Why do we use the five themes? Location, Human/Environmental Interactions, Regions, Place, Movement Geographers begins with knowing WHERE things are. Next they ask WHY? Finally, HOW places influence our lives?

Location: Position on the Earth’s Surface Ways to indicate location (position): – Maps: probably the best – Place name (toponym): Chandler, Silver City, St. Petersburg – Site: Physical characteristics – Absolute location: latitude and longitude – Relative location (situation): Chandler- 20 miles southeast of Phoenix – Distribution: density (arithmetic), concentration, pattern

Where? Why? How?

Human/Environmental Interactions (Cultural Ecology) Cultural landscape- human-induced change Environmental Determinism- human behavior is controlled by the environment Possibilism- environment limits the range of choices a culture has, but doesn’t deter Environmental modification- both positive and negative THINK OF EXAMPLES OF EACH OF THESE!

Regions: Areas of Unique Characteristics Ways of organizing people geographically Distinctive characteristics – Area, location, boundaries, OTHER Three types – Formal, functional, perceptual Regions seen in a hierarchy – Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona, Southwestern US

Place: Associations Among Phenomena Culture: Anything that is passed from generation to generation Components of culture – Culture region, culture trait, culture complex, Physical processes – Climate, vegetation, soil, landforms

Movement Culture Hearths Cultural diffusion – Expansion diffusion: an idea staying strong and spreading Contagious diffusion, Hierarchical diffusion, Stimulus diffusion – Relocation diffusion Migrant diffusion, Acculturation, Transculturation – Forces against diffusion Time-distance decay, Cultural barriers