WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

Try to define it in 10 words or less.

WHERE DID THE WHERE DID THE CONCEPT OF GEOGRPAHY CONCEPT OF GEOGRPAHY

COME FROM?COME FROM? Dates back 2,200 years to the Greek

scientist Eratosthenes. Combined two words: geo, “the earth,”

and graphein, “to write about”

WHAT IS THE DISCIPLINE WHAT IS THE DISCIPLINE OF GEOGRAPHY OF GEOGRAPHY

CONCERNED WITH?CONCERNED WITH? The ways in which patterns on Earth’s

surface reflect and influence physical and human processes.– How we, as humans, affect the physical,

cultural, political and spatial organization of the Earth.

Geography DefinedGeography Defined GeographyGeography is the study of the is the study of the spatial spatial

patternspatterns of all phenomena (events) on of all phenomena (events) on or near the Earth’s surface. or near the Earth’s surface.

Primary method of study is Primary method of study is spatial spatial analysisanalysis which asks two basic which asks two basic questions:questions:– WHEREWHERE are things located (spatial) and are things located (spatial) and

WHYWHY are they located where they are are they located where they are (analysis).(analysis).

SpatialSpatial refers the space on the Earth’s refers the space on the Earth’s surfacesurface

PatternPattern refers to the distribution or refers to the distribution or design of the space (scattered or design of the space (scattered or concentrated)concentrated)

Primary tool is the map.Primary tool is the map.

Why what is where.

Can be anything

Why what is where.

tallest buildings

fast food restaurants

slums

volcanoes

hurricanes

tallest buildings in a city

fast food restaurants

slumsl

Why what is where.

Spatial component

Why what is where.

tallest buildings

fast food restaurants

slums

volcanoes

hurricanes

centre of city

grouped together

close to downtown

edge of plates

Caribbean region

Where (the spatial component)

place or location is critical in geography

Where is one of the 1st questions usually asked when people hear about an interesting event –

fire, car accident, party, etc.

5 Themes of 5 Themes of GeographyGeography Location: Relative and AbsoluteLocation: Relative and Absolute PlacePlace RegionRegion Human-Environmental InteractionHuman-Environmental Interaction MovementMovement

Location: Absolute and Location: Absolute and RelativeRelative

Every point on Earth’s has a specific location or Every point on Earth’s has a specific location or ABSOLUTEABSOLUTE location location latitude and longitude.latitude and longitude. SiteSite

Latitude measures distances north and south of the Latitude measures distances north and south of the line called the Equator.line called the Equator.

Longitude measure distances east and west of the line Longitude measure distances east and west of the line called the Prime Meridian.called the Prime Meridian.

Relative locationRelative location deals with the interaction that deals with the interaction that occurs between and among places. occurs between and among places. Refers to the many ways - by land, by water, even by Refers to the many ways - by land, by water, even by

technology – that places are connected.technology – that places are connected. SituationSituation

PlacePlacePLACEPLACE:: the distinctive and distinguishing physical and the distinctive and distinguishing physical and human characteristics of locations and landscapes on Earth. human characteristics of locations and landscapes on Earth. Animal life and landscape. Animal life and landscape. Sense of PlaceSense of Place is a connection to an area on Earth that reminds us of is a connection to an area on Earth that reminds us of

somewhere familiar.somewhere familiar. Human CharacteristicsHuman Characteristics can be described by: can be described by:

1. architecture1. architecture2. patterns of livelihood2. patterns of livelihood3. land use and ownership3. land use and ownership4. town planning4. town planning5. communication 5. communication 6. transportation networks6. transportation networks

RegionRegion

REGION:REGION: An area on the Earth’s surface that is An area on the Earth’s surface that is defineddefined by certain unifying characteristics. by certain unifying characteristics.

Unifying characteristics: physical, human, or Unifying characteristics: physical, human, or cultural.cultural.

