Assignment 3: A long history of changing climate (Brande)
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Due Sep 14 by 11:59pm
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Submitting a text entry box or a file upload
Due: 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, 9/7 (please note, this is a couple days later than the deadline originally listed in the syllabus)
The chapters you’ve read in our textbook highlight how the environment had a big affect on ancient civilizations- early humans began settling in areas where the land, resources, and climate could support a (mostly) stationary society, which allowed civilizations to form and expand. We’ve also seen how changing environmental conditions sometimes meant that populations had to adapt, move, or even die out. For this assignment, we will do a deeper dive into how the changing environment affected early civilizations. First, read the following pieces:
Next, answer the following questions:
1. What are some of the ways we know about the environmental/climate changes experienced by ancient civilizations? Identify some of the sources scholars use to understand ancient environments. Why do you think there is such diversity in the sources we use to uncover ancient environments?
You should include at least 1 direct quote from assigned material and your answer should be at least 3-4 sentences long. (4 points)
2. How were ancient populations affected by their changing environments? What is an example (from our assigned material) of a population that was able to adapt to environmental/climate changes and survive? What is an example of a population (from our assigned material) that was not able to fully adapt to environmental/climate changes and either disappeared or moved elsewhere? Briefly describe both of those examples.
You should include at least 2 direct quotes from assigned material and your answer should be at least 4-5 sentences long. (8 points)
3. Although climate change is a often debated in the political sphere, scientists are resoundingly in agreement that there is a long history of climate/environmental changes that have affected ancient and modern populations. Putting aside the current politicized debates over climate change, what lesson/s can we learn from ancient civilizations about how to adapt to changing environmental and climactic conditions?
You should include at least 2 direct quotes from assigned material and your answer should be at least 4-5 sentences long. (8 points)
Each of your answers should demonstrate that you are reflecting on the assigned materials posted above and/or the textbook. Make sure you read the last sentence of each prompt to know how long your answers should be and how many direct quotes from assigned material you should include. The direct quotes do NOT count towards the sentence count.
