Geography and the environment help shape human cultures, but humans also use and alter the environment to fulfill their needs.

Human beings are members of social groups with shared and unique sets of behaviors and attitudes.

Culture - is the total of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors shared and passed on by members of a specific group.

Culture is what helps people fit into a particular group.

It ties people together and separates them at the same time.

(ex: Jews/Palestinians, Hindus/Muslims, Aggies/Tide)

Language Education Security/Protection

Political/Social organization

Society is a group that shares a geographic

region, a sense of identity, and a culture. ethnic group

is a group of people who share language, customs and heritage.

Ethnic groups have an identity as a separate group of people within the region they live.

Innovation – Taking existing

technology and resources and creating something new to meet a need.

Diffusion – The spread of

ideas, inventions, and behaviors from one society to another.

In the age of electronic technology, diffusion can happen very quickly.

is a site of innovation from which basic ideas, materials, and technology diffuse to many cultures.

River civilizations such as those along the Indus in India, Huang He in China, Nile in Egypt, and Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia are the best known cultural hearths.

Indus River

Nile RiverTigris-Euphrates River

Huang-He River

Acculturation – Cultural change

that occurs when individuals in a society accept or adopt an

innovation.

Wearing jeans instead of traditional garments.

Having to drink only bottled water in certain parts of the world.

Business men bowing in the Far East (Japan).

A military upgrading its technology.

Allows people in a culture to communicate.

Reflects all aspects of culture.

Common language promotes unity and nationalism.

Nationalism – A strong feeling of

pride in one’s nation.

Language can also divide people -(Ex: Canada, United States).

There are 3,000 – 6,500 languages spoken worldwide.

There are many different versions of each language.

Dialect – Version of a language that reflects

changes in speech patterns related to

class, region, or other cultural changes.

Language can be spread like any other element of culture.

Language is spread most often through trade routes and migration.

As people move, the language they carry with them sometimes takes hold in the region (Ex: English, Spanish, and French brought to the N and S America).

A belief in a supernatural power or powers that are regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe.

Can establish beliefs and values that define how people worship

and behave.

Monotheistic – belief in one god

Polytheistic – belief in many gods

Animistic or Traditional – belief in divine forces of nature

Religions spread through diffusion and converts.

Converts – people who give up their former beliefs for a new religion.

Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism actively seek converts.

Judaism and Hinduism do not.

The 5 major religions of the world are:JudaismChristianityIslamHinduismBuddhism.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all began in Southwest Asia, - they are monotheistic, and share some

similar beliefs, prophets, and teachers.

http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?ntt=islam&n=18343#selitemsperpage=20&intcurrentpage=1&no=20&n=18343%252b4294939055&ne=&ntt=islam&ns=&nr=&browsefilter=&indexversion=&ntk=all&ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial

Three major religious groups all claim Jerusalem in the land of Palestine as their holy city: Christians, Muslims and the Jews.

Established 3,200 years ago. Followers live in Israel, USA, Canada,

S America and European cities. Basic laws and teachings come from

the Torah. Jerusalem is the religious center of

Judaism. http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=92187

Torah establishes claim to Holy Land

Believe Holy Land was gift from God to Abraham.

King David brought ark containing original Torah here.

Site of King Solomon's temple

Evolved 2,000 years ago from Judaism.

Based on teaching of Jesus Christ.

Teachings recorded in the Bible.

Spread from Jerusalem.

Largest following of all religions (2 billion)

Three major groups: Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox.

Christians – site of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Home to original cross and stone of Christ’s tomb.

Site of sacred Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Holds variety of Christian shrines.

Established around 613 A.D. Based on teachings of prophet

Muhammad Has close ties to the prophets and

teachers of Judaism and Christianity Holy book is the Qur’an. Two major sects are Sunni and Shiite. 2nd largest following in the world.

Qur’an establishes claim that both Jews and Arabs are descendants of Abraham.

Believe God’s gift of Holy Land to Abraham is meant for Arabs (first Muslims) too.

Site of Muhammad’s ascension into heaven

Dates back 5,000 years.

Concentrated in India.

polytheistic

Religious requirements of the caste system shape many aspects of Hindu’s lives and culture.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=353

Caste System - levels of fixed social classes with specific rites

and duties

Animals play an important role in religion and culture

Offshoot of Hinduism, developed 563 B.C.

Founder – Siddhartha Gautama

(Buddha)

Rejects Hindu idea of caste.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=166179

Promotes living the correct way in order to reach nirvana, an enlightened spiritual state.

Missionaries spread teachings to SE Asia, China, Japan, and Korea.

POPULATION GEOGRAPHY

Question: does the world already have too many people? Can it support more? If so, where? Which people?

2008 = 6.6 Billion people (according to Wikipedia)

Population Geographer - studies aspects affecting population

Birthrate: number of live births per thousand population

according to Wikipedia: Congo is highest with 49.6 per 1000 and Japan is lowest with 8.2 per 1000

average number of children per woman during childbearing years throughout lifetime

according to CIA worldbook factbook: Niger is highest with 7.19

Mortality Rate: number of deaths per thousand (also called the death rate)

QUESTION--What would be an ideal or healthy mortality rate?

