AIM: What does the study of Human Geography involve?

Do Now: Take a minute to write down all of the food and drink you ate before coming

to class today.

The Geography of Breakfast

Take a minute to write down all of the food and drink you ate before coming to class today.

Breakfast FoodsFood Place of Origin Current Production

coffee Ethiopia Tropics

oranges South Asia, India US, Mediterranean

pork China, South Asia Worldwide

wheat Near East US, Russia, Argentina

tea China Asia

oats Near East Temperate Climates

pepper South America S. America, Worldwide

Top Ten Coffee Growing Countries (Yellow)First domesticated in Ethiopia, coffee has come to be a major export crop for colonial countries and continues to provide much of the export income in these less developed countries. In Uganda, 70-80% of export revenue is generated by coffee. Many issues are raised by the continuation of such colonial economics.

COFFEE

www.coursesmart.com Author: James M. Rubenstein Book Title: Human Geography: The

Cultural Landscape Read the introduction to chapter one, as

well as “Key Issue 1: How do Geographers Address Where Things Are”.

Complete the outline for homework over the weekend. Be prepared to discuss the information in class on Monday.

Divisions of Geography

Physical Geography Human Geography

Rocks and Minerals Population

Landforms Settlements

Soils Economic Activities

Animals Transportation

Plants Recreational Activities

Water Religion

Atmosphere Political Systems

Rivers and Other Water Bodies Social Traditions

Environment Human Migration

Climate and Weather Agricultural Systems

Geography is a bridge between the natural and social sciences. Geography is a holistic or synthesizing science.

Fieldwork: Geographers as Modern Explorers and Observers

Israel 1998

Paris 2001

Costa Rica 2006

Mexico 2010

Puerto Rico 2011

California 2011

Introduction to Cultural Geography Definition of Cultural Geography History of the Discipline Fundamental Concepts

What are its elements?

•Language

•Religion

•Food

•Clothing

•Art

•Music

•Rituals and Customs

How is it transferred?

•Parents to Children

•Schooling

•Television, Films, Radio, and Internet

What is CULTURE?

What is CULTURE?Culture is learned behavior that is passed

on by imitation, instruction, and example. Culture is almost entirely relative. Proper

behavior shifts from culture to culture. U.S. current problems: 1) little shared culture;

2) no one is teaching culture. For example: sex education - Home? School?

Note: experiencing another culture is useful for gaining perspective on your own.

Harshest punishment in history?: banishment in “primitive” cultures.

Geographic Importance of Culture

Geographers study culture because it leaves dramatic imprints on the earth, both physical and cultural.

Language: a crystal ball into culture. Religion: strongest determinant of ethics. Nationalism and Borders Material Culture: tools, clothes, toys, etc. Architecture: Suburban garages vs. earlier

porches Religion: affects societal choices; creates

sacred space

The Cultural Landscape

The result of the natural environment and all of the changes to it as a result of a particular culture. In other words, it is cultures imprint on the land. (Carl Sauer) Environmental Determinism:

environment is primary determinant of culture.

Possibilism: humans are primary determinant of culture, within limits set by the environment.

N.Y.C.

Environmentally Determined?

What about Bali,

Indonesia?

Key Concepts: Space

Latitude and Longitude - a reference system designed to provide “absolute” location (as opposed to relative locations). A system used to designate space.

Parallels of Latitude Meridians of Longitude

The Geographic GridLatitude - angular measurement of distance north or south of the Equator.

Range: 0 - 90 degrees N or S

1o latitude = approx. 69 miles (25,000 mi. /360o).

The Geographic GridLongitude - the angular measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Range: 0o - 180o E or W

Maximum value reached at International Date Line - 180o

Key Concepts:

Tobler’s 1st Law of Geography

All things are related. However, all other things being equal, those things that are closest together are more related.

Related Concepts: Distance Decay / Friction of Distance Spatial Interaction Movement

Key Concepts

REGION – an area defined by shared characteristic 3 Types of Culture Regions

Formal - all members share a characteristic

Functional - defined by a node of activity and distance decay from center

Vernacular - perception of cultural identity

Overlapping Formal and Functional Regions

Vernacular Regions

Diffusion The spread of people, customs, phenomenon, objects, or

ideas. Four Types:

•Relocation

• Hierarchical

• Contagious

• StimulusUse these terms to explain the spread of:

•Diseases

•Popular Music

•Democratic Revolutions

•Religious Practices

Sense of PlaceEvery place is unique. Imagine where

you lived as a child. Where is home?Why and how do places take on

meaning for human individuals? Sensory Architecture Symbolic

Why is each place unique?Key works: Place and Placelessness -

Relph, 1978Topophilia - Tuan, Yi-Fu

Sense of Place

Groveland, CA Bourbon Street

What kinds of cultural values are reflected in each of these American houses?

Gated community?

Where are we? What values are reflected in each? What relation to physical environment?

Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

Timber House, Switzerland

Yurt on Mongolian Steppe Suburban Home, Chicago

Human-Environment Interaction(Cultural Ecology)

Successful cultures are those that adapt well to their environments. (Chaco Canyon, North Africa, Fertile Crescent, Easter Island)

Chaco Canyon, New Mexico Easter Island, Polynesia

Key Concepts:Core-Periphery

Core U.S., Europe,

Japan, Australia Wealthy Powerful Controls Media

and Finance Technologically

advanced

Periphery Less Developed Poor Dependent upon

Core countries for: Education Technology Media Military Equipment

Key C

on

cep

ts:

Core

-Peri

ph

ery

Geography and Politics

Ties to Military Role in ColonizationRole in ImperialismRole in Cold War

EthnocentrismMasculinism

Foreign - 4) Situated in an abnormal or improper place. 5) Not natural: alien.

The American Heritage Dictionary

GlobalizationThe increasing

interconnectedness of different parts of the world through common processes of economic, political, and cultural change. Economic globalization is happening fastest.

Panama, 1997