GEO317 – World Regional Geography Introduction: Themes and Regions

The spatial science –Where? (and What’s there? And What’s it like?) –Why there? (and How did it get there?) What is Geography?

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems (e.g., boundaries, economic activities, religion) 2.Physical systems (e.g., climate, landforms, oceans) Russian Orthodox cathedralRockies

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems 2.Physical systems 3.Location = Where is it? –Absolute Street address Latitude Longitude Map quizzes –Relative

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems 2.Physical systems 3.Location 4.Place = What’s it like? You might guess where these pictures were taken by observing place characteristics.

Learning about Place by analyzing photos Cultural landscapes –“culture is the agent, the natural area is the medium, the cultural landscape is the result” (Sauer, 1925) –Human/Environment interaction –“Our unwitting autobiography” (Lewis, 1979) produces “regional character” Quebec city, Canada Protest in Burma Tajikistan

DeBlij and Muller, Realms, 2005 Place = what’s it like? What do the darker colors represent? Wealth gives an idea of “what it’s like”

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems 2.Physical systems 3.Location 4.Place 5.Human/Environment Interaction

Human-Environment Interaction How does physical geography influence humans? –Environmental Determinism? How do humans influence their environment? –“Sustainable development”

Human- Environment Interaction Dubai, UAE Great Plains, USA Desert defeated? Ski Dubai

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems 2.Physical systems 3.Location 4.Place 5.Human/Environment Interaction 6.Movement

Movement Immigration to Europe Tea plantation in Sri Lanka

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems 2.Physical systems 3.Location 4.Place 5.Human/Environment Interaction 6.Movement 7.Regions Regional Geography presents a synthesis of all themes of geography

Regions What is a region? Transition zones between regions Three categories of regions: –Formal –Functional (also called spatial systems = core and periphery) –Perceptual (Vernacular) Regions are created to suit purpose –Authors’ criteria? –Composed of states (countries) DeBlij and Muller, Realms, 2005

Formal Regions of …? DeBlij and Muller, Realms, 2005

Functional Regions Census Bureau map of Metropolitan areas

Regions for GEO317 Introduction Europe Russia and Neighboring Countries (Central Asia) East Asia Southeast Asia South Asia North Africa and the Middle East (Southwest Asia) Africa South of the Sahara Australia and the Pacific/Oceania Latin America and the Caribbean Blend of human/physical, formal/functional criteria Why not United States and Canada?

“Themes” in Geography 1.Human systems 2.Physical systems 3.Location 4.Place 5.Human/Environment Interaction 6.Movement 7.Regions 8.Maps and map interpretation –See next slideshow

Why does World Regional Geography matter? (Mexican) immigration Inexpensive consumer goods (e.g., iPhone) Gasoline prices Human rights (e.g., right to practice religion freely) – ry/50-countries-where-hardest-to-be-christian-world- watch-list.htmlhttp:// ry/50-countries-where-hardest-to-be-christian-world- watch-list.html Environmental concerns Understand how to deal with others

Careers in Geography Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Planning Meteorology Human Geography

Google Earth = “consumer grade” Mapping Technologies (GIS, GPS, RS) Hobbs and Salter, Essentials, 2005 Optional follow-up courses: GEO110 Basic GIS GEO111 Air Photos and Satellite Imagery GEO201 Intro GPS GEO426 Principles of GIS