Infant Mortality Rate: number of deaths among infants under age one per thousand live birthsQUESTION--What nations might you assume have a high infant mortality rate? Why? Low rate? Why? What factors affect this?

according to the CIA Worldfact book the US has 6.3 per one thousand, ranking number 46--behind Cuba, most of Europe, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore…is this surprising? Why or why not?

Other rates studied: perinatal mortality, maternal mortality, child mortality, standardized mortality rate

Rate of natural increase: also known as the growth rate. Subtract mortality rate from the birth rate

According to the CIA Wolrdfact book the US birth rate is appx. 14 per 1000 and the death rate is 8 per 1000.

Rate of increase = Birth rate - Death rate = 14 - 8 = 6 per thousand

A graphic device that shows sex and age distribution.

See page 79

What does a higher elderly age rate mean for a community or society? Young age? What is most ideal?

Habitable Lands

90% of people live in Northern Hemisphere

Lands between 20 degrees and 60 degrees N latitude have very suitable climate and vegetation conditions = more dense human population

High population density in coastal regions and river valleys

Lower population density in polar regions, heavily mountainous regions, desert regions

More than 1/2 of world’s population lives in rural areas, but dramatically changing

Largest city in world = city (proper) = Mumbai, India at 13 million

QUESTION: What affect does a higher urban population have on society, nations, the world?

Migration

1.Push factors - factors causing people to leave homeland and migrate to another region.

Environmental conditionsWarNatural disastersPersecution

2.Pull factors - factors that draw or attract people to another location

Good economyHigh salaryClimate

Pop. Den. Is the average number of people who live in a measurable area (such as square mile or kilometer).

How to calculate?

Total number of inhabitants/total amount of land.

New Jersey has density of app. 1000 people per square mile and Australia has density of app. 6 people per square mile…what is misleading about these figures?

Carrying Capacity: the number of organisms a piece of land can support

QUESTION--What factors can increase carrying capacity?

Governmental units of the world can be described in political or geographic terms.State – independent unit in a specific area

that governs their own affairs.

Nation – group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity.

When the 2 are together = nation-state

Democracy – citizens hold power (direct/ representative). EX: United States

Monarchy – ruling family holds the power (king/queen). EX: UK or Saudi Arabia

Dictatorship – an individual or group holds all the power. EX: North Korea or Afghanistan.

Communism – nearly all political power and means of production (economy) are held by the govt. in the name of the people.

Size – size = power Shape

Affects governing, trade and travel

LocationLandlocked – no direct route to seaCan help increase trade or cause a need for

protection

Establishes limits of controlFor taxes, legal codes, languages, resources, etc.

2 basic types:Natural

Artificial

Natural boundaries – based on physical features of the land

Artificial boundaries - fixed line generally following latitude or

longitude lines

Countries are divided into smaller units to make governing easier.EX: Cities, towns, and villages

Larger political units are: Counties, provinces, or states.

The largest political unit is the United Nations. Consists of 200 members Work to improve political, cultural, and economic

conditions across the globe.

The study of how people use space in cities.

Cities – Not just areas with large populationsCenters of business and culture.Often the birthplace of innovation and

change in society.

Suburbs –- built up area around central city- political units touching the borders

of the central city or touching other suburbs that touch the city.

Exurbs - cities or towns with space btw. them

and the central city.

Metropolitan area-Contains the city, its suburbs, and

exburbs.

Megalopolis - more than one metropolitan area that

has grown together.

Exurb Exurb

Suburbs

Central

City Exurb

Exurb

Exurb

Cities are found in places that allow easy

transportation access Rivers, coast line, railroads

are found in places with natural resourcesEX: gold in CA

are often places where goods change transportation methods

EX: Chicago, IL

Specialize in what is available around them Ex: Pittsburgh – close to iron ore and coal sources

= produce steel

Residential

Industrial – manufacturing goods

Commercial – buying and selling of goodsCentral business district – core of the city

that focuses on commercial activities

Business

Entertainment

Education

Cultural activities

Religious and social services

Economy -the production and exchange of goods and

services. - are local, regional, national, international

Geographers study economic geography by looking at:- how people in a region support themselves- how economic activity is linked regionally

Economic system: way people produce and exchange goods,

services.

Four types of economic systems:- traditional, or barter, economy- command, or planned, economy- market economy, also called capitalism- mixed economy, a combination of command and market.

Subsistence agriculture - food is raised for personal consumption

market-oriented agriculture - Raising food to sell to others.

cottage industries - involve small, home-based industrial production.

large industrial production - comes from commercial industries.

Primary - involves gathering raw materials for immediate use.

Secondary - adds value to material by changing its form.

Tertiary - involves business or professional services.

Quaternary - provides information, management, research services.

Natural Resources—Earth’s materials that have economic

valueMaterials become resources when they

can be turned into goods (3 types)

Renewable - (trees, seafood) can be replaced naturally

Nonrenewable - (metals, oil, coal) cannot be replaced

Inexhaustible -(sun, wind) are unlimited resources

Infrastructure —basic support systems to sustain economic

growth

critical to development are:

power communications,

water sanitation technology education systems

transportation systems

Communications systems

Per capita income: average earnings per person in a political unit

Gross national product (GNP)—statistic to measure the total value of

goods, services produced by a country, globally

Gross domestic product (GDP) -statistic to measure the total value of

goods and services produced within a country

Developing nations have low GDP& per capita income

Developed nations have high GDP & per capita income