CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF ECONOMIC CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY

Term: Fall 2007

Course Number: GEO 3553 - 0739

Meeting Times Tuesday and Thursday and Location: 1:40 – 2:55

Course Description and Prerequisites: The course is intended to provide students with an introduction to the

fundamental ideas, basic principles and analytical approaches of cultural or human geography and their interplay with the geographic distribution of economic activities (economic geography). Traditionally, geography (literally, earth writing) has been subdivided into several categories of analysis -- first, into the study of the physical world (the land) and the human or cultural domains; and, second, it has been split into the study of phenomena distributed globally or located regionally. Human or cultural geography, as the terms are used in this course, involves the analysis of cultural elements at both at a local and at a global scale – seeking to identify similarities and differences among culture groups and the economic systems that support them as they are found across the face of the earth. Attempts are made to identify factors that help explain the current distribution patterns and account for cultural similarities and difference.

It is unfortunate that we live in an era that has thrown the Baconian (or Scientific) method away as an inconvenience. It is far easier to substitute opinion (or some set of beliefs) for fact (that which has been subjected to the Scientific Method), in order to justify a given belief system. The notion that “If I believe it, it must be correct! There is no need to subject my beliefs to a rigorous test or proof!”

Perhaps, it is for this reason that Dr. Michael Crichton, M.D. [author of Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, and most recently, State of Fear] has been led to criticize science and scientists in recent years. Perhaps the most telling of his criticisms are to be found in his testimony to the Senate. References to Crichton’s criticisms as well as those of others are found below. Yet for this reason the sections of Cultural Dimensions of Economic Geography will review Bacon’s method and seek answers to how and why, in the current milieu, opinion has displaced fact and proof as a basis for both private decisions and public policy formulation. And to examine the abandonment of the scientific method and the rise of ‘moral

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relativism’ as a potential source for many of the expressions of intolerance of differing viewpoints, the unwillingness to have an open mind, expressions of hatred in the world today.

Several of the most distinguishing characteristics of ‘man,’ setting him apart from most other ‘critters’ is the opposable thumb, brain-size and –complexity, the use of speech to convey complex ideas, and the capacity to establish that primary characteristic, known as ‘culture’. Many other critters have some of these characteristics – capacity to communicate messages – say, warnings or directions; or ‘social behaviors’ – hunting together – in packs, or specialized behaviors in a hive, or the use of a stick to pull termites from their mound. But none combine all of the characteristics in the manner of human beings.

Geography is one of the most ancient of mans’ areas of learning. Knowing the world around you in all manifestations – flora, fauna, climate, potential resources and, perhaps most importantly, where things are located – is essential to survival. This is as true today as it was 35 millennia ago. Part of the process of knowing this external world is its incorporation into the humans’ inner world for the formation of what some contemporary geographers call ‘mental maps’. Such mental maps summarize mans’ understanding of the external world – indicating locations of important factors, given the level of economic and cultural development, and directions for moving through geographic space. As long ago as the era of European lake-dwellers (in what is toady northern Italy) maps had been etched into stone.

Although many in the academic geographic profession have rejected the disciplines early roots, especially those of the ancient Near East, Greece and Rome, and love to poke-fun at the ‘religious’ geography of the Middle ages, there is considerable merit in re-visiting the individuals and the ideas of the past. After all, Lord Acton did state:

Those who fail to learn from the past, are doomed to repeat it..

Many geographers pretend that the ‘science’ of geography began in the late 19th Century, and began in error, by adopting a ‘too’ scientific approach – merely aping the research of Sir Charles Lyell (1797 – 1875) and his Principles of Geology; Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) and On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life, and possibly, First Principles by Herbert Spencer (1820 -1903).

One of the most important American human geographers has been Yi Fu Tuan. His approach to human geography maintains the highest standards

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of the use of the scientific method in his analysis (he had been trained in geomorphology, and subsequently turned his attention toward human geography – he has employed ‘deep’ cultural elements (language and religion) to provide insights into their spatial manifestations and the interrelationships with the visible landscape … an onion-shaped dome on churches in eastern Europe and Russia; a Gothic Cathedral in western Europe; or a minarets in Turkey.

To provide perspective for the economics side of the equation for the course, consider Paul Craig Roberts in his editorial has identified the seven big economic ideas of the 20th Century (having had the most socio-political influence). He lists:

(i) communism (socialism);(ii) Keynesianism and spending or demand-side economics;(iii) Hayek’s identification of “the market system as an

information network”;(iv) monetarism à la Friedman’s notion “demand is a

monetary phenomenon”;(v) supply-side economics;(vi) Coase and transaction cost analysis (“laws and property

rights” affect economic outcomes, i.e., so-called ‘market failures’; and

(vii) Buchanan and ‘public choice’ economics (“policy-makers use public policy to advance their ownself-interests”).

