Social Science Section 1 – Thinking Geographically

Human geography

The study of the variability of human activities across different time periods and locations

Spatial perspective

Common to all approaches of human geography, reasons a particular phenomenon occurs in a certain context or location, the “why of where”

Cartography

The study and methodology of map-making and representing Earth visually through maps

Absolute location

The exact position of a place or object as defined by a fixed spatial system such as coordinates or a grid

Latitude lines

Parallel lines used in coordinate grid system which denote an object’s distance from the equator

Longitude lines

Parallel lines used in coordinate grid system which denote an object’s distance from the prime meridian

What is the other term for longitude lines?

MeridiansP

Prime meridian

Imaginary line designated as 0˚ longitude

Where is the prime meridian located?

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England

Political maps

Maps which indicate politically designated characteristics of an area, such as boundaries, capital cities, or urban areas

Physical maps

Maps used to aid navigation and depicting major landforms such as mountains, rivers, and deserts, often use isolines

Road maps

Maps which aid in navigation by depicting land transportation routes

Topographic maps

Physical reference maps used to aid in navigation by depicting terrain using isolines, often used for land engineering and recreation

Isoline