Geography 101

The Five Basic Themes of Geography

1. Location – Where a place is, can be absolute or relative.a. Absolute Location

provides a definite reference to locate a place. The reference can be latitude and longitude, a street address, or even the Township and Range system.

1. Latitude – Angular distance north or south from the Earth’s equator marked in degrees.

2. Longitude – Angular distance expressed in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England.

b. Relative Location Relative location describes a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places.

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.2. Place • The physical & cultural characteristics of an area.

3. Human-Environment Interaction• The relationship between people and the land.

4. Movement • The effort of people to overcome the limits of place.

5. Region • Any area based on one characteristic.(This is larger than

place. E.g. The Spanish speaking part of the Americas).

Spanish spoken in the United States. Darker shades of blue indicate higher percentages of Spanish speakers.

3. Map Skills.a. Reading a map.

1. Maps feature important tools to help you interpret the information they contain.

2. Title – Tells you what kind of information the map is showing.

3. Legend or Key – Explains the symbols, colors & lines used on the map. aa. Scale Bar – Shows the relationship

between map measurements & actual distances on the earth.

bb. Compass Rose – Indicates direction. The Four Cardinal Directions – North, South, East & West, are usually indicated with arrows or the points of a star. The Intermediate Directions, northeast, northwest, southeast & southwest, may also be shown.

Now lets identify the information presented on the Map on the next slide?

cc. Cities – Represented by a dot.dd. Capitals – Represented by a star within a circle.ee. Boundary Lines – On political maps of large

areas, boundary lines highlight the borders between different countries, states or counties.

General Information.1. There are seven continents. A continent by definition is any

of the great divisions of land on the globe.1. Africa.2. Antarctica.3. Asia.4. Australia.5. Europe.6. North America.7. South America.

2. There are four oceans. An ocean by definition any of the large bodies of water into which the great ocean (the whole body of salt water that covers nearly ¾ of the surface of the Earth) is divided.1. Arctic.2. Atlantic.3. Indian.4. Pacific.

Importance of Geography• Geography students should acquire the tools that will allow

them to understand place and the implications of the meanings we give to place.

• Students will encounter how geography has unique characteristics that differentiate them from other places while being able to identify and use this information.

• Being able to identify the sense of a place is important but so is the recognition that not everyone in a place shares this meaning.

• The characteristics we choose to describe places are just that: choices. Places exist because people make them.

Who Chooses Place?• The way physical spaces are organized arises from human

interaction. The strong often dictate what a place is. Geography and boundaries are dynamic rather than static and through choices lines or boundaries are drawn.

• If places are made by people, then we must ask how and why while inquiring about the impact of these decisions.

• Boundaries have historical and political purposes. Once they are drawn, they affect how we think of the people who reside within and across the boundaries.

Perspectives of the WORLD• The concept of the center of the world is usually

established by prominent civilizations, or strong, that view themselves as superior or the middle of the world.

• If you look at a modern map; Europe and the United States are often depicted as the center of the world.

The world according to the Greeks 1500 BCE

The world according to the Chinese 1418Fact: China means the 'MIDDLE COUNTRY'

Map of the Modern World

Why Boundaries are ImportantMap of Ottoman empire in 17th century

Ottoman empire. A map of the Middle

East by Frederick de Wit, c. 1689. During

the 17th century most of eastern

Europe, the Middle East and North

Africa was governed from Istanbul by the

Muslim Ottoman Empire.

Map of Middle East before World War I

Ethnic boundaries do not match country boundaries, especially in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The mismatch has affected many of the conflicts in the area.

Map of the Modern Middle East as Established by Treaties with European Nations

Redrawn map of the Middle East with Ethnic Considerations

Geography 101 Assignment:• Students will get blank world map and label:

• The Seven Continents (7)

• The Four Oceans (4)

• Charlotte, NC (1)

• Students will circle the middle east on the map (1)

• Students will draw the equator and label (1)

• Students will draw the Prime Meridian and label. (1)

• Working around the room students will look at the posters of Families from around the World and find and label these countries on their map. (12)

• Students will color and separate land from water (2)

• Create a legend (1)

• Compass Rose (1) total of 31 points

1. Haiti2. Iraq3. China4. Mali5. Thailand6. Mexico7. England8. Bhutan9. Kuwait10. Japan11. Albania12. Russia

HaitiIraqChinaMaliThailandMexicoEnglandBhutanKuwaitJapanAlbaniaRussia