Human Crossroads

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Full year

Human Crossroads: Confronting Global Challenges through Time, Identity and Place

Human Crossroads asks students to respond to some of the world's greatest challenges using an interdisciplinary approach that draws from the intersection of geography, history, anthropology and sociology. The curriculum is comprised of units dedicated to central thematic questions ranging from the meaning of human identity to the value of borders, the possibility of religious pluralism and vexing problems of global inequities. Each unit starts by asking, "what is where, why there, why care?" using maps. Course material and projects include current events, academic texts, online resources and data visualizations. Students learn to read actively, analyze maps, interpret data, write thesis-driven essays and synthesize information, with according skill-based assessments. This class is not only intended to develop academic skills, but to foster curiosity, self-reflection, global citizenship and a renewed commitment to the pursuit of truth, love and justice in the world.

Units

Unit	Essential Questions	Content	Skills and Processes	Assessment	Resources
Unit 1: Thinking Spatially	Compare and contrast environmental determinism and possibilism as means of explaining success or failure in the world today. What does place decide?	The goals of a liberal arts education Objective versus subjective evidence analysis Perspective as an analytical lens The significance of place in the modern world Google Mapping Environmental determinist and possibilist interpretations of international development	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis development Geographic literacy – The United States Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical Thinking Global Citizenship	The power of place country case study and thesis exercise	Jared Diamond “Guns, Germs and Steel” (1997) Erin Fouberg, Alexander Murphy, H.J. De Blij, “Human Geography: People, Places and Culture” (2012) Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty” (2012) De Blij, "The Power of Place" (2009) William Cronin, “Only Connect” Google Maps CIA World Fact Book
Unit 2: Human Identity in Context	What does it mean to be human?	Multiregional model African Origin model Assimilation Model Leaky Replacement Theory Bonobos/Chimpanzees Homo Sapien dominance over other hominid species Eusociality Human intelligence and exceptionalism Hybridity as part of human nature Evolution Group and Individual selection	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Evidence-based writing development Geographic literacy – Africa Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global Citizenship	"Life Report” interviews in the community and a thesis-driven essay on what it is to be human	David Brooks, “Social Animal” (2011) E.O. Wilson “Social Conquest of the Earth” (2012) National Geographic's Genographic Project The Smithsonian's Human Origins Project
Unit 3: Human Culture	To what extent are you defined by social/cultural constructions of identity? How do we preserve local and indigenous culture?	Culture Cultural Diffusion Cultural Hearths Local versus pop culture Indigenous culture Assimilation Language and culture Lingua Franca Globalization Social construction of identity Enlightenment systems of classification gender race ethnicity sexuality Cultural universals Endangered cultures “Mcworld” Cultural Imperialism Homogenization	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – The Western World Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global Citizenship Intercultural awareness and sensitivity	"Travel Ethic" thesis-driven essay	EO Wilson “Social Conquest of the Earth” (2012) David Brooks, “Social Animal” (2011) PBS “Race: The Power of an Illusion” (online) The Center for Intercultural Learning (online)
Unit 4: Agriculture	How have the agricultural revolutions led to a global crisis simultaneously in hunger and obesity?	Nomads- hunting/gathering 1st agricultural revolution - domestication of plants and animals 2nd agricultural revolution - industrial revolution 3rd agricultural revolution - Green revolution 4th agricultural revolution: Biotechnology and genetically modified organisms Nutrition Transition Model Thrifty gene hypothesis Thomas Malthus Columbian Exchange Stories of corn, rice, potato, sugar, bananas, meat agribusiness food deserts Organic agriculture cubsistence versus commercial agriculture Von Thunen Model “King Corn” Ethanol United States Farm Bill and farm subsidies Commoditization of nature	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – Latin America Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global citizenship Current event connections	Evidence based letter to Congress on US agricultural policy	Nutrition Transition Program at UNC http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/nutrans/ Ian Morris – Why the West Rules for Now (2010) Food Inc. (2008) King Corn (2007) Von Thunen Food Environment Atlas from the US Department of Agriculture Michael Pollan’s essays (NY Times and Michaelpollan.com) Ellen Gustafson Ted Talk- hunger and obesity one issue
