Thinking about Human Geography?

What this course is about.

What is Human Geography?

Nothing to do with anatomy… no pictures of naked people (or at least not many).

Human Geography has to do with the effects of the interactions of human beings and their physical environment.

It is a very multidisciplinary discipline. It touches on economics, political science, anthropology, sociology, and a few more “-logys.”

What does this course cover?

The course is divided into 8 units: Thinking Geographically – Basic Concepts Population (migration) Agriculture Land Use Industry (services) Political Geography Culture (language ,

religion, ethnicity) Urbanization

Thinking Geographically

A brief history of geography as a discipline.

An introduction to the basic concepts of human geography.

A little bit on the contemporary tools used in geography.

5 Themes of Geography-Location Location – Where are

We? Def.-The position of

anything on the Earth’s surface.

-Two Ways to Give Location:

A. Absolute Location – Latitude and Longitude.

B. Relative Location – In relation to other places. (2 blocks east of the House of Donuts)

5 Themes of Geography-Place Place – What is this

place like? Def.-a specific point

on Earth distinguished by a particular place. The personality of

the place. A description of

what it is like.

5 Themes of Geography-Movement Movement – How has

the place been affected by the movement of people, goods, and ideas?

Def.-People, goods, and ideas move continuously. All places interact.

Some are more remote than others.

Transportation routes are crucial.

5 Themes of Geography-Human-Environment Interaction Human Environment

Interaction – How have humans modified the land with their interaction with it?

Def.-People are constantly interacting with their surroundings. Physical changes to meet

the needs of humans. Changes to allow us to

adapt to the environment.

5 Themes of Geography-Region Region – How is

this place similar or different from other places?

Def.-an area defined by common characteristics. (can be more than one) Use any

characteristic that you want.

It unifies areas.

Population

The distribution and growth of human populations Demographic Transition Model (very useful) Population Pyramids Malthus, his opponents, and Neo-Malthusianism

Migration

Reasons and Patterns Characteristics of migrants Obstacles faced by migrants Push and Pull factors

Agriculture

Origins (you’d be surprised!) Agricultural hearths and agricultural

regions Subsistence and commercial

agriculture Economic factors affecting agriculture

Land Use

Where are resources located in the U.S. and around the world?

Why are resources being depleted? Pollution, reusable resources, alternative

energies, & conservation

Industry

The industrial revolution and its diffusion

Industrial hearths in MDCs and LDCs

Situation and Site factors (optimal location of industries)

Problems faced by industry at the local and global levels

Development

Varying development patterns

Development indicators Gender inequalities Obstacles to development Development financing

Political Geography

Location Boundaries, borders, and

frontiers Shapes of countries Nation States Cooperation among states Terrorism

Culture

Folk and Popular culture Clustering of folk culture The intrusion of popular culture The homogenizing effects of popular culture

Language

Origins of language Language families Lingua franca

Religion

Origin and distribution of religions Diffusion of religions Holy places Religious organization of space Conflict between religions

Ethnicity

Distribution of ethnicities Transformation of ethnicities into nationalities Clash between ethnicities Segregation and alienation Ethnic cleansing

Urban Patterns

Urbanization Urban structure

models Concentric Zone

model Sector model Multiple nuclei model

Inner city problems Suburban problems

Services

Origin of services Distribution patterns (Central

Place Theory, Market Analysis) World cities (there are only

three, and Managua is not one of them!)

Hierarchy of business services Central Business Districts and

suburbanization of businesses