Grade: Grade 6 Subject: Social Studies Unit: Geography's Impact Lesson: 4 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Maps and Data

Learn

Maps and geographic data are essential tools for understanding how geography influenced ancient civilizations. This lesson teaches you to read, interpret, and draw conclusions from various types of maps and data displays.

Types of Maps

  • Physical maps: Show natural features like mountains, rivers, deserts, and coastlines
  • Political maps: Show human-made boundaries like countries, states, and cities
  • Thematic maps: Focus on specific topics such as climate, population, resources, or trade routes
  • Historical maps: Show the world as it was understood at a particular time in history

Key Map Elements

Every well-made map includes these elements:

  • Title: Tells you what the map shows
  • Legend/Key: Explains symbols, colors, and patterns used
  • Scale: Shows the relationship between distances on the map and real distances
  • Compass rose: Indicates cardinal directions (N, S, E, W)
  • Labels: Identify places, features, and regions

Reading Geographic Data

Geographic data can be presented in many formats:

  • Tables: Organize data in rows and columns for easy comparison
  • Bar graphs: Compare quantities across different categories
  • Line graphs: Show changes over time
  • Pie charts: Show parts of a whole as percentages
  • Population density maps: Show where people are concentrated

Making Inferences from Maps

Good historians use maps to make inferences:

  • Why did cities develop in certain locations?
  • How did geographic barriers affect the spread of ideas?
  • What natural resources were available to different civilizations?
  • How did climate zones affect agriculture and settlement?

Comparing Ancient and Modern Maps

Ancient mapmakers had limited knowledge and technology. Comparing their maps with modern maps reveals:

  • What ancient people knew about their world
  • Which regions were well-explored vs. unknown
  • How geographic knowledge expanded over time
  • Cultural biases in how the world was depicted

Examples

Example 1: Interpreting a Physical Map

A physical map of ancient Mesopotamia shows:

  • Two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) flowing southeast to the Persian Gulf
  • A fertile plain between the rivers (shown in green)
  • Mountains to the north and east (shown in brown)
  • Desert to the west and south (shown in tan)

Inferences we can make:

  • The river valley was ideal for farming due to water access and fertile soil
  • Mountains and deserts created natural boundaries
  • Cities likely developed near rivers for water and transportation
  • Trade routes probably followed the rivers or went through mountain passes

Example 2: Reading a Data Table

Estimated Population of Ancient Cities (at their peak)

City Civilization Geographic Feature Peak Population
Ur Mesopotamia Euphrates River 65,000
Thebes Egypt Nile River 80,000
Mohenjo-daro Indus Valley Indus River 40,000
Anyang Shang China Yellow River 50,000

What the data tells us:

  • All major ancient cities were located near rivers
  • Rivers supported large populations by providing water for drinking, farming, and trade
  • Population sizes were similar across different civilizations, suggesting similar geographic conditions

Practice

Apply your map and data interpretation skills to answer these questions.

Question 1

A map legend shows blue lines representing rivers and brown shading representing mountains. On this map, most cities are marked near the blue lines. What conclusion can you draw?

  • A) Mountains were the preferred location for ancient cities
  • B) Ancient cities developed near water sources
  • C) Ancient mapmakers used too many colors
  • D) Rivers were dangerous, so people avoided them

Question 2

A thematic map shows trade routes across the ancient Mediterranean. The routes connect Egypt, Greece, Phoenicia, and Rome. What does this map help historians understand?

  • A) The exact population of each civilization
  • B) How goods and ideas spread between civilizations
  • C) The religious beliefs of ancient peoples
  • D) The names of individual traders

Question 3

Which map element tells you that 1 inch on the map equals 500 miles in real life?

  • A) Title
  • B) Legend
  • C) Scale
  • D) Compass rose

Question 4

A bar graph shows rainfall amounts for four ancient regions. Region A receives 50 inches per year, Region B receives 5 inches, Region C receives 30 inches, and Region D receives 0 inches. Which region was most likely a desert?

  • A) Region A
  • B) Region B
  • C) Region C
  • D) Region D

Question 5

An ancient Babylonian map from 600 BCE shows Babylon at the center of the world. What does this tell historians?

  • A) Babylon was actually the geographic center of the world
  • B) The mapmaker's perspective was influenced by cultural bias
  • C) Ancient maps were more accurate than modern maps
  • D) Babylonians had explored the entire world

Question 6

A climate zone map shows that ancient Egypt had a hot, dry climate with very little rainfall. Based on this data, how did Egyptian farmers grow crops?

  • A) They waited for rare rainstorms
  • B) They relied on the annual flooding of the Nile River
  • C) They imported all their food from other regions
  • D) They only grew crops that needed no water

Question 7

A population density map shows heavy concentrations of people along coastlines and river valleys, with few people in mountain and desert regions. This pattern suggests that:

  • A) Ancient people preferred difficult living conditions
  • B) Geographic features influenced where people chose to settle
  • C) Mountains and deserts had the best farmland
  • D) Coastlines and rivers were avoided by ancient peoples

Question 8

A line graph shows the population of Rome from 500 BCE to 500 CE. The line rises steadily until about 100 CE, then gradually declines. What can you conclude?

  • A) Rome's population only increased
  • B) Rome experienced growth followed by decline over time
  • C) The graph shows daily population changes
  • D) Population data was invented by historians

Question 9

A historical map from 1500 shows large blank spaces labeled "unknown" in Africa, the Americas, and Australia. What does this reveal about European geographic knowledge at that time?

  • A) These continents did not exist in 1500
  • B) Europeans had not yet explored or mapped these regions
  • C) The mapmaker forgot to finish the map
  • D) Only Europe was important enough to map

Question 10

To determine which ancient civilization had access to iron ore deposits, a historian should consult a:

  • A) Political map showing national boundaries
  • B) Physical map showing elevation
  • C) Thematic map showing natural resources
  • D) Road map showing highways

Check Your Understanding

Answers:

  1. B - Cities developed near rivers for water, farming, and trade
  2. B - Trade route maps show connections and exchange between civilizations
  3. C - Scale shows the relationship between map distance and real distance
  4. D - Region D with 0 inches of rainfall would be a desert
  5. B - Ancient maps often placed the mapmaker's civilization at the center
  6. B - Egypt's agriculture depended on Nile flooding, not rainfall
  7. B - Settlement patterns follow geographic opportunities
  8. B - Line graphs show changes over time, revealing growth and decline
  9. B - Blank areas indicate regions not yet explored by the mapmaker's culture
  10. C - Thematic resource maps show where specific materials are found

Next Steps

  • Practice identifying all five key map elements on maps you encounter
  • Look for patterns in geographic data that help explain historical events
  • Continue to the next lesson: Claim-Evidence Writing