Transcript Geography
Geography What is Geography? Geography can be defined as the study of people, their environments and their resources. The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human resources on earth. What is Geography Geography is closely linked to history. History is the account of what has happened in the lives of different people. What is Geography? How similar is this definition to your definition? BASIC GEOGRAPHY Geography is the study of the relationship between people and their physical environment The name geography comes from GEO meaning earth and GRAPHICA meaning description. 2 Branches of Geography Physical Geography Study of earth’s physical processes Geology – rocks and earth formations Environmental science – human interaction with the environment Topography – earth’s features Cartography – map making. • Human (Cultural) Geography – Characteristics of human activities • • • • • • Politics – governments History – significant events Economics – how use resources Sociology – human societies Urban – cities Demographics – human population statistics •7 continents – Africa, Asia, Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe & Australia •5 Oceans – Southern, Arctic, Pacific, Indian, Atlantic Latitude AKA: Parallels Numbers get higher the further North or South you move away from the Equator Latitude lines measure North or South of the Equator Zero Degrees Latitude is the Equator 90 Degree North (North Pole) 90 Degrees South (South Pole) Zero Degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian. 180 degrees East or West is the International Date Line By international agreement - 0 degrees longitude runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England Longitude Numbers get higher the farther you move either East of West AKAMeridians Longitude lines measure East or West of the Prime Meridian MEMORIZE THESE LINES!! KNOW: Equator, 2 Tropics, 2 Circles, 2 Poles and their latitudes!!!! Hemisheres If you cut the Earth through the Equator you would get two halves, the Northern and Southern Hemisphere If you cut the Earth through the Prime Meridian you would get two halves, the Western and Eastern Hemisphere The US is in the Western Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere Each degree of the earth is equal to 1/360 of the earth. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes (‘). Each minute = 60 seconds (“) Globe - Scale model of the earth. Map Scale Small Scale Maps- Show large area with little detail Large Scale Maps- Show small area with a lot of detail Large Scale Map Small Scale Map Types of Maps General Purpose Maps Show a wide variety of information Physical Maps- Show topography (shape) of earths physical features Political Maps- Show boundaries between countries. Also may show cities, capitals, roads, railroads. Think man made! Special Purpose Maps Emphasize a single idea or a particular kind of information Economic Activity Map- Shows the distribution of land use and natural resources. Five Themes of Geography There are 5 basic themes of geography Location Place Human Features Human and Environmental Interaction Movement Region Location Location Absolute Relative Location Absolute Tells you the exact location Exact location using latitude and longitude Location Relative Location Places in relation to another Location Absolute Relative Tells you “Where it is” Location Come up with examples of what you think could be considered: Absolute location Relative location Place A particular space with physical and human meaning Unique characteristics that make places “places” How are they similar to one another? Place When looking at Place, you may think about Place as Physical Features Climate Soil Animal life and Plant life Bodies of Water Place What is another example of physical features to describe place? Place When looking at Place, you may think about Place as Human and Cultural Characteristics Kinds of homes Transportation Ways to earn a living Religion and Traditions Place How would you describe Clinton High School in terms of place? Place Physical Features Human Features Tells you “What it is like there” Human and Environmental Interactions The study of the interrelationship between people and their physical environment How do people use their environment? How and why do people change their environments? What is the result or consequences of the changes people make? Human and Environmental Interactions How do people: Depend on the environment? Modify the environment? Adapt to their environment? Human and Environmental Interactions Depend - Rivers Modify - Roads Adapt - clothes Human and Environmental Interactions Human and Environmental Interaction tells you “What is the relationship between people and their environment” Movement People study how people shape the world how they settle the earth how they form societies how the create permanent features how people adapt to make societies Movement When looking at movement think about the movement of people, goods and ideas Reasons for movement many times is that there is a need to adapt Movement Tells you “ How are people and places connected Region Areas united by specific factors There are three types of regions formal functional perceptual Region Formal Region formal or uniform region is defined by common characteristics like The Corn Belt Iowa and Illinois area of US cause they are known for farming. Region Functional region a central place and the surrounding areas linked to it highway systems large cities Region Perceptual region set or defined by popular feelings and images rather than by objects The heartland The motherland Region Can you come up with an example of each? Formal Functional Perceptual Region Region tells you “ How are places similar?”