Perhaps this list makes it easier to understand the selection of individual authors provided later in this syllabus [www.dallasfed.org/research/ei] for the readings selected for this course.

Instructor: Louis A. Woods, PhD.University of North Carolina -- Chapel Hill.

Office Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 12:15 – 1:25; and by appointment.

Phone: [904] 620-2641

E-mail: lwoods@unf.edu

Required Readings There is no textbook for this course. Students are expected to read the

materials as they are assigned from a variety of sources – the majority of required reading materials will be accessible on the internet. Most of the ‘required readings’ will appear in this syllabus as: “** Required Reading’” with the dates that apply. The following are listings of primary sources for the course as ‘outside reading sources’ for weekly article reviews:

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www.dallasfed.org/research/ei [folio bios and quotes fromsignificant economic thinkers that aid in understandingbasic economic concepts].

Adam SmithDavid RicardoFrederic BastiatLudwig von MisesFrederich HayekFrank KnightMilton FriedmanRonald CoaseJames Buchanan

www.townhall.com [Source of editorials written by my twofavorite economists … Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams [you may access more of Professor Williams’works from his website @ George Mason University].

Outside ReadingsOutside Readings: In addition to the assigned reading material in the text, each student is required to read a total of ten (10) articles (not editorials or book reviews) from scholarly journals over the term. Time, Businessweek, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, the Florida Times Union, etc. are all popular publications and DO NOT qualify as scholarly journals. Several examples of scholarly journals are the Geographic Review, Journal of Cultural Geography, Journal of Geography, Journal of Developing Areas, Land Economics, the Annals of the American Geographic Association, Economic Geography. A popular introductory book on economics, Gwartney, Stroup and Lee, (2005) Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know about Wealth and Prosperity, has characterized contemporary American society as “… a nation of economic illiterates.” As harsh as these words seem to be, empirical evidence proves them true. Given this reality, some students may wish to become better informed by using the publication, Economic Insights, found on the website of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank @ www.dallasfed.org/research/ei. Each of the articles should be read and then reviewed, summarized or outlined as a written report on 5" x 8" note-cards. In the upper right hand corner of the card, a running-count of the article reviews completed must be maintained, i.e., 1/10; 2/10; ….; 10/10. These reports are to be turned in on a weekly basis, either Tuesday or Thursday, beginning the week of September 17.

Additional Each student is expected to be well informed on current economic issues --

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Requirements: both domestic and international -- by reading the Investor’s Business Daily (especially the Monday issues, which are sold on the newsstands on Saturday) or the Wall Street Journal; and by viewing Market Wrap on CNBC (now MSNBC), Nightly Business Report (PBS), or Lou Dobbs on CNN on a daily basis.

Grading: Three, equally weighted quizzes (100 points) will comprise 86 % of the final grade. The remaining 14 % of the final grade will be determined by the

outside readings summaries. The following aggregate grading scale will be used:

350 to 324 (100% to 92.5%) ............... A323 to 299 (92.4% to 85.5%) .............. B298 to 268 (85.4% to 76.5%) .............. C267 to 243 (76.4% to 69.5%) .............. D Less than 242 (69.4%) ..................... F

Course Outline and Schedule:

August 27 - Fall Term 2007Fall Term 2007 Dec. 7

August First Day of Classes Introduction/background/housekeeping 28

August 28 – The question that always arises is: “Just what is geography?” If this is a Sept. 27 question that you have been asking, you’re in good company! Scholars of

the past and today continue to debate questions about the ‘nature’ and ‘scope’ of geography.

++ Suggested Readings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_Geography

Thales of Miletus (c. 624 B.C. – c. 546 B.C.)Anaximander of Miletus (c. 610 B.C. – c. 546 B.C.)Hecataeus of Miletus (c. 550 B.C. – c. 476 B.C.)

** Required Readibgs -- [August 28 – September 27]:

Parmenides of Elan (5th Century B.C.)Eratosthenes of Cyrene (275 B.C. – 195 B.C.)

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Also, the ‘Father of Medicine’

Hippocrates of Kos (450 B.C. – 370 B.C.)

