Geography, Culture and Civilization

This course is a beginning look at geography’s role in determining culture. Terminology and observation become a simple way of viewing the patterns of human movement [centered on N. Africa, the Middle East and S. Asia]. The purpose is to show that all societies have a culture but only a few become “civilized” [the meaning and usage of this word is important]. The 2nd half of the course compares the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, seeking to show that both societies met the needs of civilization but produced virtually opposite solutions.