Unit I: Chapter One

Utopia

• First described in Plato’s Republic.

• Usually refers to politics or government.

• Idea of “perfect” society.

• Can a “perfect” location for a society exist?

Geography

• In Greek “Earth’s description.”

• Study of Earth as home to humans.

• Really helps understand history.

Latitude

• Distance North or South of Equator.

• Goes around around the Earth.

• Clue: a seatbelt goes around your LAP.

Longitude

• Distance from East or West of Prime Meridian.

• Prime Meridian is located in Greenwich, England.

• Goes up and down the Earth.

• Clue: You launch a rocket to go up.

Other Facts

• Georgia is 58,910 square miles in area.

• 21st largest state in the U.S.

• Found in Northwestern hemisphere.

Georgia and Geography

• Georgia is part of the United States.• Located in continent of North America.• Southeast Georgia touches Atlantic Ocean.

Geography and History

• Why people did the things they did.

• How the environment affected culture.

• How the location affected interaction with other communities.

• Helps understand economy.

Physiographic Regions: Appalachian Plateau Ridge

• Smallest• TAG corner• Scenic, not traveled• Cloudland Canyon,

Dahlonhega• Start of Appalachian

Trail

Physiographic Regions:Blue Ridge

• New York to Alabama

• Highest/largest mountain range in Georgia

• These mountains affect precipitation

• Precipitation- rain, hail, sleet, snow

• Cumberland Plateau

• Tallulah Gorge, Helen

Physiographic Region:Ridge and Valley

• Narrow valleys, open ridges

• Farm country• Dalton

Physiographic Regions:Piedmont

• Piedmont= “foot” “mountain”

• 50% of state lives here• Red clay• Atlanta, Athens,

Milledgeville

Physiographic Region:Coastal Plain

• 3/5 of state• Two parts: Inner and

Outer• Inner- agricultural

(peanuts, onions, pecans)• Outer- swamps• Coast is lined with a

barrier islands that protect the beaches that are mostly wilderness preserves (Jekyll, St Simons)

Okefenokee

• “Land of the trembling Earth”

• Indians hunted here and used the plants for medicine

• 700 square miles• Lots of wildlife

Fall line

• Textiles are made here from rivers and creeks.

• Separates Coastal Plains from Piedmont region.

• Early settlers didn’t cross it.

• Macon, Augusta, Milledgeville.

Georgia and Geography

• Influences where people live and what sort of crops they grow.

• Georgia’s location means that the climate (weather a region has over a period of time) is hot and moist.

• The mountain area is cold.

What it’s like to live here

• Weather: day to day changes in temperature, precipitation, wind etc.

• Highest temperatures in July, lowest in January.

• Hurricane season is June-September.

Wildlife

• The geographic regions vary, as do the wildlife.

• Fauna: animals of a particular area (birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, amphibians).

• Georgia is home to a wide variety of animals.

Plants

• 63% of Georgia is forested.• Wide variety of flora: natural vegetation of the

land.• Examples: azaleas, wild dogwood, trillium