Is it a science? Or, “Is it a social science?” The answer gives rise to the ‘methodology’ that is employed. Before any answer to this question can be arrived at, it is essential to review the the nature and approach of the Baconian ‘scientific method.’ As a first approximation, review the following internet sources:

** Required Readings – [August 28 – September 27]:

-- “What is science?” @ www.thingsrevealed.net/science1.htm.

-- “The Inductive (Scientific) Method,” @

www.batesville.k12.in.us/Physics/PhyNet/AboutScience/Inductive.html

-- “Francis Bacon and the Scientific Method @http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/STL/ideas/bacon.html.

-- “The scientific method <the habit of truth>,” @www.geowords.com/histbooknetscape/b10.htm.

-- Tim Nordgren. 1998. “The Scientific Methods of Rene Decartes and Francis Bacon” @www.thingsrevealed.net/dscrtbacon.htm

-- “In Defense of Bacon,” www.uno.edu/~phil/bacon.htm.

This review is necessary because most contemporary geography texts have implicitly, and some even explicitly, abandoned the ‘Scientific Method.’ While there are a number of reasons for rejecting Bacon’s Scientific Method – probably the primary reason is that its use does not confirm one’s preconceived notions – some folks are too busy ‘trolling’ for evidence to substantiate their own particular (or is that, unique) views to employ the RIGOROUS METHODOLOGY OF THE BACONIAN METHOD! A second reason may be that new ‘philosophies’ and their ‘methodological approaches’ pretend that “…it is impossible to have a value-free methodology, so it is ‘scientifically’ permissible to impose a particular ‘belief-system’ on the evidence (the data).” This relieves the advocate of any responsibility for using the Baconian Method via ‘testing

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hypotheses’.

As an aside, Consider: Is it logically consistent to demand that pharma-ceutical companies use the ‘Scientific Method,’ mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to assure ‘efficacious’ and ‘effective’ drugs protecting consumers, reserve to yourself the right to ignore the Baconian Method in all other disciplines. How, then, can we assure ‘efficacious’ and ‘effective’ ideas to protect users from what Julian Simon describes as ‘false bad news’ that is used to distort policy decisions and waste scarce resources?

One of the more persuasive arguments in favor of the Scientific Method is the Senatorial testimony by Michael Crichton, MD (creator of the TV-series, ER and author of Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, and State of Fear) before the Committee on Environment and Public Works (09/28/05)… you should read his comments, “The Role of Science in Environmental Policy-Making.” It is available on his website and at http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements. cfm?id=246766.

** Required reading [August 28 – September 27]:

Michael Crichton

“The Role of Science in Environmental Policy-Making” @ http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements. cfm?id=246766

“Science Policy in the 21st Century,” A speech to the Joint SessionAEI-Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. January 25,2004 @ www.michaelcrichton.net/speech-sciencepolicy.html.

Geography has been no exception to this trend to avoid the scientific method, in order to pursue socio-political goals … some geographers deny the ability to adhere to a ‘value-free’ methodology. So a particular ‘philosophy’ is adopted to guide geographic inquiry. The most prevalent ‘philosophical approaches,’ replacing the scientific method’s dominance (if the term ‘philosophy’ can be legitimately applied to these approaches) are:

Marxist approach;Feminist approach;Behavioral approach; andCritical approach.

Such approaches may not be ‘mutually exclusive’ in practice. It is important to consider Ayn Rand’s comments on the sources of

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contemporary issues:

Some people might answer: “Sure, I’ve said those things at differenttimes, but I don’t have to believe that stuff all the time. It may havetrue yesterday, but it’s not true today.” They got that from Hegel. They might say: “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” They got it from a very little mind, Emerson. They might say: “But can’t one compromise and borrow different ideas from different philosophiesaccording to the expediency of the moment?” They got it from RichardNixon – who got it from William James. (“Philosophy: Who Needs It,” March 6, 1974, address to the graduating cadets at U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 5)

Be sure to keep these points in mind as you read the required readings. One of the key ideas in both cultural, as well as, economic geography is the notion of interdependency –

Interdependency (of people and places) – to understand the issue of Interdependency, it is necessary to review the ideas of Adam Smith and David Ricardo. An excellent, simple way to understand the key ideas of Adam Smith and David Ricardo -- Go to the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank’s website (www.dallasfed.org/research/ei.):

** Required Reading [August 28-September 27]:

Robert L. Formaini, “Adam Smith – Capitalism’s Prophet,” Economic Insights, 7 (1); @

www.dallasfed.org/research/ei/ei0201.html.