Regions can be described as grasslands, Regions can be described as grasslands, deserts, or, Christian or Islamic.deserts, or, Christian or Islamic.

QUESTION: How would you describe the QUESTION: How would you describe the region you live in human/cultural terms?region you live in human/cultural terms?

MovementMovementMOVEMENTMOVEMENT: The study of the relationship between cultures, people, : The study of the relationship between cultures, people, places, and patterns as they interact on the earth. This occurs mainly places, and patterns as they interact on the earth. This occurs mainly through migration. through migration. Enables us to understand the connection and dependence we have Enables us to understand the connection and dependence we have

on other regions, cultures, and people on other regions, cultures, and people

READ ONLYREAD ONLY: Humans travel and migrate from one place to another; : Humans travel and migrate from one place to another; they communicate with each other; and they rely upon products, they communicate with each other; and they rely upon products, information, and ideas that come from beyond there direct environment.information, and ideas that come from beyond there direct environment.

QUESTION: Under what conditions or circumstances do cultures make QUESTION: Under what conditions or circumstances do cultures make contact?contact?

Possible answers: Wars, conquests, trade, travel, exploration, Possible answers: Wars, conquests, trade, travel, exploration, migrataton, immigration, deliberate exchange programs, media, and migrataton, immigration, deliberate exchange programs, media, and communication.communication.

QUESTION: How do ideas move? What would happen if goods, ideas , or QUESTION: How do ideas move? What would happen if goods, ideas , or people stopped moving?people stopped moving?

Human-Environmental Human-Environmental InteractionInteraction

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTIONHUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION : The : The positive and negative effects of what occurs when positive and negative effects of what occurs when people interact with their surroundings. people interact with their surroundings.

Example: The construction of the Hoover Dam on Example: The construction of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River changed the natural landscape, the Colorado River changed the natural landscape, but it created a reservoir or basin that provides but it created a reservoir or basin that provides water and electric power to the dry Southwestern water and electric power to the dry Southwestern United States.United States.

Six Key Components of the Geographic Approach

Location (2 types): Relative and Absolute

Region

Spatial pattern

Spatial Interaction

Human/Environment Interaction

Culture

Regions

Defined by homogeneity (sameness):

physical geog. – Interior Lowlands

economics - Less Developed Countries

language - the French Shore

religion - the Protestant area of Belfast

RegionsRegions– Types: Types:

1. Formal1. Formal, , 2. Functional 2. Functional 3. Perceptual 3. Perceptual

• Formal regionFormal region: uniformity in one or limited : uniformity in one or limited combination of physical or cultural features. combination of physical or cultural features.

• County, state, country bordersCounty, state, country borders

• FunctionalFunctional regionregion: defined by the : defined by the interactions, connections and set of activities interactions, connections and set of activities that occur within it.that occur within it.

• This classroom or a central business districtThis classroom or a central business district

* Perceptual* Perceptual regionsregions: reflect feelings and : reflect feelings and images, of a place. “Little Italy,” “Chinatown,” images, of a place. “Little Italy,” “Chinatown,” “The South”“The South”

Spatial Pattern How are things positioned?

Possible patterns:grouped Clusteredlinear concentric ringssectors

Spatial Interaction

An action or change in 1 location causes a change in another location

A new dance trend that originates in Korea becomes popular world wide

Environmental activities cause changes for humans:Hurricane Andrew in Florida or Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans

Human/Environment Interaction

What is Culture?What is Culture? CULTURECULTURE describes the way of describes the way of

life of a large group of peoplelife of a large group of people– Includes the physical lifestyle, Includes the physical lifestyle,

values and beliefs.values and beliefs. CULTURE CULTURE may refer tomay refer to

– customary styles of dresscustomary styles of dress– routine living habitsroutine living habits– food preferencesfood preferences– architecture of housesarchitecture of houses– layout of fields and farmslayout of fields and farms– systems of governmentsystems of government– EducationEducation– LawsLaws

TRAITS OF TRAITS OF CULTURECULTURE

A A singlesingle trait of culture is known trait of culture is known as a as a CULTURE TRAIT.CULTURE TRAIT.

