Thinking Geographically – Chapter 1

Why is each point on Earth Unique? Location The position of anything on Earth’s surface Place A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character. Place describes a location. Seattle / Bellingham Bellingham State of Mind No Place on earth is exactly the same.

Place Toponym The name given to a portion of Earth’s surface (place name). Places are named for a variety of reasons Washington state place names - Website

Region Region – An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features. Example: Pacific Northwest Formal Region Functional Region Vernacular Region

3 Types of Regions Formal Regions: Also called a homogeneous region. An area in which everyone shares in one or more distinctive characteristics. Examples: Common Language – Central America – Spanish Economic Activity – Asia: Growing of Rice Environmental – Areas near the equator are tropical rainforest.

3 Types of Regions Functional Regions - An area organized around a node or focal point Example: Mormon Religion Seahawks Fans

Core-Domain Sphere – Functional Region DISCUSSION * Why does the reality of a culture region rarely follow the simplified model presented here? * Does the Mormon culture region here pre-empt or overlap with the U.S. "Mountain West" culture region? Sphere Figure 2.3 (p. 39)

The zone of outer influence for a culture region. The zone of greatest concentration or homogeneity of the culture traits that characterize a region. Core The area outside of the core of a culture region in which the culture is still dominant but less intense. Domain The zone of outer influence for a culture region. Sphere

Regions Vernacular - An area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity (perceptual region) Reflect feelings and images rather than objective data. How they view themselves View of Outsiders Example: Socks with Sandals, Red-Neck South

You might be from the PNW if: To you, if it doesn't have snow or hasn't erupted recently, it is not a real mountain. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain. You know the state flower is mildew. When the temperature gets above 50, you put on your shorts (If you're warm blooded, that is. If you're cold blooded, you wear a sweatshirt all summer.) You use the term "sun break" and know what it means. You never go camping without a poncho and waterproof matches. You know more people who own a boat than own an air conditioner. You know Forks is not a bunch of eating utensils but a town on the Olympic Peninsula. You feel overdressed if you wear a suit to a fancy restaurant. You know that a forecast of "rain, changing to showers" means "constant drizzle changing to intermittent drizzle."

Interaction

Diffusion Diffusion The process of spread of a feature or trend from one place to another over time. Diffusion is Movement! Example: Spanish and English Language in the Western Hemisphere.

Diffusion Relocation Diffusion Expansion Diffusion The spread of a feature or trend through bodily movement of people from one place to another. Example: Family moves to Bellingham from India and brings their Sikh or Hindu religion with them. Expansion Diffusion The spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in a snowballing process. Example: Contagious Stimulus Hierarchical

Expansion Diffusion – 3 Types: Contagious Diffusion The rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population. Spreads like a disease – but not necessarily applying only to diseases! Affects nearly uniformly all individuals and areas outward from the source region Examples – influenza, YouTube Videos

Stimulus Diffusion Stimulus Diffusion The spread of an underlying principle, even though a specific characteristic is rejected. A fundamental idea, though not the trait itself, stimulates imitative behavior Examples – Siberians domesticated reindeers (after seeing domesticated cattle), Iced Tea and Sweet Tea, World Series of poker and selling poker chips – Then later Paddle Boards.

Hierarchical Diffusion The spread of a feature or trend from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places Examples- Catholic Church

Cultural Hearths The region from which innovative ideas originate Examples – Islam, agriculture

Cultural barriers work against diffusion. Time-Distance Decay Distance Decay The diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin The acceptance of an innovation becomes less likely the longer it takes to reach its potential adopters. Cultural barriers work against diffusion.

Distance Decay