Introduction to World Geography

1. Introduction to World Geography

2. What is Geography???? • Geography is the study of everything on Earth. Geographers look at where things are and why they are there. • Physical and Human Geography are the two main branches of geography.

3. Physical v. Human Geography Physical Geography is the study of the Natural Landscape of the Earth while Cultural Geography is the study of the Human Landscape of the Earth.

4. What types of jobs do geographers have (in the U.S.)? Location Analysts, for: franchises (like “Burger King”) stores (like big department stores) public facilities (like new schools) GIS (computer mapping) Urban and Regional Planners Real Estate and Residential Development Analysts Transportation and Tourism Planners and Analysts University and public school teachers

5. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS Taxonomy: kingdom, phylum, Class, order, family, genus, species Biologists Geologists Geological time Historians Eras, ages, periods Geographers Geographic Regions

6. GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS: What defines a region? Regions are based on Spatial Criteria (what is there and why) • physical (natural) characteristics • landforms, climate, vegetation • human (cultural) characteristics • language, religion, ethnicity, population

7. SUB-REGIONS • Classification of Regions are based upon physical features and human characteristics. Examples: The United States is in the North American Region. However, the U.S. has several sub-regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, etc. • Region & Sub-region boundaries are based on criteria we establish. • Criteria can be: • Human (cultural) properties • Physical (natural) characteristics • or Both

8. FORMAL REGION • Region that has one or more common features that make it different from surrounding areas. • Example: Great Lakes Region • Example: Piney Woods of East TX.

9. FUNCTIONAL REGION • Made up of different places that are linked together by one focal point. Examples:Metropolitan Area and the Mississippi River System.

10. Perceptual Region Region which reflect human feelings and attitudes. The problem is people feel differently about the same things. Based more on opinion than fact. Lets continue for an example.

11. The School Cafeteria Is the school cafeteria divided into regions? Walls separate it from the rest of school – formal region. Tables, trash cans, area to buy food – functional region. Does the cafeteria have a perceptual region?

12. Where do you sit and why? Do you sit where you do based on common interests, gender or another reason? Where are the teachers? Does everyone feel the same about the seating arrangements?

13. Maps and More Maps • Types of maps and projections • Physical maps • Cultural maps • Political maps • Population maps • And more.. • Why do geographers use each type map?

14. The Grid System • Latitude: drawn in an east-west direction that measure distance north and south of the equator. • Longitude: drawn in a north-south direction that measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian.

15. Important Lines of Lat. & Long. • Equator: divides the Earth into the Northern & Southern Hemispheres, located at 0˚ latitude

16. Important Lines of Lat. & Long. • Prime Meridian: Divides the Earth into the Eastern & Western Hemispheres, located at 0˚longitude

17. Latitude Zones • Lines of Latitude determine different types of climates. • Low Latitude • Middle Latitude • High Latitude