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Lesson Two:
The Importance of Place: Geography and Civilization

Objective:

This class asks students to consider the interaction between people and their environments with the goal of generation discussion and answers to the following questions:

• What are the characteristics of a civilization?
• What geographic features would facilitate the development of civilization?
• Where did the first civilizations in India develop and why?

Procedure:

Ask students to take 5 minutes to make a concept map of what characteristics are necessary for a culture to be classified as a civilization.
The responses you should be aiming for can range from settled urban life, stable government, technologies like metalurgy and irrigation, and an economy involving trade which, in turn, helps create a written lanugage.
You could then have students share their concpet maps with a partner. Then make a large concept map together on the board.

Next, ask students to think about what circumstances would make these kinds of developments possible (shift from hunting/gathering to agriculture, fertile soil, trade routes, relative peace and stability).
Take 5 minutes to discuss with a partner or write down 3 factors individually. Discuss the factors and then ask the class to decide where on the Big Map (from lesson 1) they think Indian civilization might have begun and why.

Assessment:

Ask students to write a response paper (1-2 pages) that discusses the importance of rivers to ancient civilizations and then asks them to think about what element of modern civillization plays a role similar to the river and is the most essential- the internet? roads and cars? the city?