1. Introduction to Geography
ADEGOKE ADEMILUYI, PhD
Professor of Geography
Fayetteville state University

2. GEOGRAPHY: A FUNDAMENTAL DISCIPLINE
PART 1
GENERAL INTRO

3. Overview The Nature of Geography Evolution of the Discipline
Location, Direction, & Distance
Physical & Cultural Attributes
Places
Regions
Geography Themes & Standards
Geography Careers

4. The Nature of Geography
Geography as the spatial science
The study of spatial variation
How & why things differ from place to place on the surface of the earth

5. Spatial Essential modifier Meaning “Spatial behavior”
“Spatial process”
Meaning
The way things are distributed
The way movements occur
The way processes operate over the whole or part of the earth’s surface

6. Evolution of the Discipline
Ancient Greeks & Romans
Eratosthenes
Strabo
Herodotus
Ptolemy
Middle Ages
Muslim & Chinese scholars
Modern Geography

7. Subfields of Geography
Spatial Variation of
a. Physical (geography) implies natural objects or phenomena:
i. Mountains,hills valleys(geomorphology
ii. Climates and weather
iii. Vegetation, flora & fauna
Human Phenomena
i. Popualation
ii Urbanization
iii cultural

8. Subfields of Geography
Spatial systems
Regional Analysis
Geographic methods and techniques

9. Location Absolute Location Relative Location Mathematical location
Latitude & longitude
Other grid systems
Relative Location
Spatial interconnection & interdependence

10. Site & Situation Site Situation
The physical & cultural characteristics & attributes of the place itself
Situation
The external relations of a locale

11. Direction Absolute Direction Relative Direction
Cardinal points (N,S,E,&W)
Relative Direction
“Out West”
“Back East”

12. Distance Absolute Distance Relative Distance
Standard units such as miles or kilometers
Relative Distance
Time
“20 minutes from here”

13. Physical & Cultural Attributes
Physical Attributes
Climate, soil, water supply, mineral resources, terrain features
“natural landscape”
Cultural Attributes
Language, religion, agricultural patterns, food, music
“cultural landscape”

14. Places Attributes of places are always changing
Interrelations between places
Accessibility
Connectivity
Spatial diffusion
Globalization

15. Regions Areas of spatial similarity Formal Regions Functional Regions
Uniformity in one or a limited number of related physical or cultural features
“Columbia Plateau” or “The Corn Belt”
Functional Regions
A spatial system
Trade areas or transportation networks

16. Geography Themes & Standards
Five Fundamental Themes
National Standards
Four Traditions

17. Five Fundamental Themes
Location
Place
Relationships within places
Movement
Regions

18. National Standards The World in Spatial Terms Places & Regions
Physical Systems
Human Systems
Environment & Society
The Uses of Geography

19. Four Traditions Earth-Science Tradition Culture-Environment Tradition
Locational (or Spatial) Tradition
Area Analysis (or Regional) Tradition

20. Careers in Geography Can you get a job with a geography degree? Where?
Yes.
Where?
Government, nongovernmental organizations, public sector such as planning, business planning & analysis
GIS