what is geography?
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What is Geography?. AP Human Geography. Geography is…. The scientific study of the location of people and activities across the Earth, and the reasons for their distribution. . History vs. Geography. Historians organize material by time - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What is Geography?
AP Human Geography
Geography is…
• The scientific study of the location of people and activities across the Earth, and the reasons for their distribution.
History vs. Geography
• Historians organize material by time
• Something that happens at one point in time can impact something that happens at a later time.
• Geographers organize material by place
• Something that happens in one place can impact another place.
Geographers answer this question…
•Why is what where?• Huh?
What is what?
• What can be anything….• People (racial, ethnic groups)• Places (cities, fast food restaurants)• Objects (tall buildings)• Natural phenomena (hurricanes, volcanoes)• Beliefs (religion, political)• Systems/ institutions
What is where?• Where is any area or point on the Earth’s surface, large or
small.• Africa• Southwest Asia • Canada• Paris • Southside of Chicago• 95th and Michigan• 9652 S. Michigan Ave.• Harlan Room 207 : )
Why + What + Where
• Why are tall buildings (what) located in downtown Chicago (where)?
Why + What + Where
• Why do people in certain parts of Canada (where) speak French (what)?
Why + What + Where
• Why are fast food restaurants (what) more common that grocery stores on the Westside of Chicago (where)?
Why + What + Where
• Why are most major cities (what) located near bodies of water (where)?
Why + What + Where
• Why are corporations and financial institutions (what) located in big cities (where)?
This week…
• We will begin to examine how human geographers think about the world.
• Key Issue: How do geographers describe where things are?
What is Geography? Pt. 2
Branches of Geography
Physical• Studies the physical/ natural
features of the Earth.• Mountains, rivers, tectonic
plates, oceans, volcanoes, natural resources.
Human• Studies the interaction
between people and the natural features of the Earth.
• Farming, cities, culture, migration patterns, habitat, political boundaries.
5 Themes of Geography• Used to help us understand
the links between people and the Earth.
• M ovement
• R egion
• L ocation
• I nteraction
• P lace• Remember MR. LIP!
Movement• Examines the movement of
people, goods, and ideas. • Movements often occur
together.• How did Christianity end
up in America?• Why do Mexicans speak
Spanish?• Why is Polish sausage
popular in Chicago?
Region• An area with similar and
unifying characteristics.• Similarities may be
physical (ie Rocky mts.)• Similarities may be
cultural, political, or economic (ie the Muslim world)
• What are some regional characteristics of the Midwest U.S.?
Location
• The position of a place on the Earth’s surface.
• Can be relative (Harlan is in Chicago) or exact (Harlan is located at 9652 S. Michigan Ave.)
• How else could you describe the relative location of Harlan?
Interaction• Studies the relationship
between people and their environment.
• How to people use the Earth’s resources to satisfy their needs?
• Water for irrigation, land for farming, trees to build houses, oil as fuel.
• What are potential negative outcomes to human interaction with the Earth?
Place
• The physical and human characteristics of a location.
• Describe Chicago…
Parts of a Map• Compass Rose- shows direction on a map.• Scale- shows what a distance on a map is actually equal to on
Earth.• Key- tells us what the map symbols mean.
Lines of Latitude
• Lines of latitude run EAST-WEST across a map.
• They measure distance NORTH or SOUTH of the Equator, which is 0 degrees latitude.
Lines of Longitude• Lines of Longitude run
from the NORTH pole to the SOUTH pole.
• They measure distance EAST or WEST of the Prime Meridian, which is 0 degrees longitude.
Latitude and Longitude
Different Types of Maps
• Physical Maps– Show features such as
mountains, plains, rivers and oceans.
– Focus is on natural features…not cities, countries, and borders.
Different Types of Maps
• Political Maps– The focus is on
cities, countries, states, and borders.
Different Types of Maps
Thematic Maps– These maps focus on
themes such as population density or weather, for example.
Different Types of Maps
• Historical Maps– Shows how a certain
area has changed over time.
– Shows what a certain area used to look like.
Different Types of Maps
• The Globe– A globe is the most
accurate representation of the Earth because it is round like the Earth.
– A globe shows us the truest sizes of land and bodies of water.