Unit 1: Chapter 1 The Global Environment Section 1: Exploring the World Around Us

Chapter Perspective and Themes Geography affects the way people live in different regions of the world. Maps give us vital information about the world. Culture is the total way of life of a particular people. Many factors, including geography, influence the culture of a region. A number of forces influence how culture changes.

Lesson Questions What are the five themes of geography? How does movement contribute to global interdependence? What are some ways of defining a region?

What is Geography? Geography is the study of where people, places, and things are located and how they relate to each other. Geography directly impacts how people live and survive in an area. Geography has many uses besides creating maps, globes, and charts. 5 basic Themes that identify the links between the land and people are… 1. Location 2. Place 3. Interaction between people and their environment 4. Movement 5. Region

Location Location is the position on the Earth’s surface. Relative location is used when comparing a different location. i.e. New Jersey is east of Pennsylvania near the Atlantic Ocean. or Harrisburg is located between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Absolute location is located by using a grid system such as longitude and latitude. Latitude measures distance North and South. They run horizontally around the entire globe. The equator is the exact center of the earth’s latitude and divides the World into Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Theme of North/South Divide most Southern Hemisphere countries are poorer than the North. Longitude measures distance East and West. The Prime Meridian is the center. The line divides the world into Eastern and Western Hemispheres. i.e. Location of Harrisburg is around 40N degrees/ 76W degrees

Place Place - describing an area by their physical characteristics such as landforms, climate, soil, and vegetation. Physical and Human characteristics are connected. i.e. 99% of Egypt is desert and therefore most people live along the Nile river.

Interaction Between People and their Environment People adapt to their surroundings to survive. Inuit tribes in Alaska build homes of ice. In some parts of China there is little wood for fuel. Thus, they developed different styles of cooking food quickly such as stir fry.

Movement Movement of people, goods, and ideas. Migration from one place to another in order to survive. Such as refugees from a natural disaster. Migration can be forced such as slavery. Trade- the movement of goods between civilizations. Exports- goods traded to outside countries. Imports- goods brought into the country from foreign lands.

Movement cont. Ideas spread such as philosophy and religion. Hollywood for example through the media can spread information and culture. The creation of the internet can cause even more transfer of culture. Trade causes global interdependence – people need certain goods from around the world. i.e. USA gets coffee from South America and teas from India.

Region Defined by several traits but is an area unified by its characteristics. Continents can be an identifier or physical regions can also be. They can be cultural, political, or economic. A country can be part of several regions. i.e. Pakistan is part of South Asia, the Muslim world, and developing countries.