The Basics of Geography
Part 1
The 5 Themes of Geography
What is Geography?The word “geography” comes from the Greek word geographia, meaning “to describe the earth.”
Modern GEOGRAPHY is the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth.
5 Themes of Geography• Location
• Place
• Movement
• Human-Environment Interaction
• Region
LOCATIONAsks the question, “Where is it?”
RELATIVE LOCATION – Gives a general idea of where something is.
ABSOLUTE LOCATION – Gives a pinpoint, exact location
Relative Location
North Dakota is located in the northern part of the continental
United States.
Absolute Location
Can be pinpointed
exactly using
latitude and longitude.
PLACEAsks the question, “What is it like?”
This includes both the physical features and cultural characteristics of a location. Things like climate, vegetation, landforms, and human interaction would all be things that describe “place”.
MOVEMENTAsks the question, “How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another?”
Linear Distance
Time Distance
Psychological Distance
The U. S. Interstate System
• Linear Distance simply means how far a person, idea, or product has to travel.
• Time Distance refers to how long it takes to get there.
• Psychological Distance refers to how people view distance. Studies show that the more familiar we become with a place, we think it is closer.
Linear Distance can be affected by barriers such as rivers, mountains, or oceans. Time Distance has been greatly influenced by modern inventions. In the 1840s, traveling from New York to California took 6 months. It now takes under 6 hours. Psychological Distance may influence decisions about many different human activities.
Across the world, people make important choices based on Linear, Time, and
Psychological Distances.
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
Asks the question, “How do people relate to their physical world?”
People learn to use what the environment offers them. They can either change the environment to fit their needs, or they can live with the aspects they cannot control.
Lower Manhattan in the 1660s
New York City August 2001
Notice the growth outward from
lower Manhattan.
REGION
Asks the question, “How are places similar or different?”
Regions are areas of earth with similar characteristics, such as physical, political, economic, or cultural.
The “Traditional” Four Regions of the United States
Regions may
also be divided
into sub-
regions.
Some regions of Utah
This map divides Utah
into 6 Regions:
The WestWasatch FrontThe NortheastThe Central
Canyon CountryDixie
The National Football League
Major League Baseball is divided into two leagues, with West, Central, and East Divisions