Which of the following is an accurate example of how civilizations were impacted by physical geography? (1 p
• The Swahili in Africa were exposed to Christianity by Arab traders due to the trade winds of the Indian Ocean.
• North and South China were united throughout history because of a lack of physical barriers.
• The Saharan Desert was a physical boundary that isolated North and South Africa from one another.
• The governments and religions of Southeast Asia were similar to Eurasia because it was connected by rivers.
The Saharan Desert was a physical boundary that isolated North and South Africa from one another.
The accurate example of how civilizations were impacted by physical geography is:
• The Saharan Desert was a physical boundary that isolated North and South Africa from one another.
To determine which of the following examples is an accurate representation of how civilizations were impacted by physical geography, we need to analyze each option.
1. "The Swahili in Africa were exposed to Christianity by Arab traders due to the trade winds of the Indian Ocean."
To evaluate this statement, we first need to understand the location of the Swahili civilization and the impact of trade winds. The Swahili civilization was located along the East African coast, which was a strategic location for Indian Ocean trade routes. The trade winds in the Indian Ocean facilitated maritime trade between different regions. Therefore, it is plausible that Arab traders, who were involved in Indian Ocean trade, could have exposed the Swahili to Christianity. This option suggests that physical geography (trade winds and ocean currents) influenced the interaction and cultural exchange between different civilizations.
2. "North and South China were united throughout history because of a lack of physical barriers."
This option states that a lack of physical barriers facilitated the unity of North and South China. To evaluate its accuracy, we need to consider the geography of China. While there are several natural barriers in China, such as mountains and rivers, these barriers didn't completely separate the northern and southern regions throughout history. The existence of the Great Wall and the historical political entities of North and South China imply that there were divisions between these regions. Therefore, this option is not an accurate example of how physical geography impacted civilizations.
3. "The Saharan Desert was a physical boundary that isolated North and South Africa from one another."
To assess the validity of this statement, we must consider the geography of North and South Africa. The Saharan Desert, the world's largest hot desert, spans a vast area across Northern Africa. The desert's harsh and inhospitable conditions restricted trade, communication, and human migration across its expanse. Consequently, North and South Africa had limited interaction and cultural exchange due to the physical barrier of the Sahara Desert. Therefore, this option accurately describes how physical geography impacted the civilizations of North and South Africa.
4. "The governments and religions of Southeast Asia were similar to Eurasia because it was connected by rivers."
This option suggests that the presence of rivers facilitated similar governments and religions between Southeast Asia and Eurasia. To evaluate this statement, we need to assess the geography of Southeast Asia and Eurasia. Southeast Asia consists of a vast array of islands, peninsulas, and mainland areas, while Eurasia is primarily a landmass comprising Europe and Asia. Although rivers can contribute to cultural and economic interaction, Southeast Asia's geography and isolation from Eurasia's landmass make it unlikely that rivers alone would result in similar governments and religions between the two regions. Therefore, this option is not an accurate example of how physical geography impacted civilizations.
Based on the analysis, option 1, "The Swahili in Africa were exposed to Christianity by Arab traders due to the trade winds of the Indian Ocean," is the most accurate example of how civilizations were impacted by physical geography.