Introduction to World Regional Geography 1982

July 10th 2007

What is Geography?

• Geo-graphy: Literally means writing Earth.

• Geography is the study of the Earth as created by natural forces and as modified by human action– Physical geography:

earth’s physical processes– Human geography: spatial

aspects of human life

• THE GEOGRAPHER(De geograaf)

c.1668-1669

What are the intellectual tools that make geography a distinct

discipline?• A focus on human/nature

interactions• Space: “The outcome of a

series of highly problematic temporary settlements that divide and connect things up into different kinds of collectives which are slowly provided with the means which render them durable and sustainable” (Nigel Thrift)

• Region: a unit of the earth’s surface that contains distinct patterns of physical features or of human development– Why is the term

problematic? Mexico and Afghanistan

Tools continued…

• Place: “a portion of space occupied by a person or thing”

• Scale: “A level of representation of reality”– In human geography: a partitioning of space

within which human or social processes take on particular characteristics.

– In cartography- the relationship between the distances shown on the map and the actual distances on the earth’s surfaces.

The power of representation: Re-imagining the world

• Map projections allow us to visualize the world or regions of the world in specific ways.

• Maps are not value free representations of physical space; instead they serve particular purposes and reflect particular values and beliefs.

• Epistemology: The philosophical study of the nature of knowledge. How do we know what we know?

Mercator Projection

Robinson Projection

Map of Energy Consumption

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

People Living with HIV/AIDS

Mental Map Exercise

• Think about a place that is important to you. This could be your home town, your home, your bedroom, your neighborhood, your state or country of origin.

• Take out a piece of paper and draw this important place. Make sure to include as much detail as you feel is necessary.

Discussing the maps

• Notice the scale you chose to represent.

• What objects or locations did you include in your map? Why?

• What objects or locations did you ignore or not accurately represent? Why?

My Goals for the Class

1. To provide you with a cursory, historically informed perspective on several contemporary issues that will continue to affect the world during your lifetime.

2. To introduce you to several geographic, and possibly novel ways, to think about yourself and your place in the world.

Tomorrow

• Introduction to the key themes and concepts that will guide this class.