Visual Vocabulary!

Geography Discuss this term in your group and see if you can determine why it was an important factor throughout American history.

Geography – The study of the spatial aspects of earth and the people who live on it.

Geography is actually two words; Geo and Graph Geography is actually two words; Geo and Graph. Geo literally means “Earth,” and Graph is a drawing or a visual representation of something. Literally, then, Geography means “a drawing of the Earth!”

With a little help, here’s a guy practicing his “geography!”

Climate – The average weather pattern of a region over a period of time. In this region of Texas, our climate is warm and moist. In New England, the climate is cold and moist.

Environment – Surroundings that include physical, social, and cultural conditions.

The term environment gets used to describe conditions both indoors and outdoors. Sometimes it’s used to talk about pollution or other negative conditions, but we can use it simply to describe what we see.

A rugged environment! The trans-Pecos area in the Mountains and Basins region of Texas!

Topography – The physical features of an environment; words like “flat,” “mountainous,” “hilly,” or “forested” describe the topography of a region.

Location – The position of a place on the earth’s surface. (Answers the question “Where is it?”) Note – two kinds of location…absolute location and relative location; we’ll get to more specific definitions in a minute!

Look! It’s right over there!

Absolute Location describes the location of something on the surface of the earth using coordinates of Longitude and Latitude.

Coordinates of Longitude describe points that run parallel to the equator in degrees east and west of the Prime Meridian.

Coordinates of Latitude describe points that run parallel to the Prime Meridian in degrees north and south of the equator.

Relative Location describes the location of your mom. Uhh Relative Location describes the location of your mom. Uhh..I’m sorry; that’s the location of a relative, MY BAD! Actually, relative location is the position of one place compared to the location of another place!

For example, let’s say you didn’t know where Galveston was, so you asked me, “Where’s Galveston?” . Pasadena

Well, you obviously KNOW where League City is (since you’re there Well, you obviously KNOW where League City is (since you’re there!), so I tell you “Galveston is about 45 miles south southeast of here!” THAT is a relative location! . League City

Region – An area that is unified by one or more common characteristics.

Texas has four main regions: The Coastal Plains (where we live);

Each region is defined by it’s environment; the Coastal Plains are mostly flat, fairly wet and warm and exist at low to moderate elevations.

Movement – People interacting across the globe – included migration, transportation, and trade.

If not for movement, most of us wouldn’t be here!

Push-Pull Factor(s)

Factors that cause movement; a “pull factor” draws a person to a new place (better job, nicer home, etc.) and a “push factor” forces someone to move (war, famine, persecution, etc.)

Economic Activity – What people do to make a living Economic Activity – What people do to make a living. Economic activity, especially in colonial times, was dictated by topography and climate.

Very most important. “Geography dictates economy Very most important! “Geography dictates economy!” In colonial America (in fact, up and including the Civil War), the climate, environment and topography dictated how people earned a living, leading to…..

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Sectionalism! The idea and attitude that the way of life in one region is superior to that of another, causing friction and tension between the regions.