Peopling of Our Planet
As the video World Population illustrates, global population has grown exponentially since the Industrial Revolution. Advances in medicine, nutrition, and sanitation have led to a global decline in the death rate and have been the primary drivers behind population growth in the 20th and 21st centuries. In this lesson, the teacher will use the Timeline to guide students through an interactive reading and discussion of these advances from the invention of the microscope and flush toilet to the use of chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and vaccines.
Subjects: World History (General and AP), World Geography, AP Human Geography, AP Environmental Science
Key Concepts: Human population dynamics, human population history, industrialization and innovation, historical causation
Lesson Materials
- Lesson Plan
- Timeline Exploration Guide
- Student Reading Cards