Robert L. Formaini, “David Ricardo: Theory of Free International Trade,” Economic Insights, 9 (2); @

www.dallasfed.org/research/ei/ei0402. html.

The main ideas proffered by Smith include: (i) ‘specialization of task’ or ‘division of labor’ which increases productivity and reduces costs to consumers. Note that there is NOT simply ‘specialization of task’, but ‘specialization of ALL other factors of production – one very significant type is the ‘specialization of area:’ For the basics of ‘division of labor,’ See:

** Required Reading [August 28 –September 27]:

“Adam Smith’s Pin Factory,” July 23, 2004 @ http://divisionof labour.com/archives/000006.php;

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(ii) ‘the invisible hand,’ by which individuals, pursuing their own self-interest through voluntary exchanges made through free, competitive markets promote the social welfare; (iii) ‘absolute advantage’ and trade; and (iv) the role of ‘backward linkages’ [the resources used by an ‘entrepreneur’ in creating good and services] employment and earnings for suppliers.

The more important ideas formulated by David Ricardo include: (i) the ‘Law of Comparative Advantage;’ (ii) “Economic Rent;’ and (iii) the so-called ‘Labor Theory of Value.’ It is the confusion over the ‘labor theory of value’ that has resulted in so many mistakes in economics, especially Marxism (communism) and ALL other forms of socialism, including National Socialism of Hitler’s Germany.

-- Geographic scale matters and the ‘representative fraction’ -- large scale maps cover small areas and show a great deal of detail – say, 1:62,500 –one unit on the map (one inch) represents 62,500 units on the earth (a mile). Alternatively, small scale maps provide coverage of large geographic areas, but have little detail, say 1:2,500,000. For more, See:

** Required Reading [August 28 –September 27]

“Introduction,” Goode’s World Atlas. Review the Atlas’s sections on:

‘Landforms’ (6),

‘Climatic Regions’ (10),

‘Natural Vegetation’ (18),

‘Soils’ (20), and

‘Ecoregions’ (22) [these citations and pages above are from the 19th Edition].

Compare the map of ‘Climate Regions’ with the maps of ‘Natural Vegetation,’ ‘Soils,’ and ‘Ecoregions.’ Then, determine if there are any ‘spatial correlations’ or ‘spatial congruencies’ among the maps.

These five elements are essential to an understanding the stage upon which human beings live-out there lives. The 19th Century

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Russian pedologists (soil scientists) were early in describing the complex interactions among these factors. Simply, the major interrelationships:

Climate → Vegetation → Soils Time Time

There is a causal relationship at work in these relationships – plants have geographical limits which are largely determined by climate-types – temperatures [average annual and diurnal], precipitation [total and seasonal variation], growing season [average number of days between last killing frost and first killing frost]. The decomposition of leaves, branches, and roots depends upon bacteria action, which, in turn, is largely controlled by climate (temperatures and precipitation). This organic material along with the chemically broken-down rock (regolith) forms soil.

All of these processes require substantial periods of time and form what the Russian pedologists referred to as ‘element complexes’ [similar to what Goode’s refers to as ‘ecoregions’], which helped them to explain the geographical distribution of a variety of cultural factors – crops grown, e.g., wheat, rye or flax; the main housing types; language differences; and even political power. The line between climate limits for rye (‘black’ bread) and wheat (‘white’ bread) cultivation is associated with a pronunciation difference found in the Slavic populations found in western Russia (unaccented ‘o’). Additionally, the forest lands of the north protected inhabitants from the waves of marauding groups, largely from the east – one classic example is the invasion Kievan Rus’ by the Mongols (Tatars) led by Batu Khan [grandson of Genghis Khan (Чингис Хаан)] in 1237.This invasion shifted the center of political power in the Eastern Slavic world: from the steppe lands (grasses) of the south based in Kiev (Ukraine) to the forest lands of the north, focused on the city of Muscovy (Moscow).

Land and Its Affect on Humans

There is a ‘tradition’ in geography that advocates the pre-eminent role of the physical environment has played in the creation and evolution of human cultures. This tradition is referred to as ‘Environmental Determinism.’ This strand of geographic thought extends back, at least to the ancient Greeks and the theory of climates developed by Parmendides of Elan (5th Century B.C.), i.e., starting at the equator – Torrid Zone; -- poleward are the

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Temperate Zones, and, finally, at the poles the Frigid Zone. According to Parmedides of Elan, the development of ‘high culture,’ Greek of course, was only possible in the Temperate Zone. In a very real sense, this ‘climatic determinism’ was a manifestation of early ‘ethnocentracism’ (Look it up!) Additionally, there was a linking of the physical environment with human health by the ancient Greeks – See: Hippocrates of Kos (450 B.C. – ca. 370 B.C.). Mal – aria, for example was linked to ‘bad air’!

