1. ITS NATURE AND PERSPECTIVES
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
ITS NATURE AND PERSPECTIVES

2. GEOGRAPHY AS A FIELD OF STUDY
Physical and human geography are the two branches of study
Spatial perspective is the unifying bond and is illustrated with maps
Spatial analysis of patterns and processes

3. NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS Herodotus – linked history and geography
Aristotle – possible relationships between latitude, climate, and population density
Eratosthenes – father of geography; calculated the circumference of Earth

4. NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS
Hipparchus – devised a grid system to map the curved surface of Earth
Ptolemy – created first gazetteer & world’s first map; north at the top

5. NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS
Carl Sauer – possibilism – human activity is determined by choices that humans make rather than by physical environments

6. KEY CONCEPTS: SPACE
Absolute Space – it exists in the aerial relations among phenomena on Earth’s surface
Relative Space – is perceptual: it is socially produced and is subject to continual change

7. KEY CONCEPTS: PLACE
Refers to a location that has a particular identity or value
Value may vary depending on one’s perspective

8. KEY CONCEPTS: SCALE Refers to the size of the area studied
Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda cannot be examined just by looking at the country

9. GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS Maps Properties Size Distance Shape Direction Types
Physical
Political
Special Interest
Latitude and Longitude

10. GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS Maps
Demonstrate that all places on Earth have their own distinctive properties
Geographers disaggregate data to analyze each component

11. GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS
Interpretations

12. GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS Region
A part of Earth that displays internal homogeneity and is relatively distinct from surrounding areas

13. GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS Regionalization
A special kind of classification in which locations on Earth’s surface are assigned to various regions, which must be contiguous spatial units
Simplifying device = historical period
Formal regions = classifying large regions
Functional regions = spatial analysis
Vernacular regions = human landscapes

14. SOURCES OF DATA Field research Census data GIS
ISS/Space Shuttle photography