AP FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY Rubenstein Text

Theme #1: Location (14-20) Where is it? Two types of location 1. Absolute (Mathematical Location): exact place on earth Use latitude and longitude coordinates 2. Relative (Situation): describes a place in comparison to other places around its Ex: library is three blocks west of the park

Latitude and Longitude Latitude Runs parallel to the equator and measures north and south “Changes in latitude Changes an attitude” Longitude Run parallel to the Prime Meridian and measure east and west

Equator- imaginary line that divides the earth into north and south halves Prime Meridian- imaginary line that divides the earth into east and west halves International Date Line- 180 degress longitude

Time Zones

Theme #2: Place (5) What is it like? Physical and cultural characteristics of a location Climate Landforms Vegetation Human influence: dams, highways, etc. A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular charcteristic

Ways in which geographers describe place 1. Toponym- name given to a place on Earth Named for person, religion, ancient history, physical enviornment, direction 2. Site- the physical character of a place Climate, water sources, topography, soil, vegetation, latitude, and elevation Essential in selecting locations for settlement 3. Situation- location of a place relative to other places Identify other landmarks to direct people to the desired location Helps understand the importance of location

Place Comparison Place Name: The most straightforward way to name a particular location. A toponym is the name given to a place on Earth. Names are vast and based on many factors. Site: The physical character of a place. Situation: The location of a place relative to other places. Mathematical Location: Describes a precise location that is drawn by a formula that pinpoints a specific point on a meridian and a parallel. Place Name: Atlanta, Georgia Site: Lies on the central piedmont which extends to the fall line of the rivers. South of the most southerly of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeast and north central portion of the state. Above and to the north of the coastal plain, which levels to the coastal flatlands. Situation: Urban Metropolis which is centrally located in the southeast portion of the United States, in an ideal location for trade and travel. Mathematical Location: Location: N, W

Atlanta, Georgia Place Name: Atlanta, Georgia Site: Lies on the central piedmont which extends to the fall line of the rivers. South of the most southerly of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeast and north central portion of the state. Above and to the north of the coastal plain, which levels to the coastal flatlands. Situation: Urban Metropolis which is centrally located in the southeast portion of the United States, in an ideal location for trade and travel. Mathematical Location: Location: N, W

2 Aspects of Place Physical characteristics Landforms Bodies of water Climate Vegetation Animal life Cultural characteristics Population settlement Agriculture Industry Religion

2 Aspects of Place – Atlanta, GA Physical characteristics Landforms (hills) Bodies of water (Chattahoochee R.) Climate (ex. humid subtropical) Vegetation Animal life Cultural characteristics Population settlement (Hartsfield-Jackson airport) Businesses (Home Depot, Coca- Cola) Religion Food (Varsity) Recreation (Turner Field, parks) Education (GT)

For the following places, come up with a list of at least 3 physical and 3 cultural characteristics you can identify by looking at the pictures

Atlanta, GA

2 Aspects of Place – Atlanta, GA Physical characteristics Landforms (hills) Bodies of water (Chattahoochee R.) Climate (ex. humid subtropical) Vegetation Animal life Cultural characteristics Population settlement (Hartsfield-Jackson airport) Businesses (Home Depot, Coca- Cola) Religion Food (Varsity) Recreation (Turner Field, parks) Education (GT)

FOR THE FOLLOWING PLACES, COME UP WITH A LIST OF AT LEAST 3 PHYSICAL AND 3 CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS YOU CAN IDENTIFY BY LOOKING AT THE PICTURES Your Assignment

Pittsburgh, PA

Venice, Italy

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tunisia

India

Bringing it all together After looking at the physical and cultural characteristics you listed for the international locations (NOT Pittsburgh), if you had to pick one to live in, which would it be? What aspects of this place led you to this decision? Why is this the best choice for YOU?

Theme #3: Region How are places similar or different? Area of the earth distinguished by a distinctive combination of cultural and physical features Different types of regions 1. formal 2. functional 3. perceptual

Formal Region Formal Region: An area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.

