Chapter 1Chapter 1The Basics of GeographyThe Basics of Geography

What do geographers study?What do geographers study?Physical features of the earth, Physical features of the earth, (mountains and rivers).(mountains and rivers).Human features, (religion and Human features, (religion and ethnicity).ethnicity).

How is geography different from How is geography different from history?history?Historians are primarily concerned Historians are primarily concerned with questions about time, whereas with questions about time, whereas geographers are concerned with geographers are concerned with questions of space.questions of space.

Facts about the earthFacts about the earth The earth is not round but is slightly flattened at The earth is not round but is slightly flattened at

the poles.the poles.

The total distance from the highest point on the The total distance from the highest point on the earth, Mt. Everest (29,035), to the lowest point on earth, Mt. Everest (29,035), to the lowest point on earth, Mariana Trench (35,840 ft. below sea earth, Mariana Trench (35,840 ft. below sea level), is just over 12 miles. level), is just over 12 miles.

How many feet are in a mile?How many feet are in a mile?* 5,280* 5,280

Human GeographyHuman GeographyPeople in different parts of the world have People in different parts of the world have special combinations of characteristics that special combinations of characteristics that make them unique. Cultural geographers make them unique. Cultural geographers often use these characteristics to define often use these characteristics to define places and regions.places and regions.

Come up with a list of characteristics that Come up with a list of characteristics that may separate one group of people from may separate one group of people from another. another.

Most Populated Countries Most Populated Countries in the Worldin the World

11ChinaChina1,298,847,6241,298,847,624 22IndiaIndia1,065,070,6071,065,070,607 33United StatesUnited States293,027,571293,027,571 44IndonesiaIndonesia238,452,952238,452,952 55BrazilBrazil184,101,109184,101,109 6Pakistan159,196,3366Pakistan159,196,336 7Russia143,974,0597Russia143,974,059 8Bangladesh141,340,4768Bangladesh141,340,476 9Japan127,333,0029Japan127,333,002 10Nigeria125,750,35610Nigeria125,750,356 11Mexico104,959,59411Mexico104,959,594 12Philippines86,241,69712Philippines86,241,697

In your opinion is the global In your opinion is the global population too large?population too large?

Give reasons for your beliefs?Give reasons for your beliefs?

Chapter 1 Section 1Chapter 1 Section 1 Five Themes of GeographyFive Themes of Geography

1. Location (Where is it?)1. Location (Where is it?)2. Place (What is it like?)2. Place (What is it like?)3. Region (How are places similar or different?)3. Region (How are places similar or different?)4. Movement (How do people, goods, and ideas 4. Movement (How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another?)move from one location to another?)5. Human-Environment Interaction (How do 5. Human-Environment Interaction (How do people relate to the physical world?)people relate to the physical world?)

What tools and methods are used by What tools and methods are used by geographers?geographers?Maps, photographs, scale models, Maps, photographs, scale models, the five themes of geography.the five themes of geography.

Location is keyLocation is key Absolute location- Absolute location- The exact place on The exact place on

earth where a geographic feature, earth where a geographic feature, such as a city is found. (Basically such as a city is found. (Basically where we use longitude and where we use longitude and latitude). latitude).

Relative location-Relative location- Describes a place Describes a place in comparison to other places around in comparison to other places around it.it.

Place, what is it like?Place, what is it like? A location’s culture and its use of A location’s culture and its use of

space may change over time, thus space may change over time, thus the description of a place may also the description of a place may also change. change.

Place features examples; parks, Place features examples; parks, plazas, downtown, courthouse and plazas, downtown, courthouse and parade grounds.parade grounds.

Region, *Similarities & Region, *Similarities & DifferencesDifferences

Regions are defined by a limited Regions are defined by a limited number of related characteristics. number of related characteristics.

What characteristics do the United What characteristics do the United States and Canada have in common? States and Canada have in common? Location, size, landform, culture, Location, size, landform, culture, history, type of government and history, type of government and economy.economy.

How do the two countries differ? How do the two countries differ? Political power, climate zones, official Political power, climate zones, official languages and amount of developed land.languages and amount of developed land.Which characteristics do you think are Which characteristics do you think are most important in making the United most important in making the United States and Canada a formal region?States and Canada a formal region?Location, culture, economy and standard Location, culture, economy and standard of living.of living.

Human-Environment Human-Environment InteractionInteraction

How do people relate to the physical How do people relate to the physical world?world?

As humans we learn to use what the As humans we learn to use what the environment offers and to change environment offers and to change the environment to meet our basic the environment to meet our basic needs.needs.

What are some examples of the What are some examples of the positive and negative effects of positive and negative effects of people altering their environments?people altering their environments?

Positive- Makes places safer and Positive- Makes places safer and more livable.more livable.

Negative- Pollutes and destroys Negative- Pollutes and destroys natural beauty.natural beauty.

MovementMovement How do people, goods and ideas How do people, goods and ideas

move from one location to another?move from one location to another? Geographers analyze movement by Geographers analyze movement by

looking at three types of distance. looking at three types of distance. 1. Linear1. Linear2. Time2. Time3. Psychological3. Psychological

Linear distance- how far across the earth a Linear distance- how far across the earth a person, idea or product travels. (miles)person, idea or product travels. (miles)

Time distance- is the amount of time it Time distance- is the amount of time it takes for a person, an idea or product to takes for a person, an idea or product to travel.travel.

Psychological distance- refers to the way Psychological distance- refers to the way people view distance.people view distance.