Five Themes of Geography (Mr. Help) Movement Region Human- environment interaction Location Place.

Five Themes of Geography(Mr. Help)

Movement Region Human- environment interaction Location Place

Key Issue #2Why is Each Point on Earth

Unique?Place: A unique locationRegion: A unique area

Place “Place” is what makes it unique and different

than any other place Since no two places on earth are the same, what

is it that makes them different? How to describe “Location” of place:

Toponym (place name) is only useful if people know where the place name is referring too

Site – climate, topography, access to water, soil, vegetation, etc. (can be modified by humans)

Situation – find an unfamiliar place or it’s importance

Mathematical (absolute)

Describe the site and situation of Lower Moreland Township

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lower+Moreland,+PA/@40.1353329,-75.0549914,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c6b21b569b20f3:0x296c356237e4432a

Region An area of Earth defined by one or more

distinctive characteristics Region derives it’s unified character

through the cultural landscape The cultural landscape or regional studies

approach in geography began in France 19th century

Carl Sauer (American geographer) defines it as “an area fashioned from nature by a cultural group”

Region “Region” is an organizational tool or

method of classifying information You can organize by

geographic location language religion Many other ways

The “region” depends on the classification and can change

Types of Regions Formal – uniform or homogeneous region

where everyone share in one or more common distinctive characteristic(s)

Functional – is an area organized around a node or focal point (dominates at the center (node) and diminishes in importance outward

Vernacular –perceptual region, is a place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity

Spatial Association Different conclusions may be reached

concerning a region’s characteristics depending on its scale

Geographers conclude that factors with similar distributions have spatial association

Key Issue #3Why are Different Places

Similar?Scale: Local to GlobalSpace: Distribution of

featuresConnections between Places

Scale: Local to GlobalGlobalization of economyRole of transnational corporations

Globalization of culture

Workers leaving the flooded Western Digital factory in Bang Pa-In, Thailand. The plant makes a critical part for computer hard drives. 2011

Globalization of Culture

GlobalizationHow is it changing the world

While it is impossible to count all of the ways globalization is changing the world, here are three major changes we can easily observe: Increased spatial interaction Cultural homogenization Economic interdependence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn7IoT_WSRA

SpaceDistribution of Features (Three properties)

Density is the frequency with which something occurs in space Arithmetic density, Physiological density

and Agriculture density

Concentration is the extent of a feature’s spread over space Objects close together are clustered and

objects relatively far apart are dispersed

Pattern is the geometric arrangement of objects in space

Cultural Identity in Space Distribution across space

More space for ball fields than ballet studios

Movement across space By gender (male/female) By ethnicity

Why Are Different Places Similar? Cultural Identity in Space

Patterns in space vary according to gender, ethnicity, sexuality.

The cultural landscape has the ability to communicate to people what the accepted norm is within a place. Ex. A bar or park that makes whites feel welcomed

and people of color unwelcomed (or vice versa) Ex. An inviting shopping district to people

practicing alternative lifestyles located in close proximity to where many same-sex couples live

Why Are Different Places Similar? Spatial Interaction

The farther away someone is from you, the less likely you two are to interact.

Trailing-off phenomenon of diminishing contact with the increase in distance is called distance decay.

Electronic communications have almost removed barriers to interaction between people who are far apart.

Access to the technology is of interest to geographers. Core: North America, Western Europe,

and Japan Periphery: Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Connections between Places Connections are the relationship

between people and objects across the barrier of space

Diffusion – process where characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time (originates hearth) Relocation and Expansion