What is What is Geography?Geography?

**GeographyGeography is the study of the natural is the study of the natural features of the earth's surface, features of the earth's surface, including topography, climate, soil, including topography, climate, soil, vegetation, etc, and human's response vegetation, etc, and human's response to them. to them.

*Geography combines the physical and *Geography combines the physical and human aspects of our world into one field of human aspects of our world into one field of study.study.

*Geography shows the relationship between *Geography shows the relationship between people and the environment.people and the environment.

* Historical information is not presented only * Historical information is not presented only in written sources.in written sources.

* Maps are often a key to understanding what * Maps are often a key to understanding what happened and why.happened and why.

What is a Geographer?What is a Geographer?

* A Geographer is * A Geographer is someone who someone who studies geography, studies geography, specifically the specifically the Earth's natural Earth's natural environment and environment and human society human society

What is a Geographer?What is a Geographer?

Geographers study:Geographers study:

• OceansOceans

• Plant lifePlant life

• LandformsLandforms

• PeoplePeople

• How the Earth and its people affect How the Earth and its people affect each othereach other

The Five Themes of GeographyThe Five Themes of Geography* When geographers research, they are guided * When geographers research, they are guided

by two basic questions:by two basic questions:1.1. Where are things located?Where are things located?

2.2. Why are they there?Why are they there?

* There are five broad themes geographers use to * There are five broad themes geographers use to study the Earth and its inhabitants.study the Earth and its inhabitants.

To find these answers, geographers use the To find these answers, geographers use the five themes of geography to organize five themes of geography to organize information.information.

THE FIVE THE FIVE THEMES OF THEMES OF

GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

The Five Themes of The Five Themes of GeographyGeography

1.1. LocationLocation

2.2. PlacePlace

3.3. Movement Movement

4.4. RegionRegion

5.5. Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction

1.1. LocationLocation1.1. LocationLocation – Geographers begin to study a place by – Geographers begin to study a place by

finding where it is, or its location.finding where it is, or its location.

• The Exact Location of a country or city is The Exact Location of a country or city is expressed in terms of longitude and latitude. expressed in terms of longitude and latitude.

• Relative Location defines where a place is in Relative Location defines where a place is in relation to other places.relation to other places.

*For example, the exact location of the city of *For example, the exact location of the city of Chicago, Illinois, is 42Chicago, Illinois, is 42⁰⁰ north (latitude) and 88 north (latitude) and 88⁰⁰ west (longitude).west (longitude).

*Its relative location could be described as "on the *Its relative location could be described as "on the shore of Lake Michigan" or "821 miles north of shore of Lake Michigan" or "821 miles north of New Orleans.New Orleans.

2.2. PlacePlace2.2. PlacePlace – Geographers study the physical and human – Geographers study the physical and human

features of a location.features of a location.

• Location answers the question, "Where is it?" Location answers the question, "Where is it?"

• Place answers the question, "What is it like there?"Place answers the question, "What is it like there?"

• You can identify a place by such features as its You can identify a place by such features as its landforms, its climate, its plants and animals, or the landforms, its climate, its plants and animals, or the people who live there.people who live there.

• Much of the history of the southeastern United Much of the history of the southeastern United States was shaped by the fact that it had a mild States was shaped by the fact that it had a mild climate and fertile land suitable for large-scale climate and fertile land suitable for large-scale farming of crops such as tobacco.farming of crops such as tobacco.

3.3. RegionsRegions3.3. RegionsRegions – are areas that share common features. – are areas that share common features.

• Regions may be defined by geography or Regions may be defined by geography or culture. culture.

• For example, New York is one of the Middle For example, New York is one of the Middle Atlantic states because it is located on the Atlantic states because it is located on the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Ocean.

• In colonial days, it was one of the Middle In colonial days, it was one of the Middle Colonies. Colonies.

• And in the early 1800s, New York was one of And in the early 1800s, New York was one of the "free states" because slavery was banned the "free states" because slavery was banned there.there.

4.4. MovementMovement4.4. MovementMovement – Helps explain how people, goods, – Helps explain how people, goods,

and ideas get from one place to another.and ideas get from one place to another.

• Much of history has to do with the movement of Much of history has to do with the movement of people, goods, and ideas from place to place.people, goods, and ideas from place to place.

• One example of movement in American history is One example of movement in American history is anthropologists theory that Asian hunters anthropologists theory that Asian hunters emigrated across a land bridge from Asia to the emigrated across a land bridge from Asia to the Americas.Americas.

• A further example of the geographic theme of A further example of the geographic theme of movement in America is the movement of movement in America is the movement of immigrants from other countries to the United immigrants from other countries to the United States.States.

5.5. Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction5.5. Human-Environment Interaction – Human-Environment Interaction –

• Human-environment interaction has two parts:Human-environment interaction has two parts:

• The first part has to do with the way an environment The first part has to do with the way an environment affects people.affects people.– For example, people in the desert of the American Southwest For example, people in the desert of the American Southwest

developed very different ways of life from those living in the developed very different ways of life from those living in the rich farmlands of California.rich farmlands of California.

