Unit 1: Human Geography

What is Geography? * It is the study of our earth; our home. OR *Anything that can be mapped!

OwlTeacher.com *Geography mixes up the physical and human aspects of our world into one field of study. *Geography shows the relationship between people and the environment.

The Five Themes of Geography There are five ways to look at the earth There are five ways to look at the earth When geographers work, they are guided by two basic questions: When geographers work, they are guided by two basic questions: 1)Where are things located? 2)Why are they there? To find these answers, geographers use five themes to organize information

Location There are two ways to think about location: There are two ways to think about location: 1.absolute location – describes the place’s exact position on the Earth. 2.relative location – explains where a place is by describing places near it.

Place This includes a location’s physical and human features. This includes a location’s physical and human features. –To describe physical features, you might say that the climate is hot or cold or that the land is hilly. –To describe human features, you might discuss how many people live there, what types of work they do, or what they do for fun.

Human-Environment Interaction How do people adjust to and change their environment? How does the environment adjust to and change the people? How do people adjust to and change their environment? How does the environment adjust to and change the people? Geographers also use interaction to study the consequences of people’s actions. Geographers also use interaction to study the consequences of people’s actions.

Movement Explains how people, goods, and ideas move from one place to another. Explains how people, goods, and ideas move from one place to another. Helps geographers understand cultural changes. Helps geographers understand cultural changes.

Regions A region has a unifying characteristic, like climate, land, population, or history. A region has a unifying characteristic, like climate, land, population, or history. On maps, geographers use color and shape or special symbols to show regions. On maps, geographers use color and shape or special symbols to show regions. Region is represented by a Thematic Map Region is represented by a Thematic Map

Map Skills

The Geographer’s Tools Globes and Maps: Globes and Maps: –As people explored the Earth, they collected information about it. –Mapmakers wanted to present this information correctly. –The best way was to put it on a globe, a round ball that represented the Earth.

–Because globes are not practical or easy to use to carry, flat maps were invented. –However, the earth is round and a map is flat. –Mapmakers had to find ways to make maps accurate.

OwlTeacher.com In 1569, a geographer named Gerardus Mercator created a flat map to help sailors navigate long journeys across the globe. The Mercator projection, or method of putting a map of the Earth onto a flat piece of paper, is used by nearly all deep-sea navigators. The Mercator projection is a conformal map, meaning that it shows correct shapes, but not true distances or sizes. There are many types of other projections of the globe. Getting It All On the Map The World: Mercator Projection

OwlTeacher.com There are many ways to show a globe on a flat map. The interrupted projection map, on the left, shows real sizes and shapes of continents. The equal area map, below left, shows size accurately. The Peters projection, below, shows land and oceans areas and correct directions accurately The World: Three Projections Interrupted Projection Equal-Area Projection Peters Projection

OwlTeacher.com The World: A Robinson Projection ARCTIC OCEAN

Types of Maps There are three basic types of maps: PHYSICAL POLITICAL and THEMATIC.

Physical Maps Physical maps show the natural features of the Earth. Physical maps do not contain man made features. For example, a physical map would be a map of what you would see if you were looking down on Earth from space.

Physical Maps

When you look at this map, what do you see? Notice you do not see country borders or city markings. These divisions are created by people. For example, there is no actual line dividing Texas from its bordering states. Although some astronauts (with the use of binoculars believe it or not) are able to see roads, large ocean tankers, and even the Great Pyramids from space, at very high altitudes, none of these are visible and all you are left with are natural land formations.

Political Maps

Unlike physical maps, political maps show how humans have impacted the landscape. For example, city names, roads, country borders, etc. are all part of political maps. Political maps change frequently (physical maps change very, very slowly through geologic processes) and must be redrawn often. A political map of the world that is 50 years old is no longer accurate. Wars and ethnic conflict are two major causes political maps change.

Political Maps

Thematic Maps Thematic maps can represent a variety of information including things like climate, precipitation, vegetation, elevation, population, life expectancy, etc. Thematic maps are generally used when you are looking at a single piece of information.

Thematic Maps

The Parts of a Map Title: The title tells what the map is about. This is the first part of the map you should look at. The title tells what the map is about. This is the first part of the map you should look at.

The Parts of a Map Scale The scale on a map tells you the relative distance on the map to the real world. For example, a map’s scale may tell you that one inch on the map equals one mile in the real world. The scale on a map tells you the relative distance on the map to the real world. For example, a map’s scale may tell you that one inch on the map equals one mile in the real world.

Compass Rose A compass rose is a model of a compass. It tells the cardinal directions, which are north, south, east, and west. A compass rose is a model of a compass. It tells the cardinal directions, which are north, south, east, and west.

Key The key, or legend, on a map explains what the symbols on a map represent, such as triangles representing trees. The key, or legend, on a map explains what the symbols on a map represent, such as triangles representing trees.

Grids Some maps use a grid of parallels and meridians. On a map of a small area, letters and numbers are often used to help you find your location. Some maps use a grid of parallels and meridians. On a map of a small area, letters and numbers are often used to help you find your location.

How Latitude and Longitude Form the Global Grid

Latitude and longitude Latitude lines run across the globe horizontally Lines of longitude run up and down, vertically on the globe.

OwlTeacher.com The Hemispheres

There are 4 hemispheres: Northern hemisphere, Southern hemisphere, Eastern hemisphere, and Western hemisphere The equator cuts the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere in half. The Prime Meridian cuts the eastern and western hemisphere in half

Key Features of Civilization

Cities Center of trade Centers of cultural diffusion

Central Governments Needed to oversee irrigation projects and other public works Ensure steady supply of food Create and uphold laws Defend citizens Collect taxes

Complex Religion Gods controlled forces of nature Priests were needed to convey the will of the gods It was everyone’s responsibility to make sure the gods were happy Indus Valley Prayer Statuettes Buddha Egyptian God Ra Greek God Zeus

Stable Food Supplies A society needs to have enough food so it can survive, plus some extra to trade. Trading food for goods leads to job specialization

Job Specialization When there is a surplus of food people no longer have to hunt and gather all day. They started to focus on the task or craft they were best at Artisans develop techniques and technologies to make their task easier and more efficient

Social Classes People were ranked in society based on the importance of their job Priests and warriors were typically considered the most important

Arts & Architecture Art was created in order to express beliefs and to honor important figures and deities Most major construction were built for religious purposes – temples, tombs – to honor their gods Ziggurat Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins Pyramids

Writing Usually originated with priests Initially used to create calendars and keep records of offerings to the gods Government will use writing to keep track of public records – taxes, treaties, “official” documents Cuneiform: Sumerian form of writing Egyptian Hieroglyphics