In many regards these ancient views persisted in Western Cultures through the 19th Century … in United States, as late as the 1850s many physicians attributed ‘fevers’ to foul vapors -- the miasmas – a noxious atmosphere.

Environmental Determinism continued as a dominant theme in many of the social sciences, including geography, to this day. Several well-known examples are:

++ Suggested Readings [August 28 –September 27]

Ellen Churchill Simpson (1863 – 1932) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Churchill_Semple)

Influences of Geographic Environment: On the BasisOf Ratzel’s System of Anthropo-Geography, 1911

Ellsworth Huntington (1876 – 1947) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellswoth_Huntington)

Civilization and Climate, 1915, rev. ed. 1924

Mainsprings of Civilization, 1945.

Under environmental determinism, the proposed relationship is:

Physical environment → Human condition, including

culture.

A 19th American politician/scholar:

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George Perkins Marsh (1801-1882)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Perkins_Marsh)

Man and Nature (1864)

rewritten and revised as:

The Earth as Modified by Human Action

became an early advocate of reversing this ‘environmental determinism relationship:

Human activities → Physical environment.

This has become the framework of the modern environmental

movement – man’s activities have a affect on the physical environment …

Human Population

Numbers and Distribution of People: It is unfortunately one of the greatest ‘Myths of the 20th Century’ was the notion that the world was ‘over-populated’! A best example is a quotation from Paul R. Ehrlich, the author of The Population Bomb (1968): who wrote in the first sentence of the Prologue to his first book:

The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s and 1980s hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now. At this late date nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate. (xi)

As an entomologist, with a specialty in butterflies, one would expect more science and less hype from the likes of Paul Ehrlich! But, then

again, he did lose a $ 1,000 bet with Julian Simon – a bet revolved around the issue of population growth vs. resource growth. (see: “The Simon-Ehrlich Bet Revisited” @ www.env-econ.net/2005/09/the_ simonehrlic.html. Also: Simon-Ehrlich Wager @ http://wikipedia.org/Ehrlich-Simon_bet .

** Required Reading [August 28 –

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September 27]

“Human Population” @ lwoods@unf.edu.

Oct. 2 First Quiz

Oct. 4- Human Use of the Land Nov. 1

Review the Materials in Goode’s Atlas:

‘Climatic Regions’ (10), ‘Natural Vegetation’ (18), ‘Soils’ (20), and ‘Ecoregions’ (22)

The end of the fourth Pleistocene ice age about 10,000 years age introduced what is defined as the Holocene.

** Required Reading [October 4–

November 1]

“Geologic Time Scale”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_timescale

“What is Geologic Time?”www2.nature.nps.gov/GEOLOGY/usgsnps/gtime/gtime1.html.

↓Geological Time Scale

↓ Putting Time into Proportion

↓Closeup: The Pleistocene and Holocene

“Pleistocene”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleistoces

Note the following: i) map of the maximum global extent of glacialii) graph of atmospheric CO2 with the glacial cycleiii) graph ‘Phanerozoic climate change’ [available by

‘clicking on’: ‘Timeline of glaciations’ to the right of the subheading: Major Events

Over the 650,000 years displayed on the Charts/Graphs:Do the glacial (cold) periods appear to be getting longer or shorter?Have the warmer periods (the inter-glacial periods) been getting longer

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or shorter over the 650,000 years or so?

“Holocene”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene

In the box on the right-hand side of page, under the heading “Upper Pleistocene,” note the various ‘Paleolithic [Old Stone Age] cultures’

Then, under “Holocene” note the ‘Mesolithic [Middle Stone Age] cultures’

And, the ‘Neolithic [New Stone Age] cultures’

There is a ‘proposed relationship’ that ‘climate change’ – the so-called ‘Younger Dryas event’ played a major role in the development of agriculture, i.e., the process of ‘Domestication’

Notice that the ‘Younger Dryas event’ is the term that is applied to a sudden and severe cooling in the wake of the global warming associated with the end of the last (Wisconsin) ice age. It has also been referred to as the ‘Big Freeze’ which has been dated in the Northern Hemisphere as occurring cir. 12,900 to 11,500 years ago. It is reported that: “The transition each occurred over a period of a decade or so.” Also, note that citation to sources are provided.

