Absolute Distance
The spatial separation between two points on the earth's surface, measured by an accepted standard unit-such as miles or kilometers for widely separated locales, feet or meters for more closely spaced points.
Absolute Location
Is the identification of place by a precise and accepted system of coordinates; therefore, sometimes it is called mathematical location.
Absolute Direction
Is based on the cardinal points of north, south, east, and west.
Accessibility
The relative ease with which a destination may be reached from other locations; the relative opportunity for spatial interaction. May be measured in geometric, social, or economic terms.
Area Analysis Tradition
One of the four traditions of geography, that of regional geography.
Connectivity
The directness of routes linking pairs of places; all of the tangible and intangible means of connection and communication between places.
Cultural Landscape
The natural landscape as modified by human activities and bearing the imprint of a culture group or society: the built environment.
Cultural-Environment Tradition
One of the four traditions of geography; in this text, identified with population cultural, political, and behavioral geography.
Earth Science Tradition
One of the four traditions of geography, identified with physical geography in general.
Formal (Uniform) Region
A region distinguished by uniformity of one or more characteristics that can serve as the basis for an areal generalization and of contrast with adjacent areas.
Functional (nodal) Region
A region distinguished by what occurs within it rather than by a homogeneity of physical or cultural phenomena; an earth area recognized as an operational unit based on defined organizational criteria.
Globalization
An increased interconnection of all parts of the world as the full range of social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental process and patterns of change becomes international in scale and affect.
Locational Tradition
One of the four traditions of geography; in this text, identified with economic, urban, and environmental geography.
Natural Landscape
The physical environment that has not been affected by human activities. The duration and hear totality of human occupation of the earth's surface assure that little or no "natural landscape" so defined remains intact. Opposed to cultural landscape.
Perceptual (Vernacular or Popular) Region
A region perceived to exist by its inhabitants or the general popular culture or folk culture represented in the mental maps of average people.
Region
In geography, an area of the earth that display a distinctive grouping of physical or cultural phenomena or is functionally united as a single organizational unit.
Relative Direction
A culturally based locational reference, such as the far west, the old south, or the middle east.
Relative Distance
A transformation of absolute distance into such relative measures as time or monetary costs.
Relative Location
The position of a place or an activity in relation of place or an activity in relation to other places or activities.
Scale
In cartography, the ratio between length or size of an area on a map and the actual length or size of that area on the earth's surface.
Site
The place where something is located; the immediate surroundings and their attributes.
Situation
The location of something in relation to the physical and human characteristics of a larger region.
Spatial Diffusion
The outward spread of a substance, a concept, a practice, or a population from its point of origin to other areas.
Spatial Interaction
The movement (e.g. of people, goods, information) between different places; an indication of interdependence among areas.
What is Geography?
-More than place names and locations
-The study of spatial variation
--How and why things differ from place to place on the surface of the earth
--How spatial patterns evolved through time
--Focus on the interaction of people and social groups with their
Science and Geography
-The Scientific Method
--Observe phenomena
--Formulate a hypothesis
--Design an experiment
--Predict the outcome of the experiment
--Conduct the experiment
--Draw conclusions
-Scientific "proof
The Environmental Spheres
- four primary spheres
Four primary spheres
1. atmosphere�"air"
2. lithosphere�"stone"
3. hydrosphere�"water"
4. biosphere�"life
Ancient Greeks and Romans
-Term reputedly coined by Eratosthenes from Greek:
geo "the earth"
graphein "to write"
-Strabo (c. 64 B.C. - A.D. 20)
--Described inhabited world, including differences
-Ptolemy - 2nd Century A.D.
--Map of world based on previously developed latitude/long
Ancient Chinese
As involved with geography as Westerners; however no contact with them
Muslim scholars
-Preserved Greek and Roman knowledge
-Described and analyzed their known world in its physical, cultural and regional variations
Modern geography
-Origins in the surge of scholarly inquiry that began in 17th century Europe, e.g., Alexander von Humboldt
-By 1900, geography had become distinctive and respected discipline in universities throughout Europe
-Profession became increasingly specialized in
Three dominating themes across subfields
-Spatial variation of physical and human phenomena on the surface of the earth
-Systems that link physical phenomena and human activities in one area with other areas
-Human-environmental relationships and spatial systems in specific locational settings (
Systematic geography
-Study of one or a few related aspects of the physical environment or of human populations and societies
-Examines its interrelationships with other spatial systems and areal patterns
Physical geography
Focus is on the natural environment
Human geography
Focus is on people
Why Geography Matters
-The only discipline concerned with understanding why and how both physical and cultural phenomena differ from place to place
-Vital to an understanding of national and international issues
-Offers a diversity of job opportunities
Some Core Geographic Concepts
Geographers believe that recognizing spatial patterns is the essential starting point for understanding how people live on and shape Earth's surface
Geographers use a common store of concepts, terms and methods of study:
-Space
-Place
-Location
-Direction
-Distance
-Size and scale
The word spatial is an essential modifier in framing questions and forming concepts
Geography is a spatial science
Geographers are interested in:
-The way things are distributed
-The way movements occur and
-The way processes operate over the surface of the earth
Some Core Geographic Places have:
--Location, direction, and distance with respect to other places
--Size
--Both physical structure and cultural content
--Attributes that develop and change over time
--Content that is structured and explainable
--Elements that interrelate with other place
Places have physical and cultural attributes
-Physical attributes
--Climate, soil, water supplies, mineral resources, terrain features, etc.
--Natural landscape attributes help shape - but do not dictate-how people live
-Cultural attributes
--Language, religion, industries, food, music, etc.
--Cultu
Attributes of place are always changing
-The physical environment undergoes continuous and pronounced change
-Humans alter the environments they occupy
--Pace of change has accelerated
---Built landscape has increasingly replaced natural landscape
-Places are the present result of the past oper
Interrelations Between Places
-Spatial interaction's core components:
--Accessibility
---Relative ease with which a destination may be reached
-- Connectivity
---All the tangible and intangible ways places are connected
--Spatial diffusion
---Dispersion of an idea or thing from a cent
Five fundamental themes
-Formulated by joint committee of National Council for Geographic Education and Association of American Geographers
-Basic concepts and topics that recur in all geographic inquiry
--Location
--Place
--Relationships within places
--Movement
--Regions
National Geography Standards (1994)
-18 standards grouped into six categories
-The geographically informed person knows and understands:
--Geographic Techniques and Skills
--Physical systems
--Human systems
--Environment and society
--The uses of geography
--Places and regions