1. History of Geographic Thought

2. A. The Spatial Organization of Human Activity 1. Geography is a “spatial science” (the study of place & space) 2. Human activities are: 1. located in space at particular places 2. regular (w/ discernible patterns) 3. able to be described and understood

3. B. Ancient Map-Making 1. 1. Earliest maps: clay tablets by ancient Babylonians Catal Huyük village map (Turkey); 8,000 yrs. old 2. 2. China: silk maps from 2 nd -century BCE 3. 3. Mayans/Incas: maps of conquered territories

4. C. Greek geographic thought: 1. 1. “geography” (earth-writing): coined by Eratosthenes 2. 2. Eratosthenes closely estimated Earth’s circumference

5. Eratosthenes' measurement of the Earth's circumference: Syene (S) is located on the Tropic of Cancer, so that at summer solstice the sun appears at the zenith, directly overhead. In Alexandria (A) the sun is south of the zenith at the same time. So the circumference of earth can be calculated being times the distance δ between A and S.

6. D.Medieval Mapping 1. 1. Chinese: - Chinese geographers highly advanced - invented compass in 11 th -century - burned sticks of incense to measure time 2. 2. Muslim world: - Arab geographers (700-1400) translated Greek geographic works - religious need for good maps? *holy pilgrimage to Mecca & prayer facing Mecca 5 times a day…

7. Muslim World in 1500

8. 3. 3. Europe: - not too bright…Medieval Christian “T-O Map” Crusader map of Jerusalem, dating from the 12 th - century (east is at the top)

9. E. “Modern” Geography E. “Modern” Geography 1. “Modern” Geography: started during Scientific Revolution - philosopher Immanuel Kant - studied epistemology (knowledge) A PHILOSOPHY OF SPACE ABSOLUTESUBSTANTIVERELATIVE 1.knowledge gained through experience 2.fundamental laws (Cogito ergo sum) 3.scientific or religious 1.“a priori”: knowledge exists outside of us 2.reality is perception 1.knowledge is subjective between objects 2.we produce “space”

10. 2. 2. End of 19 th -century: geography a discipline in world universities - scientific influence - “positivism” - empirical - quantitative revolution 2. 2. Today: computer-generated map-making - GPS satellite systems - GIS (geographic information systems)

12. The pioneering research of Paul Baran in the 1960s, who envisioned a communications network that would survive a major enemy attacked…the distributed network structure offered the best survivability.

14. Topophobia: Landscapes of Fear? What places in South Florida cause you the most “fear”? Junk Mail? How do companies determine who to send junk mail?