++ Suggested Reading [October 4–November 1]

Consider reading:

‘Natufian culture’‘Halafian culture’ ‘Ubaid culture’

The early Holocene epoch is the period during which humanity domesticated plants, and then animals (except for the dog) through a process of intensive foraging (9,500 to 6,800 years ago). On the Anatolian Plateau [Çatal Hüyük], barley, wheat, lentils and peas had been domesticated 8,400 years ago. Sheep and cattle had been domesticated by 7,800 years ago.

** Required Reading [October 4–November 1]

“Domestication”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication

The following site is essential and excellent:

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“The Great Transition: Emergence of Agriculture and City Life”www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/lifeways/hg_ag/

i) Hunting and Gatheringii) Domesticationiii) Spread of Agricultureiv) Pastoralismv) Ingenuity of Humankindvi) Changes in Technologyvii) Sedentism: Living permanently ….viii) Living with the Consequencesix) What Squash tells usx) Emerging Complexityxi) Scenario for Civilization

This site provides a ‘table of domestication’ cross-referencing regions of the world with plants:

“Paleo-ethnic-botony”www.stu.ca/archaeology/museum/peb/plethbot.html.

“Where Were Plants Domesticated?

For convenience, economic geography identifies direct use of the land for agricultural purposes into two fundamental categories:

Subsistence Agriculture Commercial Agriculture

Subsistence Agricultural systems have been subdivided into the following categories on the basis of intensity of land use and the farmers’ permanence of location:

Migratory Extensive – aka ‘slash-and-burn’ or ‘milpa’ or ‘dibble-stick’ cultivation – the land is used for a number of years and as the

natural fertility of the land is depleted, as evidenced by declining yields, the farmers abandon the site, and move on to clear a new ‘milpa’ – using slash and burn land clearance methods.

This agricultural system was once global, and in Scandinavia it was referred to as ‘swidden’ agriculture, but today is largely confined to the Tropical regions of the world – Central and South America, Southeast Asia and Africa.

** Required Reading [October 4–November 1]

‘Slash-and-burn agriculture,’ 15

http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Slash_and_burn

www.cnr.vt.edu/lsg/S&B.pdf

Sedentary Extensive agriculture – is similar to the ‘migratory’ system, except

the homes are permanent, while fields around them are cleared ‘slash-and-burn’) and cultivated for twenty- to twenty-five year cycles.

Intensive subsistence agriculture – under such a system, found in China, Indonesia, India, the Middle East and the Nile River Valley, the same fields are used on a permanent basis. It supports large and dense rural populations. The dominant crops are rice in east, south and southeast Asia, while in southwest Asia and the Nile River region wheat dominates. In east and southeast Asia, rice is frequently grown on slopping land through terracing. Additionally, animals play a major role in the household economy, largely small and easily kept, largely self-sufficient animals, e.g., chickens, pigs, ducks … In many regions, rice is grown as ‘paddy rice’ with flooded fields … here fish (tilapia and carp are good examples) are raised in the paddies to reduce mosquito infestation, as well as providing a supplemental protein source. The Andean (Inca) societies developed using terraces for the cultivation of such staples as corn and potatoes.

** Required Reading [October 4–November 1]

Subsistence Intensive Agriculturehttp://anthro.palomar.edu/subsistence/sub_5.htm

LECD Case Study: Intensive Wet Rice Farminghttp://geographyfieldwork.com/RiceFarm.htm.

Pastoralism – an early form of animal husbandry

** Required Reading [October 4–November 1]

‘Pastoralism’http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Pastoralism

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‘Pastoralism’www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/anthro2003/lifeways/hg_ag/pastor.html.

‘Pastoralism’www.wsu.edu/gened-modules/top_agrev/3-Hunting-and-Gathering/hunt-gathering4.html.

Commercial Agriculture – specialization on a single cash-crop

** Required Reading [October 4–November 1]

“The Rise of Commercial Agriculture”www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0856512.htm

Commercial Grain Farming – this agricultural system is highly concentrated

in transitional regions of the world between the prairies (tall grasses) and the steppelands (short grasses). The use of expensive capital equipment (tractors and harvesting equipment), necessitates large-scale farming practices … even excessively large farms in the former Soviet Union – Kolkhoz (‘collective farms’)and Sovlhoz (‘state farms’) … United States, Prairie Provinces of Canada, Argentina, Australia, Ukraine, South Africa (‘veld’).

