The Five Themes of Geography Chapter 1 Section 1

Geography Comes from the greek word Geographia, which means “to describe the earth”. Geography: the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth. Geographers use a variety of tools: maps, photographs, charts, graphs, and tables (analyzing data to understand patterns), and they also use scale and graphic models to make the study of the real world easier and to illustrate ideas.

The Five Themes Location – Where is it? Place – What is it like? Region – How are places similar or different? Movement – How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another? Human-Environment Interaction – How do people relate to the physical word?

Location Geographers describe location in two ways: Absolute Location and Relative Location. Absolute location: use of a grid system with imaginary lines to precisely locate places on earths surface. The world is divided into two equal halves, where that be North and South or East and West. The Equator is the imaginary line that divides the earth in north and south halves, and the Prime Meridian divides the earth east and west. Latitude lines: run parallel to the equator. Zero-degree line starts on the equator with lines above it north and below it south Longitude lines: go around the earth over the poles. Prime meridian is the zero-degree line. With lines to the right east and to the left west. Each site on earth has only one absolute location. To find absolute location on a map geographers use this imaginary grid. For example Havana’s location is 40° 18’ N/90 ° 3’ W Relative Location: describes how a place is related to its surrounding environment. An example would be that our school is two blocks from McDonalds. It would help someone know where the school is at based on their previous knowledge of where McDonalds is. Using relative information may help you become familiar with the specific characteristics of a place.

Place What is it like? Physical features: climate, landforms, and vegetation. Also products of human interactions such as dams, highways, and houses. Cultural characteristics: humans interacting with animals or other humans Since a locations cultrure and its use of space may change over time, the description of a place may also change.

Region How are places similar or different? Region: an area of the earths surface with similar characteristics. Regions usually have more than one characteristics that unify them. These can be physical, political, economical, or cultural characteristics. Geographers characterize regions in three ways: Formal: usually defined by continental area are by similar cultural styles. Such as: Europe, Africa, Latin America, or the Middle East. Functional: is organized around a set of interactions and connections between places. Usually a functional region is characterized by a central place. Such as a city and the suburbs. Highways, trains, and subways move people in and out of the city for jobs and activities. Perceptual: a region in which people perceive, or see, the characteristics of the region in the same way. Although, the characteristics may not be precisely the same for all people. An example would be of the midwest. Many people are familiar with the region, but some have different ideas of where it begins. Some believe in Ohio and others believe in the middle of Illinois.

Movement How do people goods, and ideas move from one location to another? Geographers analyze movement by looking at three types of distance: linear, time, and psychological distance. Linear: How far across the earth a person, an idea, or a product travels. Time: the amount of time it takes for a person, an idea, or product to travel. Psychological: the way people view distance. Psychological distance may influence decisions about many different human activities.

Human-Environment Interaction How do people relate to the physical world? The relationship between humans and their environment. People learn to use what the environment offers them and to change the environment to meet their needs. Not all people respond the same to living in a similar environment.

Review What are the five themes of geography? How is place different from location? How do you find absolute location?