AP HuGe Basic Concepts of Geography (review) Key Issues: How Do Geographers Describe Where Things Are? * Purpose of Geography and the Theme of Location (absolute / relative) Why Is Each Point on Earth Unique? * Theme of Place and Region

What is geography? 1. Geo - the earth Graphy - writing about, describing, or the study of 2. The study of where people, places, and things are located and how these 3 things relate to each other These relationships involve the study of the distribution (spread) interaction of physical (natural) features and human features on the earth.

What will you gain? 1. See the world from - different perspectives or views (based on scale) Local - city, county, or state Regional - part of a country, country, or continent Global - the world as whole

2. Provides a way to organize information making it logical (easy to understand) 3. Will help you to: *make better decisions about your life *contribute to solving problems (environment/ racism/ poverty) *increase opportunities *interact better in a complex and competitive world * find the truth by not rushing to judgment

How do geographers organize information about the world? By asking 5 questions which are turned into themes

5 Themes of Geography The first question – where is it ? Creates the theme of Location 1. Location can be described in 2 ways- absolute (specific) and relative (general) Absolute – uses a precise point on earth to determine the location of a place. 1. This point is found by using imaginary lines (circles) that cross creating the global grid

Latitude Lines (aka parallels) -measure north and south distances from the Equator Equator – starting point (0 degrees) which splits the earth into 2 equal halves or hemispheres (northern & southern) Poles – are the ending points (90 degrees N & S from the Equator) Tropic Lines – are found at 23.5 degrees north (Cancer) and south (Capricorn ) * define the warmest part of the earth (tilt of the earth in relation to the sun) Arctic / Antarctic circles – 66.5 degrees N & S * define the coldest part of the earth

Longitude Lines (aka meridians) -measure east and west distances from the Prime Meridian (Greenwich England) Prime Meridian – starting point (0 degrees) divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres 180 degree meridian – ending point (aka – International Date Line)

Global Grid The global grid is described by using coordinates – latitude is always listed first Coordinates are described in – degrees, minutes, and seconds *be sure to always list the hemispheres of the coordinates

Relative Location (situation) RL – a general description of where one place is located in relation to other places using – distance (miles / km) or time (days, hrs, min) and direction (N,S, E,W, NW, SE, etc) time can be described in different ways depending on the mode (method) of transportation example – CL is ? of Chicago 50 miles NW of Chicago Relative Location (situation)

The 2nd question – what is it like? Creates the theme of Place

Place (site) Place – describes unique features that distinguish (separate) it from other places Physical – natural features (landforms, water, climate, vegetation, wildlife) Human –manmade features * material – objects (roads, buildings, goods, etc.) * nonmaterial – ideas (language, religion, philosophies on politics or economics, etc.) Every place – will change over time (due to technology, pop. growth, etc.) * human features change much more rapidly (quickly) than physical features

The 3rd question – how are places similar and different The 3rd question – how are places similar and different? Creates the theme of Region

Regions are areas of the earth defined by places that share similar characteristics Formal/Uniform – defined by a common physical or human feature Physical – Great Lakes or Rocky Mountain Human – Latin America (cultural) or the United States (political) Functional/Nodal – are defined by focal points (nodes) that are connected to other places by some type of movement examples – Chicago Metropolitan Area - Mississippi River Basin Perceptual/Vernacular – are based on how people perceive something example – the Midwest region may contain different states Region

Key Issues. 3. Why are Different Places. Similar. Theme of movement. 4 Key Issues 3. Why are Different Places Similar? *Theme of movement 4. Why are Some Human Actions Not Sustainable? *Theme of human-environment interaction

The 4th question – How do people, goods, and ideas move from place to place Creates the theme of Movement

Movement Movement looks at several areas:                                                             Movement Movement looks at several areas: Migration of people – emigration (leaving from), immigration (coming to), and travel Trade of goods – imports (buying from abroad) and exports (selling abroad) Transportation networks – roads, RR, water, air, etc. Communication networks – T.V., radio, phone, internet, satellites, etc.

The 5th question – how do people interact with the physical / natural world? Creates the theme of Human Environment Interaction (H.E.I.)

Human – Environment Interaction (HEI) Adapting – humans change themselves to blend in with the natural environment Examples – types of clothes & food consumed Does little damage to the environment Altering– humans change the environment to meet their wants or needs **come up with you own ideas here (below) example – benefits - consequences – ways to minimize – key is to – find a balance!

What is the importance of understanding the 5 themes of geography? Final Thought 5 themes are not – mutually exclusive (independent) as they overlap and relate directly (influence) to each other Understanding the themes can help us determine how our earth developed and this will allow us to logically solve problems that we face now and in the future