** Required Reading [October 4–November 1]

Commercial Wheat Framing

“Grain Belt”http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Grain_Belt

click on:“The Breadbasket”“The Black Earth Provinces”“Canadian Prairies”

“Overview of Wheat Farming”www.ers.usda.gov/publications/sb968/sb968b.pdf

“Dry farming – Wheat”http://geography.about.com/library/misc/ucwheat.htm.

Commercial Corn Cultivation this form of agricultural land use is best exemplified by the United States Corn Belt/Livestock (cattle/pig) complex:

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“U.S. Corn Belt”http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Corn_Belt

See: Location map

“Dairying”http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Dairyhttp://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Dairy_farming

“Plantations”http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Plantation

Alfred E. Harteminkwww.alfredhartemink.nl/plantations.htm

Nov. 6 Second Quiz

Nov. 9 – Geography of Manufacturing and Urbanization Dec. 6

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

The Industrial Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Industrial_Revolutionwww.wsu.edu/~dee/ENGLIGHT/INDUSTRY.HTM

www.ecology.com/archived-links/industrial-revolution/index.htmlSee: Agricultural Revolution (‘Second’) Technological Change Since 1700 If one looks at the number of nations that have been transformed (larger populations, higher levels of ‘real’ GDP, lower death rates and longer life-spans) by the Industrial Revolution (which began in 1760) and the invention of the ‘steam-engine’ [Thomas Savery, (1650-1715)], its development [Thomas Newcomen (1663-1729], and its improvement [James Watt (1736-1819)]. Population numbers have increased dramatically and their well-being has been greatly improved (they are healthier and wealthier). One may go to David S. Landes [1969. The Unbound Prometheus: Technological Change and Industrial Development in Western Europe from 1750 to the Present, Chapter 2, “The Industrial Revolution in Britain,” 42-123] for a detailed examination of the forces (deforestation, rising prices for wood, and the quest for an alternative fuel source – coal) that stimulated technological solutions to the flooding of coal mines by ground water. Tellingly,

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Landes writes:

Coal and steam, therefore did not make the Industrial Revolution; but they permitted its extraordinary development and diffusion. …the steam-engine could be relied on in all seasons; but the initial outlay [capital investment] was higher and it would be costly tooperate … (99)

These considerations are made in opposition to alternative energy sources of the time – wind and windmills and water and water wheels/mills – which were cheaper, but unreliable [variability of both winds and rainfall]. The use of large amounts of coal was a drawback for the inefficient early steam-engines, necessitating the sitting of these engines proximate to coal mines:

… where coal was extremely cheap -- as in collieries; or in mines too deep for other techniques, as in Cornwall; or in thoseoccasional circumstances – the naval drydock at Saint Peters-burg for example – where costs are no object.

As a consequence, the leitmotif of steam technology was the effort to increase efficiency, that is, the amount of work performed per input of energy. By comparison, the goal of greater power, that is, work performed per unit of time, took second place, although the two objectives were linked and made for the one, permitted or yielded the other. …

The first practicable device for the conversion of thermal energy into work was Thomas Savery’s ‘fire-engine’ of 1698. It was steam-engine and pump combined. (100)

Please note that a primitive ‘steam-engine’ had been developed by Hero of Alexandria (or, Heron) [10 to 70 A.D.]. It was a copper globe with opposed in-line nozzles, attached by tubes to a covered water-filled basin. The water would be boiled producing steam, the pressure of the steam would increase, and it would be expelled through the nozzles, which would spin the globe. It was called the ‘aeolipile’, after the Greek god of the Wind.

Phases of the Industrial Revolution (1760 -- ) – an on-going phenomenon, which may be understood by reading the works of Nikolai D. Kondratiev [Николай Дмитриевич Кодраьев (1892-1935)] and Joseph A. Schumpeter (1883-1950).

Kondratiev gathered many economic indicators over a period of nearly 200 years. In his analysis he identified an apparent regularity in the levels of ‘business activities’, or a ‘super-cycle,’ what has come to be known as the Kondratiev wave/cycle or 50 to

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60 year business cycle. It is also referred to as the ‘long-wave’ and ‘K-waves’. Kondtaiev worked on the New Economic Plan (NEP) in Lenin’s Soviet Union. He was caught up in the Purge Trials of Joseph Stalin(1932 – 1938) and was privately ‘liquidated’ after having been publicly sentenced to 10 years in prison! Ya’ gotta’ just love Soviet justice! Please read the following materials carefully:

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

“Nicholai Kondratiev”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Kondratiev

“Joseph A. Schumpeter” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schumpeter

The Austrian economist, Joseph A. Schumpeter (1883 –1950) adopted Kondratiev’s cycles and found their cause in the capitalist process of ‘innovation’ [as opposed to invention] guided by ‘entrepreneurs’ … he acknowledged ‘entrepreneurship’ as the primary force in the evolution of a capitalist economy! Schumpeter studied in the Law Department at the University of Vienna, under one of the founding figures of the Austrian School of Economics, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk. (For more on the Austrian School, see: www.mises.org). Perhaps Schumpeter’s most significant book, at least in my opinion, is: (1941) Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy.

