The Global Environment 1.Geography affects the way people live in different regions of the world. 2.Maps give us vital information about the world. 3.Culture is the total way of life of a particular people. 4.Many factors, including geography, influence the culture of a region. 5.A number of forces influence how cultures change.

What is Geography  Geography is the study of where people, places and things are located and how they relate to each other.  Geographers developed a way to help people understand the links between people and the earth.  They have done so through 5 themes.

LOCATION Location: A position on the face of the earth. Location can be expressed in 2 ways. Absolute – An exact position on the face of the earth. Absolute location is defined by using a grid of lines of latitude and longitude. (40 N / 25 E.) Relative location is giving the position of one site in relation to another known site. (Next to Sheetz on Scalp.)

PLACE Geographers describe places in terms of their physical and human characteristics. –Physical characteristics include landforms, climate, soil, and animal life of a place. –Human characteristics include the people’s way of life; their activities, means of transportation, religion, and languages.

Region A region is an area with its own unifying characteristics. 1.Regions can be identified by physical characteristics, like the rain forest, or Rocky mountains. 2.A region can also be identified by cultural, political, or economic features. The Muslim world is a cultural region.

Human Environment Interaction Geographers define this theme as how people adapt to their environment and how they also affect the environment. Geographers define this theme as how people adapt to their environment and how they also affect the environment. Progress has hidden costs. Progress has hidden costs. Technology changes cultures. Technology changes cultures.

MOVEMENT Geographers consider the movement of people, goods, ideas, and information as a theme. Geographers consider the movement of people, goods, ideas, and information as a theme. These movements can occur together. These movements can occur together. Migration, trade (such as imports and exports), and ideas create an interdependence. Migration, trade (such as imports and exports), and ideas create an interdependence.

Map Terms The physical features of a place or a region are called topography. Vegetation is the plant life of a place or region. Mountains are high, steep rugged land. Elevation is the height above sea level. Hills are areas of raised land lower and less steep than mountains. Plains are a large area of fairly level or gently rolling land. Plateaus are large areas of high, flat or gently rolling land.

More Terms Latitude: Lines on a map that are used to measure distances north and south of the Equator. Latitude: Lines on a map that are used to measure distances north and south of the Equator. Longitude: Lines on a map that are used to measure distances east or west of the Prime Meridian. Longitude: Lines on a map that are used to measure distances east or west of the Prime Meridian. Imports: Goods brought into a country. Imports: Goods brought into a country. Export: Goods sent out of a country. Export: Goods sent out of a country.

Even More Terms Nuclear Family: The parents and children. Nuclear Family: The parents and children. Extended Family: The parents, children, and relatives living in one household or complex. Extended Family: The parents, children, and relatives living in one household or complex. Patriarchal: Where the eldest male exercises authority and makes important decisions. Patriarchal: Where the eldest male exercises authority and makes important decisions. Matriarchal: Where the eldest female exercises authority and makes important decisions. Matriarchal: Where the eldest female exercises authority and makes important decisions. Monotheism: The belief in one god. Monotheism: The belief in one god. Polytheism: The belief in more than one god. Polytheism: The belief in more than one god.

Government Terminology Government can be a term used 2 ways. Government can be a term used 2 ways. 1. It can mean a person or people who hold power in society. 2. It can refer to society’s laws and or political institutions. Nations have different governments but can be classified 2 ways (with the exception of Communism, an ideology). Nations have different governments but can be classified 2 ways (with the exception of Communism, an ideology). 1. Democracy: where power is with the people with the government only acting with the consent of the people, a republic is a form where people elect a represent their desires. 2. Dictatorship: where a ruler or group holds power by force. 3. Communism is more of an ideology and would fall under a dictatorship because it has to be held with a level of force, yet exists with the consent of the people.

Economic Terms Economics: How people use limited resources to satisfy their wants and needs. Economics: How people use limited resources to satisfy their wants and needs. Traditional (Subsistence) Economy: Where people produce only enough to survive (hunters, gatherers, subsistence farmers). Traditional (Subsistence) Economy: Where people produce only enough to survive (hunters, gatherers, subsistence farmers). Market Economy: Where people buy or sell goods and services. Market Economy: Where people buy or sell goods and services. Mixed Market Economy: Where people buy or sell goods and services with some government intervention (subsidies). Mixed Market Economy: Where people buy or sell goods and services with some government intervention (subsidies). Command Economy: Where the government controls all the economic decisions. They set production, distribution and price of products. Command Economy: Where the government controls all the economic decisions. They set production, distribution and price of products.