Unit 1:Unit 1:Human GeographyHuman Geography

What is Geography?What is Geography?

**It is the study of our earth; our It is the study of our earth; our home.home.

OROR

*Anything that can be mapped!*Anything that can be mapped!

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*Geography mixes up the *Geography mixes up the physical and human aspects physical and human aspects of our world into one field of of our world into one field of

study.study.

*Geography shows the *Geography shows the relationship between people relationship between people

and the environment.and the environment.

The Five Themes of The Five Themes of GeographyGeography• There are five ways to look at the There are five ways to look at the

earthearth• When geographers work, they are When geographers work, they are

guided by two basic questions:guided by two basic questions:

1)1) Where are things located?Where are things located?

2)2) Why are they there?Why are they there?

To find these answers, geographers use To find these answers, geographers use five themes to organize informationfive themes to organize information

LocationLocation

• There are two ways to think There are two ways to think about location:about location:

1.1. absolute location – describes the absolute location – describes the place’s exact position on the Earth.place’s exact position on the Earth.

2.2. relative location – explains where a relative location – explains where a place is by describing places near place is by describing places near it.it.

PlacePlace

• This includes a location’s physical This includes a location’s physical and human features.and human features.– To describe physical features, you might To describe physical features, you might

say that the climate is hot or cold or that say that the climate is hot or cold or that the land is hilly.the land is hilly.

– To describe human features, you might To describe human features, you might discuss how many people live there, discuss how many people live there, what types of work they do, or what what types of work they do, or what they do for fun.they do for fun.

Human-Environment Human-Environment InteractionInteraction

• How do people adjust to and change How do people adjust to and change their environment? How does the their environment? How does the environment adjust to and change environment adjust to and change the people?the people?

• Geographers also use interaction to Geographers also use interaction to study the consequences of people’s study the consequences of people’s actions.actions.

MovementMovement

• Explains how people, goods, and Explains how people, goods, and ideas move from one place to ideas move from one place to another.another.

• Helps geographers understand Helps geographers understand cultural changes.cultural changes.

RegionsRegions

• A region has a unifying A region has a unifying characteristic, like climate, land, characteristic, like climate, land, population, or history.population, or history.

• On maps, geographers use color and On maps, geographers use color and shape or special symbols to show shape or special symbols to show regions.regions.

Map SkillsMap Skills

The Geographer’s ToolsThe Geographer’s Tools•Globes and Maps:Globes and Maps:

– As people explored the Earth, they As people explored the Earth, they collected information about it.collected information about it.

– Mapmakers wanted to present this Mapmakers wanted to present this information correctly.information correctly.

– The best way was to put it on a The best way was to put it on a globe, a round ball that globe, a round ball that represented the Earth.represented the Earth.

– Because globes are not practical or Because globes are not practical or easy easy to use to carry, flat maps to use to carry, flat maps were invented.were invented.

– However, the earth is round and a However, the earth is round and a map is flat.map is flat.

– Mapmakers had to find ways to Mapmakers had to find ways to make maps accurate.make maps accurate.

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• In 1569, a geographer named Gerardus Mercator created a flat map to help sailors navigate long journeys across the globe.• The Mercator projection, or

method of putting a map of the Earth onto a flat piece of paper, is used by nearly all deep-sea navigators.• The Mercator projection is a

conformal map, meaning that it shows correct shapes, but not true distances or sizes. • There are many types of

other projections of the globe.

Getting It All On the MapGetting It All On the MapThe World: Mercator Projection

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There are many ways to show a globe on a flat map. The interrupted projection map, on the left, shows real sizes and shapes of continents. The equal area map , below left, shows size accurately. The Peters projection, below, shows land and oceans areas and correct directions accurately

The World: Three The World: Three ProjectionsProjections

Interrupted Projection

Equal-Area Projection

Peters Projection

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The World: A Robinson The World: A Robinson ProjectionProjection

ARCTIC OCEAN

Types of MapsTypes of Maps

There are three basic types of maps:

PHYSICAL POLITICAL

and THEMATIC.

Physical MapsPhysical Maps• Physical maps show

the natural features of the Earth.

• Physical maps do not contain man made features.

• For example, a

physical map would be a map of what you would see if you were looking down on Earth from space.

