Chapter 1Section 2

Studying Geography

What is Geography?

• Geography is the study of the earth’s physical features and cultural features.

• Examples include mountains, rivers, people, cities and countries

• Physical and human geography contribute to the study of history

Physical Geography

What is physical geography?

Physical geography is the study of the Earth’s land and features.

What are landforms?Landforms are the

natural features of the land’s surface.

Himalayas

Nile RiverPersian Gulf

Red SeaMediterranean

Sea

Physical Geography cont.

• What is climate?• Climate is the pattern

of weather conditions in a certain area over a long period of time.

• What is environment?• Environment includes

all the living and nonliving things that affect life in the area.

Egyptianpeople

SaharaDesert

What is Human Geography?

• Human geography is the study of people and the places they live.

• Human geography also deals with how the environment affects people.

• Floods, drought, hurricanes

What is Location?Location is the exact

description of where something is located.

Every place on Earth has a specific location.

We use maps to find specific locations.

Different types of maps show different things.

Examples of maps are: Physical, population, road.

PhysicalMapIndia

PopulationMapIndia

What is a Region?

• A region is an area with one or more features that make it different from surrounding areas.

• These features may be physical features such as deserts, mountains, rivers or oceans.

• They may also be human features such as languages that people speak or different religions that people practice.

Buddhisttemple

TigrisRiver

Geography and History

• Geography Affects Resources• What are resources? • Resources are materials found in the Earth that

people need and value.

gold

WoodH2OFood

Geography

How does geography shape culture? Early civilizations formed near rivers because of water and food and later on transportation.

How does geography influence history? People with abundant resources and accessible locations prospered and grew to become more advanced civilizations.

Summary

• The field of geography includes physical and human geography. Geography had a major influence on history.