What is Geography? Organized knowledge of the earth as the world of people (Balogh).

Okay, but what exactly is it? Well, it’s a way of thinking about intellectual problems, both natural and societal, which emphasizes the importance of spatial relationships.. Take any social, environmental, or physical question or problem and ask yourself whether there is a spatial aspect to it. Chances are that space and place play a role in the answers to that question. Mike Reed, Making It Up As I Go

Five “Key Themes” of Geography 1. Location – specific location, where? 2. Place – unique properties of a place 3. Movement – diffusion, communications 4. Region – an area’s uniform characteristics 5. Human-Earth Relationships – human interaction with an environment

Divisions of Academic Geography Physical Geography Human or Cultural Geography Rocks and Minerals Population Landforms Settlements Soils Economic Activities Animals Transportation Plants Recreational Activities Water Religion Atmosphere Political Systems Rivers and Other Water Bodies Social Traditions Environment Human Migration Climate and Weather Agricultural Systems Oceans Urban Systems

The Geography of Breakfast a geographic thinking demonstration

Top Ten Coffee Growing Countries COFFEE

Chocolate was “discovered” for Europe by Christopher Columbus, but it’s commercial possibilities were recognized by Hernan Cortez who was served a drink made from cocoa beans by Moctezuma, leader of the Aztecs (whom he later executed). The cacao tree, like coffee, grows only in the tropics. Today it is grown primarily for export to the U.S. and Europe. CHOCOLATE

Breakfast Foods Food Place of OriginCurrent Production coffeeEthiopiaTropics orangesSouth Asia, IndiaUS, Mediterranean porkChina, South AsiaWorldwide wheatNear EastUS, Russia, Argentina teaChinaAsia oats Near EastTemperate Climates pepperSouth AmericaAmericas, Asia

Cultural Geography What is CULTURE? Geographic Importance of Culture Sequential Occupance of California

What is CULTURE? Spend the next minute defining culture in your notes.

What is CULTURE? Culture is learned behavior that is passed on by imitation, instruction, and example. –Culture is almost entirely relative. Proper behavior shifts from culture to culture. Note: experiencing another culture is useful for gaining perspective on your own. Harshest punishment in history: banishment in “primitive” cultures.

Geographic Importance of Culture Geographers study culture because it leaves dramatic imprints on the earth, both physical and cultural. –Language: a crystal ball into culture. –Religion: strongest determinant of ethics. –Nationalism and Borders –Material Culture: tools, clothes, toys, etc. –Architecture: Suburban garages vs. earlier porches

What kinds of cultural values are reflected in each of these American houses? Gated community?

Cultural Geography’s Themes The Cultural Landscape Human-Environment Interaction The Region Space Sense of Place Connections (Movement, Migration, Trade) Scale Globalization

Five “Key Themes” of Geography 1. Location – specific location, where? 2. Place – unique properties of a place 3. Movement – diffusion, communications 4. Region – an area’s uniform characteristics 5. Human-Earth Relationships – human interaction with an environment

Location (“Space”) Coordinate Systems Latitude and Longitude - a reference system designed to provide “absolute” location (as opposed to relative locations). –Parallels of Latitude –Meridians of Longitude Distributions - how phenomena are arranged in space. Question: how do we describe distributions? For example, how are the students now distributed?

The Geographic Grid Latitude - angular measurement of distance north or south of the Equator. Range: degrees N or S 1 o latitude = approx. 69 miles (25,000 mi. /360 o ).

The Geographic Grid Longitude the angular measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Range: 0 o o E or W Maximum value reached at International Date Line o

Distribution of U.S. SARS Cases

Key Concept: Movement (Interconnections) Tobler’s 1 st Law of Geography All things are related. However, all other things being equal, those things that are closest together are more related. Related Concepts: –Distance Decay

Key Concepts Diffusion - the processes by which a feature, idea, or peoples spread to new places. Migration - the movement of people on the planet. Globalization – the increasingly interconnected nature of worldwide trade and exchange.

CONNECTIONS (Key Concepts)

Diffusion Relocation Contagious Stimulus Hierarchical Ideas, goods, and people move and diffuse across the earth. When people are involved we call this MIGRATION.

Place (versus Space) Why do places feel different to us? Why and how do they represent and reflect different meanings and even personal identity. Every place is unique. Imagine where you lived as a child. What is home? –All five senses –Physical and cultural elements –Architecture –Symbolic Place and Placelessness (Relph, 1978)

Sense of Place Groveland, CA Bourbon Street

Key Concepts: Regions REGION - an area with unifying characteristics Exercise: Spend the next minute remembering and writing down the name of ten regions. You may talk to one another.

Key Concepts Types of Cultural Regions Formal - all members share a characteristic Functional - defined by a node of activity and distance decay from center Vernacular - perception of cultural identity

Overlapping Formal and Functional Regions

Vernacular Regions

Culture and Regions: Nations and States Nationality: a group of people with common cultural heritage. State: country, a political entity with sovereignty over internal and foreign affairs. Often the two don’t overlap: Africa, E. Europe Nation-State: an ideal wherein state boudaries match national boundaries: Japan, France, Poland, Denmark. Nations without states: Kurds, Gypsies, French Canadians

Key Theme: The Cultural Landscape A characteristic and tangible outcome of the complex interactions between a human group and the natural environment For example, how is the European cultural landscape different than the U.S. landscape? Why? –Environmental Determinism: environment is primary determinant of culture. –Possibilism: humans are primary determinant of culture.

BIOMES Will these determine culture?

N.Y.C. Environmentally Determined?

What about Bali, Indonesia?

Human-Environment Interaction Successful cultures are those that adapt well to their environments. (Chaco Canyon, North Africa, Fertile Crescent, Easter Island) Chaco Canyon, New MexicoEaster Island, Polynesia

Culture and the Land Land tenure: Western culture allows individual land ownership. Native American did not. Sale of Manhattan for 23 guilders worth of junk jewelry. Who ripped off whom? Same process is at work today in the Amazon, in Papua New Guinea, and parts of S.E. Asian rainforest. Oil, mining, and ranching companies are the explorers today.

Where are we? What values are reflected in each? What relation to physical environment?

Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey Timber House, Switzerland Yurt on Mongolian SteppeSuburban Home, Chicago

Key Concepts: Core-Periphery Core –U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia –Wealthy –Powerful –Controls Media and Finance –Technologically advanced Periphery –Less Developed –Poor –Dependent upon Core countries for: Education Technology Media Military Equipment

Key Concepts: Core-Periphery

Globalization The increasing interconnectedness of different parts of the world through common processes of economic, political, and cultural change. Panama, 1997

Geography and Politics Ties to Military Role in Colonization Role in Imperialism Role in Cold War Ethnocentrism Masculinism Racism Foreign - 4) Situated in an abnormal or improper place. 5) Not natural: alien. The American Heritage Dictionary

Baja, 1996

Bainbridge, Georgia 2001

Graton Beach, Florida Panhandle, 1999

Northern Baja Rest Stop, 1998

San Diego’s Mission Beach, 1999

Santa Cruz, CA 1996

Baker, CA “Home of the World’s Largest Thermometer” Mojave Desert