• The second part of interaction concerns the way people The second part of interaction concerns the way people affect their environment.affect their environment.– People mined silver in Nevada and Harnessed the power of People mined silver in Nevada and Harnessed the power of

falling water in North Carolina. In each case they changed their falling water in North Carolina. In each case they changed their environment. environment.

The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools• Globes and Maps:Globes and Maps:

*During the Age of Discovery (Exploration) *During the Age of Discovery (Exploration) explorers explored the Earth.explorers explored the Earth.

*Explorers recorded the information they *Explorers recorded the information they discovered.discovered.

*Mapmakers wanted to present this information *Mapmakers wanted to present this information correctly.correctly.

*The best way was to put it on a globe, a round *The best way was to put it on a globe, a round ball that represented the Earth.ball that represented the Earth.

The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools• The most accurate way to present information on the The most accurate way to present information on the

islands, continents, and bodies of water of the world is islands, continents, and bodies of water of the world is to put it all on a to put it all on a globeglobe, a round ball like the Earth , a round ball like the Earth itself.itself.

• The only difference between a globe and the Earth The only difference between a globe and the Earth itself is the itself is the scalescale, or size, represented on the globe., or size, represented on the globe.

• Globes have a disadvantage: They cannot be complete Globes have a disadvantage: They cannot be complete enough to be useful and at the same time be small enough to be useful and at the same time be small enough to be convenient. enough to be convenient.

• Therefore, people invented flat maps.Therefore, people invented flat maps.

GlobeGlobe

How Latitude and Longitude Form the How Latitude and Longitude Form the Global GridGlobal Grid

The HemispheresThe Hemispheres

The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools• Globes are not practical or easy to carry, Globes are not practical or easy to carry,

therefore flat maps were invented.therefore flat maps were invented.

• However, this presented a problem, However, this presented a problem, because the earth is round and a map is because the earth is round and a map is flat.flat.

• Mapmakers had to find ways to make Mapmakers had to find ways to make maps accurate.maps accurate.

MapsMaps

The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools

• Maps try to show the Earth, which is Maps try to show the Earth, which is round, on a flat surface. round, on a flat surface.

• This causes This causes distortiondistortion, or a change in , or a change in accuracy of the shapes and distances of accuracy of the shapes and distances of places. places.

• It is impossible to show the Earth on a It is impossible to show the Earth on a flat surface without some distortion.flat surface without some distortion.

Parts of a MapParts of a Map

Compass RoseCompass Rose

• A compass rose is A compass rose is a model of a a model of a compass. compass.

• It tells the cardinal It tells the cardinal directions, which directions, which are North, South, are North, South, East, and West.East, and West.

Parts of a MapParts of a Map

ScaleScale

• The scale on a map tells The scale on a map tells you the relative distance you the relative distance on the map to the real on the map to the real world. world.

• For example, a map’s For example, a map’s scale may tell you that scale may tell you that one inch on the map one inch on the map equals one mile in the real equals one mile in the real world.world.

Parts of a MapParts of a Map

KeyKey

• The key, or The key, or legend, on a map legend, on a map explains what the explains what the symbols on a map symbols on a map represent, such as represent, such as triangles triangles representing trees.representing trees.

Parts of a MapParts of a Map

GridsGrids

• Some maps use a Some maps use a grid of parallels and grid of parallels and meridians. On a map meridians. On a map of a small area, of a small area, letters and numbers letters and numbers are often used to are often used to help you find your help you find your location.location.

• In 1569, a geographer named Gerardus Mercator created a flat map to help sailors navigate long journeys across the globe.

• The Mercator projection is a map projection placing a map of the Earth onto a flat piece of paper.

• The Mercator projection is a conformal map, meaning that it shows correct shapes, but not true distances or sizes.

• There are many types of other projections of the globe.

Getting It All On the Map: Map ProjectionsGetting It All On the Map: Map Projections

The World: Robinson ProjectionThe World: Robinson Projection

Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection

• First used in 1963, the Robinson is a First used in 1963, the Robinson is a compromise projection.compromise projection.

• Because it presents a reasonable Because it presents a reasonable overall picture of the world, it is overall picture of the world, it is often used for educational materials.often used for educational materials.

Types of Maps: Physical MapsTypes of Maps: Physical Maps• Physical maps Physical maps

show the major show the major physical features physical features of a region, such of a region, such as seas, rivers, and as seas, rivers, and mountains.mountains.

• The larger the The larger the scale of a physical scale of a physical map the more map the more detail it can show.detail it can show.

Types of Maps: Political MapsTypes of Maps: Political Maps

• Political maps Political maps show political show political divisions, such as divisions, such as borders between borders between countries or states.countries or states.

• Political maps also Political maps also show the location show the location of cities.of cities.

Types of Maps: Thematic MapsTypes of Maps: Thematic Maps• A thematic map focuses on a

single subject or theme.

• They are different from general reference maps because they do not just show natural features like rivers, cities, political subdivisions and highways.

• If these items are on a thematic map, they are simply used as reference points to enhance the understanding of the map's theme and purpose.