Geography, two

Geographers also examine where earth features are located, how they came to be there, and why their location is important. The word geography comes from the Greek word geographia, which means earth description.

 
 

Culture and Science

13. The British see themselves as different from the rest of Europe. Why do they see themselves differently?

14. Geography influences people’s attitudes, values, ideals, thinking, and behavior. Do you agree?

15. Many people speak Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Russian, Spanish. Why do so many people speak these languages?

16. In which places do people live very long? Why do they live very long?

17. Do people in different parts of your country and neighboring countries look the same or different?

18. Should more ecological, biochemical and ethnobotanical studies be sponsored in the Amazon rain forest and other forests? Why or why not?

History

19. Civilizations arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India, Central America and Peru. Why did they arise there?

20. Why did the British want to control Gibraltar, Cyprus, and Singapore?

21. The Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Turks, and Russians have all controlled or wanted to control Constantinople (Istanbul, Byzantium). Why?

Military

22. The Chinese emperors build the Great Wall. Why did they build a great wall?

23. Why did Cyrus the Great, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the British Empire, the Soviet Union and now the United States have such a difficult time controlling Afghanistan?

24. The French and American armies fail to achieve their objectives in Vietnam. Why did they fail?

25. Why did the Spanish, Napoleon, and Hitler fail to invade and conquer England?
Napoleon and Hitler failed to conquer Russia. Why?

26. Germany did not invade Switzerland during the Second World War. Why do you think they didn’t invade Switzerland?

Ancient and Modern Names

27. Has your city, region, or country had different names throughout its history?

28. Here are the ancient or foreign names of cities, regions, and countries. What are the modern or present-day names of these places? What were they famous for? Why were these names changed?

Abyssinia
Aztec Empire
Babylon
Canaan
Carthage
Cathay
Ceylon
Constantinople
Dacia
Formosa
Gaul
Incan Empire
Leningrad
Lycia, Lydia, Phrygia, Hittite Empire
Mayan Civilization
Mesopotamia
Ottoman Empire
Persia
Phoenicia
Prussia
Rhodesia
Scythia
Siam
Smyrna
Soviet Union
Thrace