1. How Do Geographers Describe Where Things Are? Chapter 1: Thinking Geographically

2. Geography as a Field of Inquiry: Human Geo is: -the scientific study of the location of people and activities on the Earth’s surface -the study of where and why human activities are located where they are -a look at the world from a spatial perspective, studying how people and objects vary across the Earth’s surface -a study of the spatial interaction between people and objects, as well as the diffusion of people and ideas

3. Geography as a Field of Inquiry G’s will: - observe a tension between local uniqueness and globalizing forces * This will help understand many of the world’s conflicts (i.e. political strife, development and economic geo, and the environment)

6. Nature and Perspectives Earliest maps made by Chinese, Greek, and N African scholars * Cartography – art and science of mapmaking Eratosthenes created term geo- (Earth) graphy (to write) Strabo – “Geography”, 17 vol. description of the world (63 BC – 24 AD) Ptolemy – “Father of Geography”, 8 volume “Guide to Geography” (90 AD – 168 AD)

7. Nature and Perspectives Geography developed as a discipline: Theories/Beliefs developed: Cultural Ecology – landscapes are the products of complex human-environment relationships Environmental Determinism – the environment causes social development (Humboldt/Ritter) Possibilism (Modern) – physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust through alternative courses of action—Use resources accordingly Regional Studies (cultural landscape) – emphasizes unique characteristics of each place, both human and physical

8. Location and Place Place is the description of a specific point on the Earth’s surface; including human and physical features that make it unique Location: 1. place-names (toponyms) 2. site 3. situation (relative location) 4. absolute location

9. Toponyms All inhabited places on Earth have been given a place-name Place names may tell us historical origins Examples: Battle, England Islamabad, Pakistan Gold Point, Nevada Aberystwyth, Wales

10. Site The specific physical characteristics of a place Rivers, hilltops, and islands historically important EX. Singapore is a small, swampy island

11. Singapore is a small, swampy island

12. Situation OR Relative Location Places location relative to other places around it

13. Absolute Location Coordinate System Latitude (parallels)  Equator Longitude (meridians)  Prime Meridian * International Date Line

15. Region An area larger than a single city that contains unifying cultural and/or physical characteristics Controversy: What exactly makes a region? Necessary to simplify the world for examination Three types:

16. Formal Region (“Uniform” or “Homogeneous”) Specific characteristics that are fairly uniform throughout the region EX. Colorado is a political region and the Rocky Mountains constitute a physical region

17. Functional Region (“Nodal”) Has a social or economic function that occurs between a node or focal point and the surrounding areas EX. Circulation of the Dallas Morning News is a functional region and Dallas is the node

18. Perceptual Region (“Vernacular”) One that exists in people’s minds EX. The American “South” – people asked to draw a boundary will do so based on stereotypes such as climate, accent, religious practices, etc… * Ones attachment to a region perceived as home is sometimes called a sense of place