Physical MapsPhysical Maps

When you When you look at this look at this map, what do map, what do you see?you see?

Notice you do not see country borders or city markings. These divisions are created by people. For example, there is no actual line dividing Texas from its bordering states.

Although some astronauts (with the use of binoculars believe it or not) are able to see roads, large ocean tankers, and even the Great Pyramids from space, at very high altitudes, none of these are visible and all you are left with are natural land formations.

Political MapsPolitical Maps

Political MapsPolitical MapsUnlike physical maps, political maps show how humans have impacted the landscape. For example, city names, roads, country borders, etc. are all part of political maps.

Political maps change frequently (physical maps change very, very slowly through geologic processes) and must be redrawn often. A political map of the world that is 50 years old is no longer accurate.

Wars and ethnic conflict are two major causes political maps change.

Political MapsPolitical Maps

Thematic MapsThematic MapsThematic maps can represent a variety of information including things like climate, precipitation, vegetation, elevation, population, life expectancy, etc.

Thematic maps are generally used when you are looking at a single piece of information.

Thematic MapsThematic Maps

The Parts of a MapThe Parts of a Map

Title: Title:

• The title tells what the map is about. This The title tells what the map is about. This is the first part of the map you should look is the first part of the map you should look at. at.

The Parts of a MapThe Parts of a MapScaleScale

• The scale on a map tells you the relative The scale on a map tells you the relative distance on the map to the real world. For distance on the map to the real world. For example, a map’s scale may tell you that one example, a map’s scale may tell you that one inch on the map equals one mile in the real inch on the map equals one mile in the real world.world.

Compass RoseCompass Rose

• A compass rose is a model of a compass. It A compass rose is a model of a compass. It tells the cardinal directions, which are north, tells the cardinal directions, which are north, south, east, and west.south, east, and west.

KeyKey

• The key, or legend, on a map explains what The key, or legend, on a map explains what the symbols on a map represent, such as the symbols on a map represent, such as triangles representing trees.triangles representing trees.

GridsGrids

• Some maps use a grid of parallels and Some maps use a grid of parallels and meridians. On a map of a small area, letters meridians. On a map of a small area, letters and numbers are often used to help you find and numbers are often used to help you find your location.your location.

How Latitude and Longitude How Latitude and Longitude Form the Global GridForm the Global Grid

Latitude and longitudeLatitude and longitude

• Latitude lines run across the globe horizontally

• Lines of longitude run up and down, vertically on the globe.

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The HemispheresThe Hemispheres

The HemispheresThe Hemispheres

• There are 4 hemispheres: Northern hemisphere, Southern hemisphere, Eastern hemisphere, and Western hemisphere

• The equator cuts the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere in half.

• The Prime Meridian cuts the eastern and western hemisphere in half

Key Features of Key Features of CivilizationCivilization

CitiesCities

• Center of trade

• Centers of cultural diffusion

Central GovernmentsCentral Governments

• Needed to oversee irrigation projects and other public works

• Ensure steady supply of food

• Create and uphold laws

• Defend citizens • Collect taxes

Complex ReligionComplex Religion• Gods controlled

forces of nature• Priests were

needed to convey the will of the gods

• It was everyone’s responsibility to make sure the gods were happy

Indus Valley Prayer Statuettes

Buddha

Egyptian God Ra

Greek God Zeus

Stable Food SuppliesStable Food Supplies

• A society needs to have enough food so it can survive, plus some extra to trade.

• Trading food for goods leads to job specialization

Job SpecializationJob Specialization• When there is a surplus

of food people no longer have to hunt and gather all day.

• They started to focus on the task or craft they were best at

• Artisans develop techniques and technologies to make their task easier and more efficient

Social ClassesSocial Classes

•People were ranked in society based on the importance of their job•Priests and warriors were typically considered the most important

Arts & ArchitectureArts & Architecture

•Art was created in order to express beliefs and to honor important figures and deities•Most major construction were building for religious purposes – temples, tombs – to honor their gods

Ziggurat

Chichen ItzaMayan Ruins

Pyramids

WritingWriting

•Usually originated with priests•Initially used to create calendars and keep records of offerings to the gods•Government will use writing to keep track of public records – taxes, treaties, “official” documents

Cuneiform: Sumerian form of writing

Egyptian Hieroglyphics