1. AP Five Themes of Geography
Rubenstein Text

2. Theme #1: Location (14-20) Where is it? Two types of location
1. Absolute (Mathematical Location): exact place on earth
Use latitude and longitude coordinates
2. Relative (Situation): describes a place in comparison to other places around its
Ex: library is three blocks west of the park

3. Latitude and Longitude
Runs parallel to the equator and measures north and south
“Changes in latitude Changes an attitude”
Longitude
Run parallel to the Prime Meridian and measure east and west

4. Equator- imaginary line that divides the earth into north and south halves
Prime Meridian- imaginary line that divides the earth into east and west halves
International Date Line- 180 degress longitude

5. Time Zones

6. Theme #2: Place (5) What is it like?
Physical and cultural characteristics of a location
Climate
Landforms
Vegetation
Human influence: dams, highways, etc.
A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular charcteristic

7. Ways in which geographers describe place
1. Toponym- name given to a place on Earth
Named for person, religion, ancient history, physical environment, direction
2. Site- the physical character of a place
Climate, water sources, topography, soil, vegetation, latitude, and elevation
Essential in selecting locations for settlement
3. Situation- location of a place relative to other places
Identify other landmarks to direct people to the desired location
Helps understand the importance of location

8. Place Comparison
Place Name: The most straightforward way to name a particular location. A toponym is the name given to a place on Earth. Names are vast and based on many factors.
Site: The physical character of a place.
Situation: The location of a place relative to other places.
Mathematical Location: Describes a precise location that is drawn by a formula that pinpoints a specific point on a meridian and a parallel.
Place Name: Atlanta, Georgia
Site: Lies on the central piedmont which extends to the fall line of the rivers. South of the most southerly of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeast and north central portion of the state. Above and to the north of the coastal plain, which levels to the coastal flatlands.
Situation: Urban Metropolis which is centrally located in the southeast portion of the United States, in an ideal location for trade and travel.
Mathematical Location: Location: N, W

9. Atlanta, Georgia Place Name: Atlanta, Georgia
Site: Lies on the central piedmont which extends to the fall line of the rivers. South of the most southerly of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeast and north central portion of the state. Above and to the north of the coastal plain, which levels to the coastal flatlands.
Situation: Urban Metropolis which is centrally located in the southeast portion of the United States, in an ideal location for trade and travel.
Mathematical Location: Location: N, W

10. 2 Aspects of Place Physical characteristics Cultural characteristics
Landforms
Bodies of water
Climate
Vegetation
Animal life
Cultural characteristics
Population settlement
Agriculture
Industry
Religion

11. 2 Aspects of Place – Atlanta, GA
Physical characteristics
Landforms (hills)
Bodies of water (Chattahoochee R.)
Climate (ex. humid subtropical)
Vegetation
Animal life
Cultural characteristics
Population settlement (Hartsfield-Jackson airport)
Businesses (Home Depot, Coca-Cola)
Religion
Food (Varsity)
Recreation (Turner Field, parks)
Education (GT)

12. For the following places, come up with a list of at least 3 physical and 3 cultural characteristics you can identify by looking at the pictures

13. Atlanta, GA

14. 2 Aspects of Place – Atlanta, GA
Physical characteristics
Landforms (hills)
Bodies of water (Chattahoochee R.)
Climate (ex. humid subtropical)
Vegetation
Animal life
Cultural characteristics
Population settlement (Hartsfield-Jackson airport)
Businesses (Home Depot, Coca-Cola)
Religion
Food (Varsity)
Recreation (Turner Field, parks)
Education (GT)

15. Your Assignment
For the following places, come up with a list of at least 3 physical and 3 cultural characteristics you can identify by looking at the pictures

16. Pittsburgh, PA

17. Venice, Italy

18. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

19. Tunisia

20. India

21. Toponym/Site/Situation Activity
1. Find 3 Toponyms for each of the following topics:
A. Religion
B. Indigenous Groups
C. Physical Features
D.Other (that you can explain)
2. Site
A. Give a detailed description of the overall site of the state.
B. Give a detailed account of the site of the capital city.
3. Situation
A. Give a detailed description of the situation of the state
B. Give a detailed description of the situation of the capital city.
4. Summary
A. Using site and situational characteristics explain why you believe the capital city to be located where it is.

22. Bringing it all together
After looking at the physical and cultural characteristics you listed for the international locations (NOT Pittsburgh), if you had to pick one to live in, which would it be?
What aspects of this place led you to this decision?
Why is this the best choice for YOU?

