Global Cultures Unit 1 – Chapter 1

Thinking Geographically

* Basics of Geography

• Geography – in Greek means “writing about the Earth”

– study the Earth

– Geographer asks:

• WHERE things are found on Earth &

WHY they are there

Geography1.1

Geographers can

occupy many jobs

- Teachers

- Government

- Environment

- Field

- Census data

2 Main Questions

Geographers Ask:• Where?

• Why?

Geographers Explain WHERE & WHY

• PLACE

– Specific point on Earth with particular

characteristics How would you describe Florida?

• REGION

– Area of Earth distinguished by cultural & physical

features What region do we live in the U.S.?

• SCALE

– Relationship between the portion of Earth being

studied & Earth as a whole

TYPES OF GEOGRAPHY

Physical Geography

• Earth’s natural processes and their outcomes.

Human Geography

• Where and why human activities are

located where they are?

Foundations of Geography

• Cartography – the science of mapmaking

• Map - representation, usually on a flat surface (2D)

1.3

Geographers Use Maps as a • Reference tool-

• find shortest route, avoid getting lost, learn where something is found

(usually in atlas or road map)

• Communications tool-– depicting the distribution of human activities or physical features, as

well as for thinking about reasons underlying a distribution

To make a map must decide:

• Map scale

• Map projection

1.3

• Scale– Relationship between the portion of Earth being studied &

Earth as a whole

• Ratio between distance on a map & actual distance on the earth

• Fraction or Ratio – numerical ratio between distances on the map & Earth’s surface EX. 1/24,000 and 1:24,000

• Written statement – describes map & Earth distances in words EX. 1 inch equals 1 mile

• Graphic Bar – Bar line shows distance

Map Scale

Scale

To make a map must decide:

• Map scale

• Map projection

1.3

•Map Projection– scientific method of

transferring locations on Earth’s

surface to a flat map

– No perfect map projection

•

Map Projections

4 Types of Distortion

• Shape

• Distance

• Relative size

• Direction

Review 1.1 + 1.3 • Geography

• 2 Questions Geographers Ask?

• Place

• Region

• Scale

• What is the difference between physical &

human geography?

• Cartography

• Map

– 2 ways geographers use maps?

• Map projection

• The earth is divided into lots of lines called latitude and longitude.

• Grid pattern latitude & longitude lines measured in degrees.

Latitude and Longitude

Longitude

Latitude

1.4

• Latitude – also called parallels– Lines that begin at 0º (Equator) and run north and

south to 90º (north/south poles)

• Longitude – also called meridians– Lines that begin at 0º (Prime Meridian) and run east

and west go 180º (International Date Line)

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude and Longitude

PRIME

MERIDIAN =

Greenwich

Mean Time0° longitude

Grid Pattern Helps You Find . . .

• Latitude & longitude lines are measured in

degrees.

To plot a location,

you must determine:

1.Latitude lines

2. Longitude lines

Which kind of lines are used

to determine time zones?

TIME ZONE TELLING TIME• Longitude plays an important role in calculating time

• Telling time using longitude 360° divided by 24 = 15°

• 15° east/west will enter a new time zone– moving east turn clock ahead - moving west turn clock backward

• Greenwich Mean Time = Prime Meridian at 0º

• International Date Line - 180º longitude

•Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

– Computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and

displays geographic data

– Multiple THEMATIC LAYERS

of spatial information

Geographical Technologies1.5

•Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

– System that determines the precise position on Earth

• Global Navigation Satellite systems use satellites, tracking

stations, cell phones, & cell phone towers to pinpoint location

• Latitude / longitude coordinates for navigation

Geographical Technologies

• How is it done?

• Triangulation – use of geometry

• Time it takes to get a signal from a known location X

known rate of signal of speed =

Distance Away from the known location that the signal

was received

Cell phone

tower

Review 1.4 + 1.5 • Latitude lines are _______ (AKA ) _____

– 0° latitude is __________

• Longitude lines are ______ (AKA )_____

– 0° longitude is _______ (AKA _______)

– 180° longitude is the ________

• How do you plot a location?

