Introduction to Geography

9th Grade Geography

Terms you need to know…

Geography – Study of people, their environments, & resources.

Location – Position on the Earth’s surface.– Latitude – Measure north to south: run sideways

The Equator.

– Longitude – Measures East to West: Runs up and down.

Prime Meridian.

Lines

Latitude

Longitude

Where is 0 degree?

The equator is 0 degree latitude. It is an imaginary belt that runs halfway

point between the North Pole and the South Pole.

Equator

Where is 0 degree?

The prime meridian is 0 degrees longitude. This imaginary line runs through the United Kingdom, France, Spain, western Africa, and Antarctica.

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MERIDIAN

Latitude and Climate

Latitude – how far north or south from the equator a region is located.– Latitude is shown on a map with lines going east

and west.– The hottest climates, also known as tropical

climates, are found in low latitudes (closest to the equator).

Latitude and Climate, cont.

Climates consisting of cold winters and warm summers are found in middle latitudes and are also called temperate climates (much of North America and Europe are temperate climates.

Polar Climates – are the coldest climates and are found mostly in the high latitudes near the North and South Poles.

Altitude and Climate

Altitude – height above sea level.– High altitude is another factor in cold climate areas.– Two areas can be at the same latitude and have

different climates if one area is at a higher altitude. Example – Washington D.C. (close to sea level) and Pikes

Peak, Colorado (alt. 14,110 ft.) are approximately the same latitude, but Pikes Peak has a much colder climate than Washington D.C.

Movement…

Movement– Migration – The movement of people from one area

to another.– Trade – Movement of goods.

Export – goods sent to another country. Import – bring goods into a country.

– Ideas Spread – w/goods and people comes ideas.– Interdependence – people from all areas depend on

each other.

Region

Region – area with its own unifying characteristics.– Physical, cultural, political, and/or economical

Topography – physical features of a place or region.

Vegetation – plant life of a region. Elevation – height above sea level.

Major Landforms

Mountains – high, steep, land that rises above the surrounding area.

Hills – lower, less steep land than that of mountains.

Plains – large areas of flat land. Plateaus – large areas of high flat land.

Climate Zones

Climate – temperature of an area. Factors that affect climate…

– Location– Elevation

Culture

Culture – a certain area and their customs, values, and way of life.– Made up of customs and traditions.– Everyone is born into a culture.

We are taught how to think, believe, and behave.

– Culture influences the clothes we wear, where we live, and skills we learn

Social Organization

Family Patterns– Nuclear Family – Immediate family.

Learn how to behave…different among cultures.– Extended Family – Aunts, Uncles, etc.

Several generations living in one household. Respect for elders. Patriarchical.

Social Class – Social status, rank, or order of individuals– Money, occupation, education, ancestry, etc.– Farming cultures, animals and land.

Language

Language – form of communication for all cultures.– Writing, speaking, or other forms.– All have language, some don’t have writing.– Language = Same Customs– What about national languages? Can you have them?

Religion– Monotheism – Belief in one God.– Polytheism – Belief in more than one God.– Name the major world religions.

Types of Governments

Why do people form governments?– Provide for common needs.– Order and Protection– People who hold power and society’s laws and institutions.–

Democracy – the people hold the power. Republic – people choose leaders who support them. Dictatorship – a ruler or group with supreme, singular

power.

Economic Systems

Economics, how people use their resources to satisfy their wants and needs.

– What goods and services should we produce?– How should we produce them?– For whom should we produce them?

Traditional – People produce what they need for themselves. Ex. Hunter/gatherer, farming and cattle.

– Trade the surplus. Market – Individuals buy and sell goods and services. Command – Government controls production. – How, and

$. Mixed – Individual and the government make choices.

Causes for Cultural Change…

Technology – Bows and Arrows, Farming…– Cars SteelRubberPaintOil

Changing Environment New Ideas – Pollution and Recycling Diffusion – the movement of customs & ideas

to other places.– Subculture – groups living within a society who

share different beliefs, values, & customs than the larger culture. Rock-n-Roll

Understanding other Cultures…

Ethnocentrism – the belief one culture is superior over others.– Judge standards by own culture.

Racism – the belief that one racial group is superior over another.– Compete for food, land, money, and social power…

Framework for learning Culture…

Knowing about the other Culture.– Get information about it.– Demonstrate that you know the information.– Find readings, movies, people from that culture.– Take notes on other cultures.

Knowing How in other Cultures…

Know the skills you need to survive in other cultures.– Buying food, speaking, eating.– Exhibit a mastery of ability– Role play.– Know how to communicate in their language and be

able to know and say how to do something in a culturally acceptable manner.

Knowing why…

Know the values each Culture holds dear.– Infer, generalize, or suspend judgment.– Curiosity, tolerance, sensitivity, empathy.– Compare to your own culture.– Use deductive reasoning, analysis, and instinct to

draw conclusions about cultural information or experiences…like Anthropologists.

Know yourself…

What importance is the topic in your life? Understand ones’ feelings, values, opinions,

attitudes, and act on them. Decide whether or not to change. Cost vs.

Benefit.

History of Civilization

Stone Ages– 2 million yrs. Ago people lived in E. Africa– Nomads – people who traveled place to place to

find food. – Developed Language– Used stone for tools & weapons.– The agricultural revolution

10,000 yrs. Ago Farming communities bring civilization.

– Learning to farm and domesticate or tame animals.

First Civilization

Civilization – highly organized groups who share common values & language.

Religious beliefs. Government. Specialized jobs & architecture. Social Classes. Record keeping & forms of writing.

Emergence of Europe

1300’s Europe emerges as a world power. Technology advances. Money economy takes shape.

– Trading goods for money rather than goods for goods.

Overseas expansion & exploration.– Compass– Gunpowder

Industrial Revolution

Increase food production. – New Plants and Farming Techniques.– Population increase.

New machines and forms of production.– Gives rise to industry. Machines not Man –

Electricity/Steam – not man With industry came rapid urbanization or movement to the

city.

Imperialism

The industrial revolution gave rise to Imperialism.– Imperialism – control by one country over another in

terms of politics, economics, and culture.

The world faced westernization or adoption of western (European) culture.– Europe tries hard to transform the world.

Imperialism, cont.

Rise in nationalism or strong pride in one’s country.

– Competition b/w countries to dominate the world.

– Look to help the countries that are deemed less modernized.

Goals of Modernization

Political Stability – creating new borders

Economic Diversity– Diversify – What does it mean?– High Tariffs – Why?– Privatization of 3rd World Countries

Education & Services– Increased literacy – What has Oprah done?

The Debt Crisis

1970’s – Oil prices soared.– Middle Eastern countries put money in Western Banks– 3rd World Countries borrowed money from these banks

to increase transportation and communication systems.

– High interest rates of the 1980s made it difficult for 3rd World Countries to pay back loans.

– Why are loans difficult for 3rd World Countries to pay back?

Problems with Modernization

Population Explosion -3/4ths lives in 3WC– Need for large families…why?– What have countries done to try and limit sizes of

families?

Urbanization.– Population density increases.

Cultural Change. A growing gap is created b/w modern &

undeveloped countries.

World Issues Today & Tomorrow

Drug Trade.

Environmental Concern.

Human Rights.

Technology.