Formal Region (21) Limited number of regional characteristics Generally defined by continental area and cultural styles or predominant characteristincs Examples: United States and Canada Latin America (Spanish/Portuguese speaking) Europe Southwest Asia (Islam and desert regions) South Asia (Hinduism and Aryan/Dravidian descent) East Asia (Buddhism and Asian descent) OR The Wheat Belt Republican/Democratic States Bible Belt Can be determined by the scale at which you view an area (Country, state, county, city, etc.)

Gore Vs. Bush What regional characteristics appear on these maps? What conclusions can you draw?

Functional Regions (21) Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places Characterized by a hub or central place/focal point Examples: New York City Metro Atlanta MDJ/AJC 11 Alive AM 750/95.5

Functional Region Functional Region: Also called a nodal region, is an area organized around a node or focal point.

Vernacular Regions (22) AKA Perceptual Regions Region in which people perceive the characteristics; however, sometimes they can be disagreed upon Ex: What states would you consider to be in the southeast?

Vernacular Regions Cont’d (22) Place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity Example: Mental map- internal representation of the Earth’s surface Example: “The South” High cotton production Low graduation rates States in the Confederacy Baptists Southerners and other Americans share a strong sense of the American South… some pride it… some avoid it

What type of region would you consider this to be?

Theme #4: Human Environment Interaction (25) How do people relate to the physical world? The study of human environment relationships is cultural ecology People learn to use what the environment offers them and to change that environment to meet their needs Examples: dams, roads, highways, cities, slash-and-burn, deforestation, etc.

Types of Cultural Ecology Environmental determinism States physical environment causes social development Climate Precipitation Topography

Types of Cultural Ecology Possiblism Physical environment can limit human action, but people have the ability to adjust to the environment People learn what crops thrive Technology… air conditioning

Theme #5: Movement (86) How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another? Human geography focuses on how people migrate and spread their ideas Ex: immigrations from Europe to the U.S…. Why leave? What factors caused this?

Diffusion – 2 different types Relocation Diffusion – The spread of an idea through the physical movement of people from one place to another. Variety of reasons for relocation such as political, economic, and environmental

Diffusion – 2 different types Expansion Diffusion Three Types Hierarchical Diffusion – From persons of authority or power Contagious Diffusion – Rapid, widespread Stimulus Diffusion – underlying principle

Globalization Globalization: A force or process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope. Uniform Integrated Interdependent Completive Nature

Globalization of Culture Increasingly uniform cultural preferences produce uniform global landscapes of material artifacts and of cultural values. Transnational corporations – companies located in more than one country (McDonald’s)

Space: Distribution Of Features Distribution – The arrangement of a feature on Earth’s surface. May be close together, or far apart History vs. Geography Three Main Properties Density Concentration Pattern

Density Arithmetic Density – The total number of objects in the area, often total population divided by its area. Physiological Density – The number of people per unit of arable land (land suitable for agriculture). Agricultural Density – The number of farmers per unit of farmland.

Concentration: The extent of a feature’s spread over space. Comparing the Concentration Clustered – When the objects in an area are closer together. Dispersed – When the objects in an area are farther apart.

Pattern: The geometric arrangement of objects in spaces/regions. Grid Patterns/Town Squares Land Ordinance of 1785 Distribution - Density/Concentration/Pattern

GLOBALIZATION AND SPATIAL INTERACTION OF PLACES

Connections Between Places Space-Time Compression – Used to describe the reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place. Growing or Shrinking? Technology – Communications and Transportation Culture and Economy

Space-Time Compression Places seem closer because of increased technology and the ability to access/travel to them quicker

Spatial Interaction Communication has made it possible for people in distant places to be aware of other people with different cultural beliefs, customs, and traits. Networks – Computer, Television, and Transportation Barriers – Physical and Cultural

Distance Decay The decreasing and eventual disappearance of a any aspect or event. Opposite of space-time compression. “The farther you are away from something the less likely it is to impact you”.

Connections Between Places Diffusion – Process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time. There are two basic types – Relocation Expansion Hearth - The place (region) from which an innovation originates.