• Which lines are used for time zones?

– Every ______ degrees is a new time zone

– Go west you _________ time; go east you ______ time

• GIS = ____________ which is . . . .

• GPS = ___________ which is . . .

• How do geographers use GIS & GPS?

LOCATION–Location – a particular place

• Distinctiveness of a particular spot

• How can location be described? Think of places you want to go

1.6

• Think of your favorite

place as a child?

• Sense of Place

• Location can be

described:

– Toponym

– Site

– Situation

LOCATION–Toponym – name given to a place on Earth

• Person, religion, ancient history, original settlers, or

landscape

• Place names change over time

Lake Zurich – Cedar Lake

• The meanings of regions are

often contested. In Montgomery,

Alabama, streets named after

Confederate President Jefferson

Davis and Civil Rights leader

Rosa Parks intersect.

Place: a unique location

• Site – unique physical

characteristics of a place

• Characteristics include:

climate, water sources,

topography, soil,

vegetation, latitude, and

elevation

• Lower Manhattan Island

Cultural Landscape – built environment

means unique locations

Place: a unique location

•Situation – location of a place relative to other

places/objects

– Helps us find an unfamiliar place &

understanding its importance

• Region

– An area that contains one or more characteristics• Unifying & unique cultural or physical characteristics

Region - divide into different units1.7

3 Types of Regions:• FORMAL REGION –

• Region shares the same characteristic – Phenomena's: religion, economic activity, language, government, or cultural trait

• EXAMPLES:_____________________________________

_Illinois + IL counties

Corn Belt

3 types of regions:• FUNCTIONAL region –

• Area around a node or focal point importance diminishes outward

• Examples - _________________________________

Functional & formal Regions

Fig. 1-11: The state of Iowa is an example of a formal region; the areas of influence

of various television stations are examples of functional regions.

3 types of regions:•Vernacular region (Perceptual)

• Area people believe exists – Based on individual’s perception or feelings

• Examples - _________________________________

What is the “bad side of town?” “The South” has different boundaries

What Type of Region is this Map?

What Type of Region is this Map?

Links between large banks & smaller banks in the 1970’s

What Type of Region is this Map?

Review 1.6 + 1.7• Location

– Can be described 3 ways . . . .

• Toponymn

• Site

• Situation

• Region

– 3 types of regions are. . . .

• Formal region

• Functional region

• Vernacular region

Scale is a powerful concept because: We can look at places on a local, regional, national,

or global scaleGLOBAL SCALE – look at something affecting the world

LOCAL SCALE – look at a neighborhood within a city & its unique features

Different scales influence one another

1.8

TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS

GLOBALIZATION• Force or process that

involves the entire world

spread

• Making something

worldwide

• Major corporation found in many countries – Quickly spread thanks to modern technology

– Globalization of the economy

Video

Globalization

• Benefits of

Globalization• Negative aspects of

Globalization

Video – part 1

Video – part 2

Video – part 3

Video – part 4

Video – part 5

Video – part 6

Video – part 7

GLOBALIZATION

of the EconomyDiffusion of . . .

Where do we see Globalization?

• In every aspect of life

– Economics - Culture

Globalization of the Economy

• What has influenced globalization?

• Advances in communication & transportation technology– Wealthier countries tap into world markets for goods &

take advantage of abundant, cheap labor, & lax policies

TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS

• Decide where to produce

or sell products based on:

– Proximity to

raw materials

– Wages of workers

– Skill-level / education

of workers

– Access to technology (if needed)

• Select best location to

make a profit

•Result: more specialization

in countries

Globalization of Culture• What created the likelihood of a global culture?

• TECHNOLOGY:

• Internet, fax machines, satellites, & cable TV– Enhanced communications - Uniformity of culture

• Global entertainment companies shape the perceptions & dreams of ordinary people, wherever they live.

– Result: spread of values, norms, & culture tends to promote Western ideas & capitalism $$$.