CULTURAL HEARTHCULTURAL HEARTH CULTURAL HEARTHCULTURAL HEARTH: an area where : an area where

cultural traits develop and from which the cultural traits develop and from which the traits diffuse (spread out).traits diffuse (spread out).

Traits such as agriculture can be traced Traits such as agriculture can be traced to several hearths thousands of years to several hearths thousands of years apart.apart.– If a trait has many hearths and develops If a trait has many hearths and develops

independently from the other hearths, it is independently from the other hearths, it is known as known as INDEPENDENT INVENTIONINDEPENDENT INVENTION..

CULTURAL DIFFUSIONCULTURAL DIFFUSION The process of spreading an idea or The process of spreading an idea or

innovation from its hearth to other placesinnovation from its hearth to other places– Occurs through the movement of people, Occurs through the movement of people,

goods, or ideas across space. goods, or ideas across space.

CULTURAL BARRIERSCULTURAL BARRIERS A A CULTURAL BARRIER CULTURAL BARRIER can work against can work against

diffusion. diffusion. – Certain innovations, ideas, or practices are not Certain innovations, ideas, or practices are not

acceptable or adoptable in particular cultures acceptable or adoptable in particular cultures because of traditional attitudes or even taboos because of traditional attitudes or even taboos (something forbidden).(something forbidden).

EXPANSION and EXPANSION and RELOCATION DIFFUSIONRELOCATION DIFFUSION

EXPANSION DIFFUSIONEXPANSION DIFFUSION occurs when an idea or occurs when an idea or innovation develops in a hearth and remains strong there innovation develops in a hearth and remains strong there while also spreading outward.while also spreading outward.

3 Types of Expansion Diffusion3 Types of Expansion Diffusion::1. 1. Contagious DiffusionContagious Diffusion: a form of expansion in which : a form of expansion in which nearly all neighboring or bordering individuals are nearly all neighboring or bordering individuals are affected. affected.

2. 2. Hierarchical Diffusion: Hierarchical Diffusion: a pattern of expansion in a pattern of expansion in which only a segment of the population adopts what is which only a segment of the population adopts what is being diffused.being diffused.

3. 3. Stimulus Diffusion:Stimulus Diffusion: a form of diffusion in which the a form of diffusion in which the idea or product is not directly adopted by the receiving idea or product is not directly adopted by the receiving population. For example, the diffusion of mass-produced population. For example, the diffusion of mass-produced food led to the introduction of the hamburger to India.food led to the introduction of the hamburger to India.

RELOCATION DIFFUSIONRELOCATION DIFFUSION

RELOCATION DIFFUSIONRELOCATION DIFFUSION involves the involves the actual movement of individuals and occurs actual movement of individuals and occurs most frequently through migration. most frequently through migration.

The difference between The difference between expansion expansion diffusiondiffusion and and relocation diffusionrelocation diffusion has has to do with what happens at the point of to do with what happens at the point of origin – at its hearth.origin – at its hearth.

In expansion diffusion, what is being In expansion diffusion, what is being diffused remains at the point of origin, diffused remains at the point of origin, often becoming more intense. With often becoming more intense. With relocation diffusion, what is being diffused relocation diffusion, what is being diffused evacuates the point of origin and moves evacuates the point of origin and moves on.on.

GlobalizationGlobalization The increasing The increasing

interconnectednesinterconnectedness s of different parts of different parts of the world of the world through common through common processes of processes of economiceconomic, , politicalpolitical, , and and culturalcultural change. Economic change. Economic globalization is globalization is happening fastest.happening fastest.

Panama, 1997

Discussion: How is globalization affecting you? Can you see it in your everyday life?