The Five Themes of Geography

What is Geography? ► Geography-Greek “geographia”=to describe the Earth ► Geography -study of the distribution and interactions of physical and human features on earth ► Geographer -people who study geography  Maps, photos, charts, graphs, tables, and the five themes of geography

5 Themes of Geography ► Theme: Location-”How do I get there?”  Absolute Location -exact place on Earth  Relative Location -describing a place according to its surroundings ► Describing where a city, building, river is located

Absolute Location ► Hemisphere -one half of the globe  Equator -imaginary line that divides the north and south half of the earth ► Latitude lines -imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator  North latitude and south latitude line  Prime Meridian -imaginary line that divides the eastern and western half of the earth ► Longitude lines -imaginary lines that run parallel to the prime meridian  East and west longitude lines

5 Themes of Geography ► Theme: Place-”What is it like to live there?”  Physical characteristics ► Climate, landforms, vegetation  Cultural characteristics ► Housing, transportation, clothing

5 Themes of Geography ► Theme: Regions -is an area of the earth’s surface with similar characteristics ► “How are places similar or different?”  Physical, political, economic, cultural, etc..  Three types: ► Formal ► Functional ► Perceptual

Regions ► Formal  Continents, or parts of continents ► Ex. Latin America, Africa, South Asia, North America ► Functional  Interaction and connections between places ► Ex. Nile River Valley, Greater Milwaukee Area ► Perceptual  Perceive characteristics of individuals as the same ► Middle East, Midwest of America

5 Themes of Geography ► Theme: Human-Environment Interaction ”How do people relate to the land?”  Use the environment to meet peoples needs  May use same land resource in different ways ► Ex. Water resources ► DAM Interaction ► Depend on it (survive) ► Adapt to it (change ourselves to meet conditions) ► Modify it (change/destroy it for our needs)

5 Themes of Geography ► Theme: Movement-”How are people, goods, and ideas into and out of this place?” ► PIG (People, Ideas, Goods) ► Liner Distance  Distance people, goods, or ideas to travel ► Time Distance  Time it takes people, goods, or ideas to travel ► Psychological Distance  The way people view distance ► ex. Industrialized nation v. a non-industrialized nation