Introduction to AP Human Geography Mr. Stepek

Geography thru history “geography” from the Greek (Eratosthenes) “geo” = Earth “graph” = to write or describe  geography = “to write about or describe the Earth” Aristotle = torrid, temperate and frigid zones Ptolemy = wrote Guide to Geography (“Geographica”) an eight volume series detailing the cities and peoples of the Earth. Alexander von Humboldt, Carl Ritter = “Father(s) of Modern Geography” Insert a picture illustrating a season in your country.

Map scale (relationship of distance on a map to that in reality) see summer assignment Expressed in terms of words, fraction, ratio, or bar scale Large scale = small area Small scale = large area

Level of Aggregation (on what “scale” are you analyzing a phenomenon) Must compare “apples to apples”!!!

Models: Abstract generalization to help explain a common pattern. Non-spatial models shows a pattern related to geography in a graph or from other than a map. Spatial models show commonalities in the patters of similar landscapes

Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization. Density: how often an object occurs within a given area or space (used often with population) Arithmetic density = occurrence or population/total area Physiological density = population/arable (farmable) land measures ability of area to feed its population Agricultural density measures farming efficiency/modernization Concentration: refers to the proximity over the area in which an item is spread. Cluster/agglomeration = close together Dispersed/scattered = spread out Pattern: how things are organized within their space. Linear = along a straight line (any other descriptive shape as well) Centralized = grouped together Random = no discernible pattern

“Mapping a three dimensional world on a two-dimensional surface” = Map Projections

Mercator Projections (1569)

Classic distortion example: South America vs. Greenland

Robinson Projection

Peters Projection

Goode’s “Interrupted” projection All projections have some degree of distortion: size, shape, distance, or direction

Map legend/key For analysis purposes special attention MUST be placed on the map index or legend Identifies scale Identifies symbols Identifies color coding

Thematic Types of Maps: choropleth unit is assigned color best = shades of same color darker = greater strength shows dominance of a trait weakness level of aggregation/generalization must be considered. could give false conclusion must compare “apples to apples”

Thematic Types of Maps: dot maps dots indicate the # of occurrences in a given area provides a spatial pattern Shows pattern/concentration Best for raw data, not ratios or normalized data early use of GIS

Thematic Types of Maps: isoline/isopleth similar data is connected by lines Always use for elevation Ex: barometric pressure on weather maps Data bands assigned colors = isopleth

Thematic Types of Maps: flow line maps Shows movement of people, information, and goods between places

Types of Maps: Topographic Reflects the Earth’s physical features (terrain, elevation)

Graphs in the form of “maps”: Cartograms Distorts size of a map units to allow comparison of data. more of a “graph” concept than a map = graph in map form

2008 Election Results

Five Themes of Geography Location Place Region Interaction Movement Where? (most basic question) How can this location be described? With what other locations does this place share certain characteristics? How have humans and the environment affected each other in this location? How has this location been affected by the flow of people, goods and ideas? Insert a map of your country.

Five Themes of Geography mnemonic Movement Region Location Interaction Place = “Mr. Lip” Insert a picture of one of the geographic features of your country.

Two ways to describe a “location” Absolute or “Exact” location Using latitude and longitude Latitude (parallels) = horizontal lines measure distance N/S from Equator climate Longitude (meridians) = vertical lines measured in distance E/W of Prime Meridian 180 E or W = International Date Line time Another type = street addresses, “townships” Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Two ways to describe a “location” Relative location where something is, in reference to someplace else. “Illinois is south of Wisconsin” San Francisco is 350 miles north of L.A. can hint at the importance of a location Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Location Tools GPS (Global Positioning System) uses satellites to pinpoint location, direction, velocity often used for civilian navigation mapmaking and surveying commerce hobbies geocaching “hi-tech treasure hunt” Insert a picture illustrating a custom or tradition here.

Location Tools (continued) GIS (geographic info. system) computer hardware and software permits storage/analysis of data in layers Ghost Map (Snow/Cholera) Remote sensing collect data with tools while physically distant from the area. areas are dangerous/inaccessible Insert a picture of the head leader of your country.

