1. Ch. 1 Basic Concepts – Where and Why?
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Ch. 1 Basic Concepts –
Where and Why?

2. GEOGRAPHY AS A FIELD OF STUDY
Physical and human geography are the two branches of study
Spatial awareness/relationships is knowing how space is being used
Spatial analysis of patterns and processes is supported through the use of maps, map projections and photographs.

3. NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS
Aristotle – demonstrated that the Earth was spherical.
Eratosthenes – father of geography; calculated the circumference of the Earth.
Ptolemy – codified the principles of mapmaking and prepared maps.

4. Tools of Geographers Maps – scale model of the real world
Map scale – can be a ratio or fraction, can be written or graphic and gives the level of detail on a map.
Map projection – the scientific transfer of locations on the Earth’s surface to a flat map. Always has distortion.
Examples include the Robinson and Mercator projections.

5. SOURCES OF DATA Field research Remote sensing
GIS – geographic information systems
Census data
GPS – global positioning system
Satellite/Space Shuttle photography

6. Geographers see the Earth through …
Place – a point on the Earth with unique features.
Location – the position that something occupies on the Earth’s surface. Examples – absolute and relative.
Toponym – is the name given to a place on Earth. Example – Houston
Site – physical characteristic of a place.
Situation – the location of a place relative to other places.
Mathematical location – Uses meridians/longitudes and parallels/latitudes in a grid pattern.

7. Geographers see the Earth through …
Cultural landscape – a combination of cultural features such as language, religion, economy and physical geography (aka regional studies approach).
Formal region – everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics. Example – Texas
Functional region – an area organized around a node or focal point. Example – The Houston Chronicle newspaper
Vernacular region – is a place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity. Example – The South

8. Geographers see the Earth through …
Culture – What people care about and what people take care of.
Cultural ecology – the study of human environment relationships.
Environmental determinism – by Humboldt and Ritter, physical environment caused social development.
Possibilism – the physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust and alter the environment. Example – polders of the Netherlands

9. Geographers see the Earth through …
Physical Processes include
Climate
Vegetation
Soil
Landforms

10. Geographers see the Earth through …
Distribution – arrangement of features in space.
Density – frequency something occurs in space. Examples – arithmetic, physiological, agricultural.
Concentration – extent of a feature’s spread over space.
Pattern – geometric arrangement of objects in space. Example the Land Ordinance of 1785.

11. Concentration and Distribution

13. Geographers see the Earth through …
Diffusion – process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time. Begins in a hearth.
Relocation diffusion – spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another.

14. Geographers see the Earth through …
Expansion Diffusion – spread of a feature in a snowballing process. Can result in the following types of processes…
Hierarchical diffusion, spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power. Ex. Pop culture
Contagious diffusion, rapid and widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population. Ex. flu
Stimulus diffusion, the spread of an underlying principle. Ex. technology