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Introduction to World Introduction to World GeographyGeography

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• Geography is the study of place and space: Geographers look at where things are and why they are there.

• Study of human activity, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two (human-environment interactions).

What is Geography????

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Physical v. Cultural Physical v. Cultural GeographyGeography

Physical Geography is the study of the Natural Landscape of the Earth while Cultural Geography is the study of the Human Landscape of the

Earth.

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography Cultural GeographyCultural Geography

Rocks/MineralsRocks/Minerals Population/Settlements/Population/Settlements/UrbanizationUrbanization

LandformsLandforms Economic and Political Economic and Political SystemsSystems

Animal and Plant LifeAnimal and Plant Life TransportationTransportation

SoilsSoils Human MigrationHuman Migration

Atmosphere/Climate/WeatherAtmosphere/Climate/Weather Social SystemsSocial Systems

EnvironmentEnvironment RecreationRecreation

Rivers/Oceans/Other bodies Rivers/Oceans/Other bodies of Waterof Water

Religion/Belief SystemReligion/Belief System

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What types of jobs do What types of jobs do geographers have (in the geographers have (in the

U.S.)?U.S.)?Location AnalystsLocation Analysts, for:, for:franchises (like “Burger King”)franchises (like “Burger King”)stores (like big department stores)stores (like big department stores)public facilities (like new schools)public facilities (like new schools)

Environmental Scientists and ConsultantsEnvironmental Scientists and Consultants

GISGIS (computer mapping) (computer mapping) Urban and Regional PlannersUrban and Regional Planners

Real Estate and Residential Development AnalystsReal Estate and Residential Development Analysts

Transportation and Tourism Planners and AnalystsTransportation and Tourism Planners and Analysts

University and public school teachersUniversity and public school teachers

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Taxonomy: kingdom, phylum,Class, order, family, genus, species

Biologists

Geologists Geological time

Historians Eras, ages, periods

Geographers Geographic Regions

CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS

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►physical (natural) characteristicsphysical (natural) characteristics landforms, climate, vegetationlandforms, climate, vegetation

►human (cultural) characteristicshuman (cultural) characteristics language, religion, ethnicity, populationlanguage, religion, ethnicity, population

GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS: What defines a region?

Regions are based on Spatial Criteria

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►Regions change over time.Regions change over time.►Regions do not have definite borders, Regions do not have definite borders,

but rather are separated from other but rather are separated from other regions by transition zones.regions by transition zones.

MORE ON GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS:

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►An area of An area of changechange where borders of two where borders of two adjacent regions joinadjacent regions join

►Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp break) in the characteristics that sharp break) in the characteristics that distinguish neighboring realmsdistinguish neighboring realms

TRANSITION ZONES

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Sub-classification of Sub-classification of RegionsRegions

Dominated by one Dominated by one political power:political power:

► North America: U.S.North America: U.S.► Middle America: MexicoMiddle America: Mexico► South America: BrazilSouth America: Brazil► Russian Realm: RussiaRussian Realm: Russia► East Asia: ChinaEast Asia: China► South Asia: IndiaSouth Asia: India► Southeast Asia: IndonesiaSoutheast Asia: Indonesia► Australian Realm: AustraliaAustralian Realm: Australia

No dominant StateNo dominant State

► EuropeEurope► Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa► North Africa / Southwest North Africa / Southwest

AsiaAsia► Oceania (Pacific Realm)Oceania (Pacific Realm)

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► Further classification of Regions based upon physical Further classification of Regions based upon physical features and human characteristics.features and human characteristics.

Examples: The United States is in the North American Examples: The United States is in the North American Region. However, the U.S. has several sub-regions: Region. However, the U.S. has several sub-regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, etc.Northeast, Midwest, South, etc.

► Region & Sub-region boundaries are based on criteria Region & Sub-region boundaries are based on criteria we establish. we establish.

► Criteria can be:Criteria can be: Human (cultural) propertiesHuman (cultural) properties

Physical (natural) characteristicsPhysical (natural) characteristics

or Bothor Both

SUB-REGIONS

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Properties of RegionsProperties of Regions AreaArea BoundariesBoundaries LocationLocation

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►Marked by a certain degree of Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity in one or more phenomena. homogeneity in one or more phenomena. Limited number of characteristics. Limited number of characteristics.

►Example: Latin America, EuropeExample: Latin America, Europe

FORMAL REGION

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►A region marked less by its A region marked less by its functional functional structure. Organized around a set of structure. Organized around a set of interactions and connections between interactions and connections between places.places.

FUNCTIONAL REGION

Example:Example: Metropolitan Metropolitan AreaArea

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Perceptual Region

►Region in which people perceive the characteristics of the region in the same way.

►Example: American Midwest

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Maps and More MapsMaps and More Maps► Types of maps and projectionsTypes of maps and projections

Physical mapsPhysical maps Cultural mapsCultural maps Political mapsPolitical maps Population mapsPopulation maps And more..And more..

► Why do geographers use each type map?Why do geographers use each type map?

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The Grid SystemThe Grid System

► LatitudeLatitude: Lines of latitude run horizontal around the : Lines of latitude run horizontal around the globe or a map. They are designated as either North or globe or a map. They are designated as either North or South of the Equator.South of the Equator.

► LongitudeLongitude: Lines of longitude run vertically around the : Lines of longitude run vertically around the globe or map. They are designated as either West or East globe or map. They are designated as either West or East of the Prime Meridian.of the Prime Meridian.

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• Geography means “description of the earth” and is also known as “the study of the earth as the home of humankind.” Four main goals for this class:

(1) to understand important geographic problems and their potential solutions,

(2) to become better able to make connections between different kinds of information as a means of understanding the world,

(3) to understand current events, and (4) to develop skills in interpreting places and reading landscapes.

SUMMARY

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SUMMARY

• Maps are the geographers’ most basic tools. To be able to use maps effectively, one must understand their basic language, especially the concepts and terms of scale, coordinate systems, projection, and symbolization. There are a variety of ways in which maps can depict spatial data.