Review: World Geography

Latitude and Longitude

Lines of Latitude are parallel with the equator. They run east to west and divide the earth into the Northern and Western Hemispheres.

Lines of Longitude measure the distance East and West of the Prime Meridian. The lines run north and south around the globe.

Hinduism

• Location: India• Polytheistic• Beliefs: Reincarnation,

Karma, Caste System.• One of the oldest

religions.• Most widely practices

polytheistic religion. – No red meat.

Islam• Location: Middle East and

North Africa– These areas were once part of

the Muslim Empire. Islamic religion and culture still remains.

– Islam impacts daily life. Government laws and education are based on religious law.

• Founder: Muhammad• Holy Sites: Mecca, Medina, and

Jerusalem• 5 Pillars

Buddhism

• Buddhism has influenced culture in China, Japan, and the Koreas along with other countries in East Asia.

• Nontheistic• Founder: Siddhartha

Gautama– Buddha means “the

enlightened one”

Christianity

• Location: North and South America, Europe

• Monotheistic• Beliefs: Jesus Christ is the

Son of God, Bible=holy text, Jerusalem=holy city– Jesus was crucified here.

• Father Abraham was a prophet. (Islam and Judaism share this belief)

Judaism

• Oldest of the major monotheistic religions.– Jerusalem=Holy Site– Founded in the

Middle East– Prophets: Moses,

Abraham– Religious text: Torah

Habitat Destruction

• Deforestation: Where? Many places. We studied deforestation in Europe. Overpopulation adds to the use of resources like timber and land for farming.

• Desertification: Expanding of the desert. Where? Sahel in Africa. Usually semi-arid regions near deserts. – Sahel: narrowband of grassland South of the Sahara

Desert. • Acid rain: Causes by industrial pollution. Impacts

areas in Europe and Russia.

Africa• River: Nile

– Flows NORTH into the MEDITERANEAN SEA

– Longest river in the world• North Africa Resources: OIL has

really shaped the economy of North African Countries.

• Colonialism: European countries took over Africa and divided the continent for themselves (Berlin Conference)– This lead to political violence and

ethnic conflict (Think about Hotel Rwanda)

Africa (cont.)

• Lake: Lake Victoria– Largest– Bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya.– Nile flows North out of this lake.

• Mountain: Mt. Kilimanjaro• Climate: Desert (North Africa and Somalia)

Apartheid• Location: South Africa• Meaning: “separateness”• Whites and Africans were

COMPLETELY separated in South Africa as a result of Colonialism

• Separate land. Africans were limited to small land reservations and were not allowed to come into “white land” without a pass.

• Nelson Mandela civil rights leader against the Apartheid.– First black president

Australia: Aboriginal People• The original inhabitants of

Australia.– 40,000 years the Aborigines lived

in Australia without outside influences.• Relationship with nature really

important • Spoke many different languages

• Great Britain colonized Australia– They forced their culture and

language on the people of Australia.

– 1970’s laws were passed against speaking Aborigines language.

Ring of Fire

Latin America

• Mountain Range: Andes• Amazon Rainforest: Northern Brazil• Europe, Native American, and African

influences have reached areas in the Caribbean and South America. – Central America has been influenced by Mayan

and other earlier Native America empires until Spain conquered the region.

Calypso and Reggae

• As a result of the mix heritage music like calypso and reggae were created in islands in the Caribbean.

Oceania• Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia.

North America

• United States: Tropical Wet and Dry, Tropical Wet, Humid Subtropical, Desert.

• Canada: Tundra• NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement

(includes Mexico, Canada, and the US)• Capital of Canada: Ottawa, Ontario

New England

Agriculture in North America

• Located between three oceans (Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific) means there are many coastal regions that are great for trade.

• Fresh water sources like the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes supply water to crops and contributes to the fertile land.

• Rivers are used for navigation, supply alluvial soils and estuaries, and promote trade in the continent

Europe

• Longest River: Volga• Wealthy Region: Western• (see deforestation)• Polder: Land reclaimed from the sea by

building of dikes. Used for agriculture regions and to increase a country’s area.

Asia

• Buddhism: China, Koreas, Japan• Hinduism: India• Most people have settled near Eastern Asia.

People settle near water sources and coastal regions because of climate, agriculture, and access to trade.

Antarctica

• 12 countries had claim to Antarctica.• The international community wanted the

continent to be open to research and avoid war between the countries claiming territory. – Signed in Washington DC– 1959– Today it has 48 signatures.– Prohibited military bases and testing

Need to know:

Latin America• Nicaragua • Peru• Cuba• Mexico• Brazil

Africa and Eurasia• India• Japan• South Africa• Egypt• Saudi Arabia• Australia• Russia• Japan• England• France