What is Geography?

AP Human Geography

Geography is…

• The scientific study of the location of people and activities across the Earth, and the reasons for their distribution.

History vs. Geography

• Historians organize material by time

• Something that happens at one point in time can impact something that happens at a later time.

• Geographers organize material by place

• Something that happens in one place can impact another place.

Geographers answer this question…

•Why is what where?• Huh?

What is what?

• What can be anything….• People (racial, ethnic groups)• Places (cities, fast food restaurants)• Objects (tall buildings)• Natural phenomena (hurricanes, volcanoes)• Beliefs (religion, political)• Systems/ institutions

What is where?• Where is any area or point on the Earth’s surface, large or

small.• Africa• Southwest Asia • Canada• Paris • Southside of Chicago• 95th and Michigan• 9652 S. Michigan Ave.• Harlan Room 207 : )

Why + What + Where

• Why are tall buildings (what) located in downtown Chicago (where)?

Why + What + Where

• Why do people in certain parts of Canada (where) speak French (what)?

Why + What + Where

• Why are fast food restaurants (what) more common that grocery stores on the Westside of Chicago (where)?

Why + What + Where

• Why are most major cities (what) located near bodies of water (where)?

Why + What + Where

• Why are corporations and financial institutions (what) located in big cities (where)?

This week…

• We will begin to examine how human geographers think about the world.

• Key Issue: How do geographers describe where things are?

What is Geography? Pt. 2

Branches of Geography

Physical• Studies the physical/ natural

features of the Earth.• Mountains, rivers, tectonic

plates, oceans, volcanoes, natural resources.

Human• Studies the interaction

between people and the natural features of the Earth.

• Farming, cities, culture, migration patterns, habitat, political boundaries.

5 Themes of Geography• Used to help us understand

the links between people and the Earth.

• M ovement

• R egion

• L ocation

• I nteraction

• P lace• Remember MR. LIP!

Movement• Examines the movement of

people, goods, and ideas. • Movements often occur

together.• How did Christianity end

up in America?• Why do Mexicans speak

Spanish?• Why is Polish sausage

popular in Chicago?

Region• An area with similar and

unifying characteristics.• Similarities may be

physical (ie Rocky mts.)• Similarities may be

cultural, political, or economic (ie the Muslim world)

• What are some regional characteristics of the Midwest U.S.?

Location

• The position of a place on the Earth’s surface.

• Can be relative (Harlan is in Chicago) or exact (Harlan is located at 9652 S. Michigan Ave.)

• How else could you describe the relative location of Harlan?

Interaction• Studies the relationship

between people and their environment.

• How to people use the Earth’s resources to satisfy their needs?

• Water for irrigation, land for farming, trees to build houses, oil as fuel.

• What are potential negative outcomes to human interaction with the Earth?

Place

• The physical and human characteristics of a location.

• Describe Chicago…

Parts of a Map• Compass Rose- shows direction on a map.• Scale- shows what a distance on a map is actually equal to on

Earth.• Key- tells us what the map symbols mean.

Lines of Latitude

• Lines of latitude run EAST-WEST across a map.

• They measure distance NORTH or SOUTH of the Equator, which is 0 degrees latitude.

Lines of Longitude• Lines of Longitude run

from the NORTH pole to the SOUTH pole.

• They measure distance EAST or WEST of the Prime Meridian, which is 0 degrees longitude.

Latitude and Longitude

Different Types of Maps

• Physical Maps– Show features such as

mountains, plains, rivers and oceans.

– Focus is on natural features…not cities, countries, and borders.

Different Types of Maps

• Political Maps– The focus is on

cities, countries, states, and borders.

Different Types of Maps

Thematic Maps– These maps focus on

themes such as population density or weather, for example.

Different Types of Maps

• Historical Maps– Shows how a certain

area has changed over time.

– Shows what a certain area used to look like.

Different Types of Maps

• The Globe– A globe is the most

accurate representation of the Earth because it is round like the Earth.

– A globe shows us the truest sizes of land and bodies of water.