1. Griffin H., Jacob W., and Elena P.

2. Compare and contrast how geography affected commerce, government, or militias in two of the following civilizations: -Roman empire -Neo-Assyrian empire -Olmec The Roman empire and Neo Assyrian empire were different geographically because of what type of trade their position allowed them to engage in. Ultimately, though, they were more similar geographically in that their position allowed them both to be trade centers and how their regional governments were divided up. The Roman empire engaged in maritime trade and land trade while the Neo-Assyrian empire engaged mainly in land trade. However, both the Roman and Neo-Assyrian Empires were had control of trade and were trade centers because of where they were situated. In addition, both had systems of regional governance under the control of a main authority caused by the geography of they empire.

3. Compare and contrast how climate affected religion in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations. The Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations were similar geographically in that they both developed in river floodplains. However, they were more different religiously because of how geography affected religion and how it affected peoples’ attitudes toward gods. The Mesopotamian civilization developed in the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers while the Nile developed in the floodplain of the Nile river. The unpredictable climate of Mesopotamia caused gods to be continually worshipped and honored. Egyptian gods were worshipped and honored, but not in the same way as the Mesopotamian gods. In addition, Mesopotamians worshipped their gods out of fear, whereas the Egyptians worshipped their gods for reasons other than that.

4. For much of history, many great empires have originated in naturally isolated or sheltered lands. Naturally isolated or sheltered lands provide a civilization with time to rise without having to worry about attacks. It provides for an easier start which can lead to a more stable future. Egypt, Early China, Han China, Greece, and Ancient Iran are some of the civilizations that have been at least partially isolated by natural barriers.

5. Most civilizations used rivers to various degrees to help support their civilizations. Egyptians (Nile) Nubians (Nile) Mesopotamians (floodplain of Tigris and Euphrates) Indus Valley civilization (Indus) Roman empire (river systems of continental Europe) Han empire (Huang He and Yangtze) Mauryan (Ganges floodplain) Gupta (Ganges floodplain)

6. Early people such as Neolithic farmers only lived where the land was fertile, so they could easily grow crops. As people started to spread out into less fertile lands they had to began to trade in order to survive. This helped many civilizations to come because it made their people become more flexible in the place they could live. Change: Trade on geographic location

7. The first civilizations such as the Mesopotamians, Egyptians and Indus Valley were all based near a source of fresh water. As people learned of irrigation, canal building, and aqueducts people could begin to spread away from their main source of drinkable water. Because of these advances Han and Roman citizens could spread across their empire’s land and settle in new places.

8. The Indian River was involved in a lot of trade. Sailors sailed all around the ocean for trade, even leaving their countries as they went around Africa and the Asia. Loess is soft silt from the Yellow River. It makes soil soft and fertile and easy to farm. The Mediterranean Sea was used for trade. Many great civilizations were centered around it like the Romans. It was a great starting point for societies. Mesopotamia was the home of the first known civilization, the Sumerians. It is located between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Many empires used this land for their benefit and expansion. Monsoon is the term for the seasonal wind in the Indian River caused by differences in temperature that made agriculture easy and let sailors travel the Indian River.

9. The Nile River, the largest in the world, started one of the first civilizations in the world. In flooded annually and was a major feature in Africa. The Sahel is the belt of plains right below the Sahara Desert. It was good for farming and had a big part in trade. The Sahara Desert is the world’s largest desert. It played a big part in trade when Africans used camels to travel the area. They traded goods like metals, and ideas like religion and language. The steppes were treeless plains in the sub-Saharan African. Lots of nomads and their herds lived here, they promoted the use of breeding horses. Papyrus Reeds were grown along the banks of the Nile River. They provided an early form of writing and advance the civilization.