Unit 5: The Political Organization of Space - Tribes to Empires	Do borders matter? How should the US define success in Afghanistan?	Tribes and tribalism Civilization State versus nation-state distinction Empires and Imperialism Multinational states Stateless nations and organizations supranational organization rule of force, rule of law, rule of man extractive versus inclusive institutions and examples first laws: Hammurabi’s code; Sparta’s laws, Draco’s Laws polis-city state natural rights fragile states puppet states social compact general will monarchy oligarchy theocracy democracy republic Athenian democracy national sovereignty “Graveyard of empires” Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan Al Qaeda Osama Bin Laden Drone strikes NATO Northern Alliance Karzai Pashtuns, Tajiks, Kurds Taliban Mujahadeen	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – The Middle East Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global citizenship Current event connections Intercultural awareness and sensitivity	Afghanistan policy roundtable discussion and thesis driven essay	Perry-Castaneda Library Map collection EO Wilson’s “Social Conquest of Earth” (2012) De Blij's "Power of Place" (2009) Foreign Policy Magazine (Failed States Index) Foreign Affairs (The Council for Foreign Relations) Brookings Institution Heritage Foundation Center for American Progress American Enterprise Institute
Unit 6: Religion and Ethics	What are the origins of the world’s major religions? Is religion a force for good in the modern world? Is religious pluralism possible in the modern world?	Religion Dogma Secularism monotheistic polytheistic pantheistic Animistic Atheist Agnostic Fundamentalist Universalizing versus ethnic religions The history, significant concepts, the divine and major figures in Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Buddhism Shintoism Taoism Confucianism Religious diffusion Indigenous religions (shamanism) Sacred sites/religious landscapes Interfaith boundaries jihad Genocide Ethnic cleansing religious extremism Religious fundamentalism Religious Pluralism	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – Asia Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global citizenship Current event connections Intercultural awareness and sensitivity	Islam in the media case study and religion as a force for good essay	Robert Wright “Evolution of God” (2009) Stephen Prothero, “God is Not One” (2010) Mary Pat Fisher, “Living Religions” (2002) Eboo Patel “Acts of Faith” (2010) EO Wilson , “Social Conquest of Earth” (2012) Online Resources
Unit 7: Population, Migration and Urbanization	To what extent is the rapid urbanization of the world’s population sustainable? To what extent does population equal power in the modern world?	Population distribution Population pyramids Measurements: census; population reference bureau Demographic transition model Doubling time Total Fertility Rates (TFRs) Life expectancy Child mortality rate Female infanticide Crude birth rate/death rate Population policies - expansive and restrictive Dependency ratio migration - internal, international, forced, voluntary, guest workers push/pull factors selective immigration laws Migration chains Refugees/Internally displaced persons Six urban hearths 1)Mesopotamia 2) Nile River Valley 3) Indus River Valley 4) Huang He and Wei Valleys 5) Mesoamerica 5) Peru Central Place theory Suburbanization China India Urban Models: Sector Model; Multiple nuclei; African City, Concentric Zone Redlining Gentrification Sprawl Walkability	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – megacities around the world Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global citizenship Current event connections Intercultural awareness and sensitivity	Population and power debate and essay	Fouberg and De Blij, "Human Geography" (2012) The Population Reference Bureau (online) Atlantic Cities (online) Gapminder (online) New Geography (online) Online news sources
Unit 8: Trade and Development	To what extent has technology fostered human connection throughout history? In what ways has globalization increased opportunities for some people while others continue to struggle?	Measurements of human development - GNP; GDP; GNI/per capita GNI Commoditization Atlantic Slave Trade Wallerstein’s world systems theory - core-periphery- semiperipery Rostow’s modernization model 1) traditional 2) preconditions to takeoff 3) takeoff 4)drive to maturity 5) high mass consumption Dependency Theory Millennium development goals World Bank/IMF Free trade - WTO/NAFTA NGOs participatory development North-South/south-south development microfinance conspicuous consumption outsourcing just in time economy BRICs China Weber’s least cost theory	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – wealth and poverty around the world Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global citizenship Current event connections Intercultural awareness and sensitivity	Gapminder project	Gapminder (online) Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty” (2012) Charles Wheelan, “Naked Economics” (2010) North/Benjamin/Miller, "The Economics of Public Issues" (17th Edition) North/Benjamin/Miller Worldmapper (online) Ted Talk “Together alone” Sherry Turkle TED Talk UNCTAD 2011 Policy Report on Global Development
Unit 9: Human Environment	What are the environmental, social, political and economic implications of continued human dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy? How does a nation’s access to natural resources expand and limit development?	Climate Change Controversy Energy Weather Fire Ice ages Oil Fracking Coal Electricity Solar Power Ethanol Alternative Energy Glacial Melt Resources: renewable and non-renewable Greenhouse effect Hydrologic cycle Great Pacific Garbage Patch Rare earth elements Ozone layer 1997 Kyoto Agreement Desertification Carbon footprint “Resource curse”	Active reading strategies Spatial analysis Thesis-driven essay writing Geographic literacy – The Geography of Oil (OPEC and beyond) Data analysis Technology skills Presentation skills Social science research skills Critical thinking skills Global citizenship Current event connections Intercultural awareness and sensitivity	Imagined Alternatives: mapping, writing and presenting on the energy sources of the future	“Eaarth” Bill McKibben (2010) Center for Sustainability and the Environment at the University of Wisconsin Madison Portland’s Peak Oil Task Force The Institute for Energy Research (online)

Catlin Gabel

Human Crossroads

Units