A careful review of Sir Peter Bauer’s writings, especially: “The Vicious Circle of Poverty,” [Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, 95 (1965), 4-18] reveals explanations – most importantly: “All of the nations that are considered ‘highly developed’ today, began as ‘underdeveloped’ nations! Of course this is an obscure foreign journal, and is NOT in the UNF (Carpenter) Library! Try reading the first section in his later books, which ARE in the Library! A second good source is: G.W. Scully, “The Institutional Framework and Economic Development,” Journal of Political Economy, 96 (3), 652-662.

Urbanization

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

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“Urbanization”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanizationwww.faculty.fairfield.edu/faculty/hodgson/Courses/so11/population/

urbanization.htm.

“Case: The Urban Geography of Leeds”www.brixworth.demon.co.uk/leeds/

Parks and Burgess – Urban Sociology – University of Chicagowww.csiss.org/classics/content/26

“Walter Christaller: Hierarchical Patterns of Urbanization,” by Pragya Agarwal

www.csiss.org/classic/content/67

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

“Location Theory”

“Location Theory”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_Theory

“The Four Classical Traditions in Location Theory”http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/450/table.html.

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

“Agricultural Land Use”

“Johann Heinrich von Thünen” (1783-1850)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Heinrich_von_Thünen

“Johann Heinrich von Thünen” (Resources)http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/450/thunen.html.

“Von Thünen’s Regional Land Use Model”http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch6en/conc6en/vonthunen.html

“Von Thünen’s Model of Land Use”www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/thunen.html.

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

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“Industrial Location”

“Alfred Weber” (1868 – 1958)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Weber

“Alfred Weber’s Theory of Industrial Location”www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/weber.html.

“Alfred Weber: Theory of the Location of Industries, 1909”by David Fearon

www.csiss.org/classics/content/51

“Alfred Weber and Subsequent Developments in Industrial Location Theory”

http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/450/weber.html.

** Required Reading [November 9 –December 6]

“Service Sector”

“Walter Christaller”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Christaller

“Walter Christaller: Hierarchical Patterns of Urbanization,” by Pragya Agarwal

www.csiss.org/classic/content/67

“Walter Christaller’s Theory of Central Places,”www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/christaller.html.

“August Lösch and the Economics of Location”www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/losch.html.

Dec. 11 FINAL EXAM 1:00 - 2:50

Library Scholarly journals may be located in the periodical section of the library Assignments: (The Third Level).

Written The individual article summaries will comprise one of the written Communication communication requirements in this course. Please note that the cards=

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Requirements: format, particularly the Bibliographic material, should conform to those found in the Chicago Manual of Style.

Oral Class participation constitutes the demonstration of oral Communication communication skills. At all times, class discussion and class Requirements: participation is strongly encouraged.

Computer Use of the Internet for data searches, articles from scholarly journals Applications: and data manipulation are encouraged. The need for students to access the

instructor=s home page to download syllabi, class materials, and project

instructions serves as an additional set of computer applications.

International Lectures and internet reading assignments are used to augment the Coverage: international component of this course.

Environmental Externalities/market failures, as well as government policies, are used Issues Covered: to examine environmental issues. In addition, the regulatory response and

burden on private markets are discussed. The role of private property in a

free-market economy and its implications for economic efficiency vis-a-vis the public provision of goods and services are examined in the so-called

>tragedy of the commons=.

Ethical Issues Ethical issues related to illegal or immoral activity within the economy will Covered: are discussed where and as appropriate.

Academic Integrity: Each student is expected to do his/her own work on assigned activities and on all quizzes. An understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and abuse of copyright >fair use= laws is expected of each student.

Students With Students with a disability, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities: Disabilities Act (ADA), who may require special classroom

accommodations, should inform the instructor of any special needs during the first week of class. Students should also contact the Office of Disabled Services Programs (620-2769) immediately.

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