Transcript Slide 1

LESSON 4 – GREAT CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP AROUND RIVERS
Key Concepts
• Productive resources include natural
resources, human resources and capital.
These resources are used to produce
goods and services like food, clothing and
shelter.
• All productive resources are scarce.
Therefore, producers must choose which
resources will produce the highest
amount of goods and services given the
costs.
FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY
LESSON 4 – GREAT CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP AROUND RIVERS
Three Key Productive Resources
Natural Resources
“Gifts of nature” used to produce
goods and services; for example,
fields of land, water, minerals,
and forests.
Human Resources
The human effort available to
produce goods and services.
Capital Resources
Goods made and used to produce
other goods and services. Examples
include buildings, machinery, tools,
and equipment.
FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY
LESSON 4 – GREAT CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP AROUND RIVERS
Key Concepts
• Specialization involves a situation in
which people produce a narrower range of
goods and services than they consume.
Specialization increases productivity; it
also requires trade and increases
interdependence.
FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY
LESSON 4 – GREAT CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP AROUND RIVERS
Key Concepts
• Productivity is the amount of a good or
service that can be produced with a given
amount of natural resources, human
resources, and capital resources. It is
measured by taking total output and
dividing it by the number of productive
units used (typically the amount of labor).
FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY
LESSON 4 – GREAT CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP AROUND RIVERS
Ways to Increase Productivity
• In addition to specialization, productivity
can be increased through:
o Improved technology (new tools, irrigation)
o More capital or human capital (education and
skills training)
o Innovation (new idea on how to reorganize the
way labor is used)
o Discovery of better resources (new minerals
are discovered)
FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY
LESSON 4 – GREAT CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP AROUND RIVERS
Capital Increases Agricultural Output
Wooden Hoe
Used to prepare the earth for the
planting of seeds or to weed.
Herding Staff
Used to guide animals helping
with farm work.
Hunting Spear
Helped in harvesting the animal
used to feed individuals.
FOCUS MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY © COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION, NEW YORK, NY