23. Theme #3: Region How are places similar or different?
Area of the earth distinguished by a distinctive combination of cultural and physical features
Different types of regions
1. formal
2. functional
3. perceptual

24. Formal Region
Formal Region: An area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.

25. Formal Region (21) Limited number of regional characteristics
Generally defined by continental area and cultural styles or predominant characteristincs
Examples:
United States and Canada
Latin America (Spanish/Portuguese speaking)
Europe
Southwest Asia (Islam and desert regions)
South Asia (Hinduism and Aryan/Dravidian descent)
East Asia (Buddhism and Asian descent) OR
The Wheat Belt
Republican/Democratic States
Bible Belt
Can be determined by the scale at which you view an area (Country, state, county, city, etc.)

26. Gore Vs. Bush What regional characteristics appear on these maps
Gore Vs. Bush What regional characteristics appear on these maps? What conclusions can you draw?

27. Functional Regions (21)
Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places
Characterized by a hub or central place/focal point
Examples:
New York City
Metro Atlanta
MDJ/AJC
11 Alive
AM 750/95.5

29. Functional Region
Functional Region: Also called a nodal region, is an area organized around a node or focal point.

30. Vernacular Regions (22) AKA Perceptual Regions
Region in which people perceive the characteristics; however, sometimes they can be disagreed upon
Ex: What states would you consider to be in the southeast?

31. Vernacular Regions Cont’d (22)
Place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity
Example: Mental map- internal representation of the Earth’s surface
Example: “The South”
High cotton production
Low graduation rates
States in the Confederacy
Baptists
Southerners and other Americans share a strong sense of the American South… some pride it… some avoid it

32. What type of region would you consider this to be?

33. Theme #4: Human Environment Interaction (25)
How do people relate to the physical world?
The study of human environment relationships is cultural ecology
People learn to use what the environment offers them and to change that environment to meet their needs
Examples: dams, roads, highways, cities, slash-and-burn, deforestation, etc.

34. Types of Cultural Ecology
Environmental determinism
States physical environment causes social development
Climate
Precipitation
Topography

35. Types of Cultural Ecology
Possiblism
Physical environment can limit human action, but people have the ability to adjust to the environment
People learn what crops thrive
Technology… air conditioning

36. Theme #5: Movement (86)
How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another?
Human geography focuses on how people migrate and spread their ideas
Ex: immigrations from Europe to the U.S…. Why leave? What factors caused this?

37. Diffusion – 2 different types
Relocation Diffusion – The spread of an idea through the physical movement of people from one place to another.
Variety of reasons for relocation such as political, economic, and environmental

38. Diffusion – 2 different types
Expansion Diffusion
Three Types
Hierarchical Diffusion – From persons of authority or power
Contagious Diffusion – Rapid, widespread
Stimulus Diffusion – underlying principle

39. Globalization
Globalization: A force or process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope.
Uniform
Integrated
Interdependent
Completive
Nature

40. Globalization of Culture
Increasingly uniform cultural preferences produce uniform global landscapes of material artifacts and of cultural values.
Transnational corporations – companies located in more than one country (McDonald’s)

41. Space: Distribution Of Features
Distribution – The arrangement of a feature on Earth’s surface.
May be close together, or far apart
History vs. Geography
Three Main Properties
Density
Concentration
Pattern

42. Density
Arithmetic Density – The total number of objects in the area, often total population divided by its area.
Physiological Density – The number of people per unit of arable land (land suitable for agriculture).
Agricultural Density – The number of farmers per unit of farmland.

43. Concentration: The extent of a feature’s spread over space.
Comparing the Concentration
Clustered – When the objects in an area are closer together.
Dispersed – When the objects in an area are farther apart.

44. Pattern: The geometric arrangement of objects in spaces/regions.
Grid Patterns/Town Squares
Land Ordinance of 1785
Distribution - Density/Concentration/Pattern

45. Globalization and spatial interaction of places

46. Connections Between Places
Space-Time Compression – Used to describe the reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place.
Growing or Shrinking?
Technology – Communications and Transportation
Culture and Economy

47. Space-Time Compression
Places seem closer because of increased technology and the ability to access/travel to them quicker

48. Spatial Interaction
Communication has made it possible for people in distant places to be aware of other people with different cultural beliefs, customs, and traits.
Networks – Computer, Television, and Transportation
Barriers – Physical and Cultural

49. Distance Decay
The decreasing and eventual disappearance of a any aspect or event.
Opposite of space-time compression. “The farther you are away from something the less likely it is to impact you”.

50. Connections Between Places
Diffusion – Process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time.
There are two basic types –
Relocation
Expansion
Hearth - The place (region) from which an innovation originates.