RESULT OF GLOBALIZATION

•People have more similarities &

less differences

• What are the benefits &

drawbacks to globalization?

• Conflict?

Culture• Culture: way of life for a group of people

• People care about culture & they take care of it.

– Religious Practices - Dance

– Traditions during holidays

– Speaking a second language at home

People who want to keep

their culture:

• Increased political conflict

• Intolerance toward others

• People are being pulled in opposite directions by

two factors – globalization and local diversity

– Globalization – force or process that involve the

entire world and result in make something worldwide

– Local Diversity – maintaining individual

differences within a local community or culture

Haggis

McDonalds

variety

Extinction of Culture …?• As more people become aware of a global culture, and wish to

PRESERVE THEIR CULTURE . . . LOCAL DIVERSITY

1) There are fewer differences & more similarities among people

around the world

2) Local culture (characteristics) are threatened.

Geographers notice that people are being pulled in opposite

directions between

_______________ & ____________ ______________

Review 1.8

• Globalization

• Transnational corporations

• How do we see globalization in our lives?

• When TNC decide locations for a plant or

selling, they pick a location based on . . .

• Local diversity

SPACE: Distribution of Features•Space

– Physical gap or interval between 2 objects

• Arrangement of people & activities found in space

• Try to understand why those

people & activities are

distributed as they are.

1.9

SPACE: Distribution of Features•DISTRIBUTION

– Arrangement of a feature in space

• 3 properties of distribution:

– DENSITY

– CONCENTRATION

– PATTERN

• Density– frequency (#) something occurs in space

SPACE: Distribution of Features

Density

Densityis number of items or

frequency in an area

It remains the same no

matter how the items

are distributed

* Which box has the highest

density?

* Which box has the lowest

density?

SPACE: Distribution of FeaturesConcentration

– spread of a feature over space

Dispersed(scattered)

Clustered(grouped)

Concentration

* Which box best illustrates

the concept of clustered?

* Which box best illustrates

the concept of dispersed?

Illinois Population Density

Density and Concentration

of Baseball Teams, 1952 &

2007

The changing distribution

of North American

baseball teams illustrates

the differences between

density and concentration.

– Pattern– Arrangement of objects in space

• Geometric or Regular pattern: Linear, circular, linear

• Irregular pattern: Random

Did you ever wonder why Midwest

cities follow a grid pattern?

•Connection – relationship among people &

objects across space

– More rapid connections reduced the distance between places

•Hearth (Node)

• place of origin

•Diffusion• process which a characteristic spreads from one place to another

– Movement of any characteristic

Connections between places

Question:

What are the HEARTHS of

civilization?

1.10

HEARTH* The source area of any innovation. The source area from

which an idea, crop, artifact, or good is diffused to other areas.

Diffusion• Two Types of Diffusion

– Relocation Diffusion – spread through physical movement from one place to another

– Expansion Diffusion – spread from node / hearth through various means

•Hierarchical Diffusion – spread from persons of authority / power to other persons

•Contagious Diffusion – rapid, widespread diffusionthroughout the population

•Stimulus Diffusion – spread of an underlying principle / “changed idea”

Relocation Diffusion•Relocation Diffusion spread by

physical movement– People migrate for political, economic, and environmental reasons

* List two of your own examples of

relocation diffusion

Expansion Diffusion•Contagious

•Hierarchical

•Stimulus

* List one example of contagious diffusion

* List one example of hierarchical diffusion

* List one example of stimulus diffusion

Stimulus

Diffusion

Because Hindus believe cows are

holy, cows often roam the streets in

villages and towns. The McDonalds

restaurants in India feature veggie

burgers.

Diffusion of Walmart

Review 1.9 + 1.10 • Distribution

– 3 kinds of distribution

• Density

• Concentration

• Pattern

• Hearth

• Diffusion

– 2 types of diffusion

• Relocation diffusion

• Expansion diffusion

– 3 types of expansion diffusion

• Contagious diffusion

• Hierarchical diffusion

• Stimulus diffusion