of history in that region.
Each curve in a bar
represents 1000 years.
Each curve in a bar
represents 1000 years
of history in that region.
basic form

8. basic form The bars represent major world regions, The bars represent
from Americas in the west
to Polynesia in the east.
The bars represent
major world regions,
from Americas in the west
to Polynesia in the east.
basic form

9. Americas C East M S Asia Oceania Europe Africa &
This map shows the world regions,
(explained in a separate ppt.)
The borders are deliberately fuzzy.
If a student questions them,
congratulations are in order!
Europe
Americas C
& S
East
Asia M
Africa
Oceania

10. the location and extent
Colored “blobs” show
the location and extent
of major empires.
(This is Mesopotamia.)

11. to show ancient empires
Here is a simple use
of the GeoHistoGram:
to show ancient empires
in Mesopotamia.
Students can write
their names in order
It works much better
than reading a list !
Assyria
Babylon
Sumeria

12. Varying the width
of an empire “blob”
shows its extent
at different times.

13. Egypt
(in northeast Africa)
lasted a long time.

14. what? – Mesopotamia, middle; Egypt, west, long-lasting;
Meanwhile, every time,
the diagram reinforces
the main points:
when? - long ago,
where? - near the middle,
what? – Mesopotamia, middle; Egypt, west, long-lasting;
Indus Valley, east, shorter.
Removing names
can turn the graph
into a quiz/review
at any time.

15. what else was happening
1. The GeoHistoGram
can help us see
what else was happening
elsewhere in the world
at the same time.
SILK ROAD

16. 2. The GeoHistoGram can help us see how things changed
in the same area
through time.

17. Lines can show
explorers, traders,
invaders, or
other connections
between regions
at specific times.
Alexander was
a kind of “bridge”
between Europe
and South Asia.

18. bridge ACTIVITY **** Point symbols can show specific events,
like the invention of iron
or the arrival of Buddhism.
bridge ACTIVITY ****

19. like Buddhism and Islam.
Students can compare
the spread of things,
like Buddhism and Islam.
bridge ACTIVITY ****

20. JUST POINT AT IT Finally, a very valuable use: when you do something
like show a video of Genghis Khan.
Students will encode
the space-time position
in several ways
(using different
brain networks).
1) In the upper right part
of the entire frame.
2) Between the Song and Ming dynasties
3) About the same time as the Aztecs in central America.
It helps if you verbally
reinforce those ideas
(maybe by asking questions?)

21. SUMMARY
The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge.

22. SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge.
It can be used to transmit knowledge,
through hands-on activity.

23. SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge.
It can be used to transmit knowledge,
through hands-on activity.
It is valuable to use for just a few minutes,
as a recurring part of other lessons.

24. SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge.
It can be used to transmit knowledge,
through hands-on activity.
It is valuable to use for just a few minutes,
as a recurring part of other lessons.
Another good use? “test-prep”

25. rationale Remember the Rationale:
The more engaging/memorable we make videos, websites,
games, roleplays, etc.
the more important it is to help students put information into context.
rationale

26. The Geo-History Diagram is now available as 8-1/2x11 color pages,
11x17 color desk mats,
bulletin-board posters,
reproducible masters,
and an interactive
electronic “laboratory”
suitable for projection.
Please contact the
Michigan Geographical Alliance
for more information.