geography102 ptolemy’s first world map, c. ad 150
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Geography102
Ptolemy’s First World Map, c. AD 150
What is Geography?Geography is a representation of the whole known world together with the phenomena which are contained therein.
Ptolemy, Geographia 2nd Century A.D.
Geography is the science of place. Its vision is grand, its view panoramic. It sweeps the surface of the Earth, charting the physical, organic and cultural terrain, their areal differentiation, and their ecological dynamics with humankind. Its foremost tool is the map.
Leonard Krishtalka, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 20th Century A.D.
What is Geography?Geography is the study of what is where and why it’s there.
Mike Reed
Okay, but what exactly is it?Well, it’s a way of thinking about intellectual problems, both natural and societal, which emphasizes the importance of spatial relationships.. Take any social, environmental, or physical question or problem and ask yourself whether there is a spatial aspect to it. Chances are that space and place play a role in the explanation and distribution of that question.
Mike Reed, Making It Up As I Go
For example: Why are so many plant and animal species becoming extinct at the end of the twentieth century?
Why do there always seem to be been so many wars in Africa?
Why is corn such an important part of a traditional Mexican diet?
Why are some beers known as India Pale Ales?
Divisions of Geography
Physical Geography Human Geography
Rocks and Minerals Population
Landforms Settlements
Soils Economic Activities
Animals Transportation
Plants Recreational Activities
Water Religion
Atmosphere Political Systems
Rivers and Other Water Bodies Social Traditions
Environment Human Migration
Climate and Weather Agricultural Systems
Geography is a bridge between the natural and social sciences. Geography is a holistic or synthesizing science.
The Five Themes of Geography
Human features
Physical featuresRegion united by similar physical conditions
United by common cultural traits
People adapt to the environment
People change the environment
Absolute location (latitude and longitude)
Relative location (in relation to another place)
Travel from place to place
Exchange of goods and ideas
Location
Movement
Place
Region
Interaction
The Geography of Breakfast
a geographic thinking demonstration
Take a minute to write down everything ate for breakfast or lunch today.
Top Ten Coffee Growing Countries
COFFEE
Chocolate was “discovered” for Europe by Christopher Columbus, but it’s commercial possibilities were recognized by Hernan Cortez who was served a drink made from cocoa beans by Moctezuma, leader of the Aztecs (whom he later executed). The cacao tree, like coffee, grows only in the tropics. Today it is grown primarily for export to the U.S. and Europe.
CHOCOLATE
Breakfast FoodsFood Place of Origin Current Production
coffee Ethiopia Tropics
oranges South Asia, India US, Mediterranean
pork China, South Asia Worldwide
wheat Near East US, Russia, Argentina
tea China Asia
oats Near East Temperate Climates
pepper South America Americas, Asia
Fieldwork: Geographers as Modern Explorers and Observers
Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 2002
Mt. San Jacinto State Park, Idylwild, CA, 2001
Baja, 1996
Rocky Mountain National Park, 2003
Taos, New Mexico, 2003
Northern Baja Rest Stop, 1998
National Parks ClassBig Sur, California, 2003
Milford Sound, New Zealand 2002
Franz Joseph Glacier, New Zealand, 2002
Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaiian Islands, 2003
Taos, New Mexico
Guarding the Great Wall of China
Antelope Canyon, Navajo Nation, 2000
Introduction to Cultural Geography Definition of Cultural Geography History of the Discipline Fundamental Concepts
What is CULTURE?
What are its elements?
How is it transferred?
How has the meaning of the word changed over time?
What is CULTURE?Culture is learned behavior that is passed
on by imitation, instruction, and example. Culture is almost entirely relative. Proper
behavior shifts from culture to culture. U.S. current problems:
1) little shared culture2) no one is teaching culture.
For example: sex education - Home? School?
Note: experiencing another culture is useful for gaining perspective on your own.
Candidate for harshest punishment in history? Banishment in so-called “primitive” cultures.
Geographic Importance of Culture
Geographers study culture because it leaves dramatic imprints on the earth, both physical and cultural. Language: a crystal ball into culture. Religion: strongest determinant of ethics. Nationalism and Borders Material Culture: tools, clothes, toys, etc. Architecture: Suburban garages vs.
earlier porches
Key ConceptsREGION - an area that shares common
characteristics Formal - all members legally share a characteristic
(U.S.A.) Functional - defined by a node of activity and
distance decay from center (i.e. cell phone coverage) Vernacular – common perception of cultural identity
(“Deep South”)
Functional Regions
Functional Regions
Vernacular Regions
Where is AIDs?Where do we find hunger?Where are American blacks?Where are cows produced?
Describing Distributions
Describing Distributions
Diffusion
• Relocation
• Hierarchical
• Contagious
• Stimulus
Tobler’s 1st Law of Geography
All things are related. However, all other things being equal, those things that are closest together are more related.
Related Concepts: Distance Decay
SpaceLatitude and Longitude - a reference
system designed to provide “absolute” location (as opposed to relative locations).
Parallels of Latitude Meridians of Longitude
Glendale College is located at 34 10 03 N 118 13 41 W
Place and Sense of PlaceEvery place is unique. Imagine where
you lived as a child. What made that special? Sensory Architecture Symbolic
Humanistic Geography - values the individual perspective.
Place and Placelessness (Relph, 1978)
What kinds of cultural values are reflected in each of these American houses?
Gated community?
The Cultural Landscape
The result of the natural environment and all of the changes to it as a result of a particular culture. (Carl Sauer) Environmental Determinism:
environment is primary determinant of culture.
Possibilism: humans are primary determinant of culture.
N.Y.C.
Environmentally Determined?
What about Bali,
Indonesia?
Where are we? What values are reflected in each? What relation to physical environment?
Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Timber House, Switzerland
Yurt on Mongolian Steppe Suburban Home, Chicago
Geography and Politics
Ties to Military Role in ColonizationRole in ImperialismRole in Cold War
EthnocentrismMasculinism
Foreign - 4) Situated in an abnormal or improper place. 5) Not natural: alien.
The American Heritage Dictionary
Key C
on
cep
ts:
Core
-Peri
ph
ery
Key Concepts:Core-Periphery
Core U.S., Europe,
Japan, Australia Wealthy Powerful Controls Media
and Finance Technologically
advanced
Periphery Less Developed Poor Dependent upon
Core countries for: Education Technology Media Military Equipment
GlobalizationThe increasing
interconnectedness of different parts of the world through common processes of economic, political, and cultural change. The economic, cultural, and environmental effects of globalization are highly contested.
Panama, 1997
End of Slides