What is Geography?

Geography is the study of people, their environments, and their resources. Geographers ask how the natural environment affects us, and how we affect it. By showing how people and the land are related, geography helps explain the past and the present.

Five Themes of Geography 5 Themes of Geography Location (absolute and relative) Place Human/Environmental Interaction Movement Regions

Location Where is it? Absolute location: given in degrees, latitude or longitude Relative Location: depends on point of reference.

Place Physical features and human features. Climate, soil, plant life, bodies of water. Historical Connection: People move to places where there are opportunities. Early colonists settled along the coasts for fish, and easy trade.

Human/Environment Interaction People adapt to and change their environment to survive and better their lives.

Movement The movement of people, goods and ideas. Occurs because resources are scattered unevenly around the world. Historical Connection: Land Bridge Theory

Regions An area of the world that has similar, unifying characteristics. Human, Physical, Cultural. Think. Chinatown (cultural) Rocky Mountains (Physical)