Slide 1

Although the question seeks a link between religion and geography, there are no documents indicating how religious beliefs and practices fit with physical surroundings. Can geography help explain, justify, or somehow offer a method of how people dealt with their surroundings? What geographical characteristics might have produced similarities between each of the religions for that specific region?

Is there additional information that would be valuable?

WHAT’S MISSING?


	Let’s look at what kind of information might help us get a better “picture.” Is there a bias we need to balance? Is there something that would make the assessment more accurate or balanced?

	In this case, since we are trying to establish a link between geography and religious belief it would be helpful to know if something about the land might have influenced religious beliefs. Southwest Asia is predominantly desert—might that have influenced belief systems in that region?

	Missing information can often provide the source for an effective conclusion.

	Note to teacher: Keep in mind that students may develop other interpretations and theses which should be encouraged and analyzed by the class as a whole.