GGY 180 explores How the planet’s physical systems operate

1. GGY 180 What is Geography?What do Geographers do and how do they do it?They use maps and data, and whenever possible, they go and see.

2. GGY 180 explores • How the planet’s physical systems operate • How the planet’s physical and cultural geography affect human activity • The imprint of history on the modern world • Modern economic, political, environmental & cultural relationships among nations and states • Regional Geography courses help you to develop a WORLD VIEW!

3. Hi Dr. Hines,      I thought I would drop you a line and admit, what you probably already knew, your class was especially hard for me. I could not understand why it was so important to know about the religions, languages, and history of everyone in the world. I thought it was good to know where countries were located and maybe know the major cities but except for some Jeopardy questions or a Trivial Pursuit pie, it was not that important to me. I was WRONG! Since taking both 180 and 181, the world means more to me. Nightly news has taken on new meaning. World events have more significance. These courses have heightened my awareness of the world around me and even with my limited knowledge of their history, I am much more sympathetic to those many people in the world who are not as fortunate as I, to be living in the USA.      I hate to ramble on about my newfound awareness but, I am ashamed to admit, even my vote in the upcoming election will be looked at differently. World politics was never very high on my priority list for choosing a candidate but it now seems a lot more important than some of my other, more selfish, priorities.      I still wish I had made an A in your class. I really learned a lot that did not show on my tests. I know you said to me, "Test grades are just a number and they do not accurately reflect what someone has learned or what they may know." This is so true.  I was very stubborn and really could not figure out why you wanted to cram sooo much information into a summer school class. In retrospect, I find myself wanting to know even more after it is all over. Your enthusiasm for your teaching field is very apparent in all that you do and say and I hope that I can emulate those traits as I pursue a career in teaching. I still think your class is hard, but necessary and rewarding. From an old dog still learning new tricks.

4. What do you think of when you think of the regions considered in this class? (Other than that they are all occupied and shaped by people just like us.) • Western Europe • Eastern Europe • Russia & the 15 Former SSRs • The United States and Canada • Middle America • South America

5. Europe

6. Thousands of years of human occupation • Hearth of Western Civilization • Birthplace of industrialization • Empires: Colonial domination of the planet (via oceans) • World was “Europified” • Still a world leader in many arenas

7. Russia

8. Vast land area, most of it quite empty & cold • Empire: Colonial domination of the land hemisphere under the Czars and the Soviets • Russification • Communism • Fall of Communism • Nukes • Petroleum

9. North America

10. Europeanization: Natives decimated • Implementation of Greek invention: Democracy • U.S. Constitution • Vast area, many resources • Multi-cultural • Increasing urbanization • Post-industrial • Canada: Vaster area, small population, many resources • Brrrr!

11. Latin America 1: Middle America

12. Ancient High Civilizations of Maya & Aztecs • Conquest by the Spanish • Source of immigrants to the U.S. • Lovely Caribbean & the Tormentas • Vacations • U.S. Military activity • Latifundia

13. Latin America 2: South America

14. Ancient High Civilization of the Inca • Conquered by Spain and Portugal (Brazil) • Many indigenous people remain • Many Mestizos after Conquesta • Amazonia = Tierra Caliente! • Andes = Tierra Fria! • Most people live in Tierra Templada • Latifundia

15. What else can you think of in June? • Ask yourself this question again in July!