Place: how can a location be described? People Physical toponym = place name Chicago = “skunk place” swamp where wild onions grew Michigan = “large water” “Half Day Road” climate and vegetation Koppen’s climate classification 5 main regions furthered subdivided by temperature and precipitation Biomes (ecosystems) Examples: forest, grassland, savanna, desert

Koppen’s climate classification

Place: how can a location be described? People Physical toponyms England = “Land of the Angles” “New England”, “Greektown” demographics “demo” = people  “to describe people” population/cultural stats ethnicity, language, religion age & gender, economic stats density toponym = place name climate and vegetation terrain/landform mountainous, flat, coastal built terrain type and density of construction

Region: commonalities between places 3 ways to discuss region Formal or uniform = homogeneous characteristics shared by places. area where everybody speaks the same language uniform terrain or physical features jurisdictions (everyone is subject to same laws)

Formal regions

Region: commonalities between places 3 ways to discuss region Functional or nodal = organized around a central point. market areas are the best example Radio stations, zip codes, delivery areas, etc.

Functional region

Region: commonalities between places 3 ways to discuss region Perceptual or vernacular = based on a person’s cultural identity, shared values, cultural landscape, “in our minds” = mental map Midwest, “Rust Belt”, “Middle America” South, “Bible Belt”, “Deep South” Neighborhood designations

Perceptual or vernacular regions

Perceptual regions are often contradictory

Interaction: the relationship between humans and their environment. Adaptation Modification How do humans  to better fit into their environment. Clothing, housing, behavior New Yorkers often don’t own cars. Too crowded, too hard to park

Interaction: the relationship between humans and their environment. Adaptation Modification How do humans  their environment to better suit themselves, examples: infrastructure public improvements engineering New York City largest subway in world How do humans  to better fit into their environment. Clothing, housing, behavior New Yorkers often don’t own cars. Too crowded, too hard to park Use the subway or walk Cultural ecology = Carl Sauer Environmental determinism vs. possibilism Does our environment determine who we are or simply give us possibilities?

Interaction: the relationship between humans and their environment. Adaptation Modification How do humans  their environment to better suit themselves, examples: infrastructure public improvements engineering New York City largest subway in world sewer system bridges and tunnels Lower Manhattan landfill Central Park Natural oasis in the midst of urban density How do humans  to better fit into their environment. Clothing, housing, behavior New Yorkers often don’t own cars. Too crowded, too hard to park Use the subway or walk Cultural ecology = Carl Sauer Environmental determinism vs. possibilism Does our environment determine who we are or simply give us possibilities?

Modification

Movement (people = “migration”) sequent occupance stages of human occupation over time Reflects impact of different groups on a place Each group leaves their mark Example: Can you name this neighborhood Irish, Germans  Czech  Mexicans  hipsters PILSEN

Movement (of ideas/culture = “diffusion”) hearth = place of origination 1) Relocation diffusion spread thru migration 2) Expansion diffusion a) Contagious fast, widespread to those in contact or adjacent (like disease) b) Hierarchical spread through nodes of power or influence or authority Stimulus examples = Cherokee alphabet, development of Judeo-Christianity, changes to fast food menus

Movement (of ideas/culture = “diffusion”) hearth = place of origination 1) Relocation diffusion spread thru migration 2) Expansion diffusion a) Contagious fast, widespread to those in contact or adjacent (like disease) b) Hierarchical spread through nodes of power or influence or authority c) Stimulus underlying principles/idea spread but not end product Barriers to diffusion physical and cultural barriers distance decay (Tobler’s Law) Time-space compression reduction of time it takes for movement especially quickened by the internet Stimulus examples = Cherokee alphabet, development of Judeo-Christianity, changes to fast food menus

Globalization set of processes that are: increasing interactions deepening relationships heightening interdependence without regard to country borders set of outcomes that are: unevenly distributed varying across scales differently manifested throughout the world.

“Site and Situation” combines “physical place” concepts and “relative location” to explain the importance of a place. site = what gives a location its distinctive character situation = how the “site” factors give this location importance (what connections does it facilitate? what advantages do the site factors give?) London Site: island Thames River = estuary North Atlantic Situation Protected from invasion ideal for trade 1530 = 50,000 1625 = 225,000

New York City “Site and Situation” island Atlantic coast large, natural, deep-water harbor mouth of Hudson River Erie Canal (1825) mountains to west form barrier abundant fresh water ideal for shipping docks numerous and protected triangular trade, connect to Europe connects to the interior before RRs ship through Great Lakes Access to raw materials center of commerce and trade overtakes Philly as largest port inland movement limited → can support a large population 1 of 3 dominant global cities