Geography - Part I (Themes - Diffusion)

the 5 themes of geogreaphy

• location

• place

• movement

• region

• human-environment interaction

Location question

Where is something?

Place question

What is the location like?

Region question

How is this place similar/different from the others?

Movement question

How do places interact with each other?

Human-Environment Interaction questions

How do humans change this place?

How does this place change humans?

the 2 types of location

• relative

• absolute

Relative Location

the approximate location of something

• describe where it is in relation to another thing

  • ex: Texas is north of Mexico

Absolute Location

The exact location on Earth

• usually in Longitude/Latitude

Latitude

horizontal lines

parallel to the equator

0-90 degrees

lat = flat

Longitude

lines that run North/South

0-180 East/West of Prime Meridian

Place

the description of the physical & human characteristics of a location

5 categories of Place

• land

• water

• climate

• vegetation

• animal

Region

multiple places that have characteristics in common

3 types of regions

• formal

• functional

• perceptual

Formal Region

places with shared characteristics

(ex.) Japan, b/c of shared physical & cultural characteristics

Fucntional Region

an area centered on a central hub/focal point & developed outward

(ex.) Many European cities

Perceptual Region

an area organized by perceived commonalities, not real ones

(ex.) The Bible Belt

Realms

the largest regions on Earth

transition zones

areas where regions meet

often has a blend of qualities from both regions

Human-Environment Interactions

How humans modify, adapt to, and depend on the environment for resources

Movement

the movement of people, goods, ideas, information, & even physical phenomena like weather patterns/ocean currents.

Gall-Peters Projection Map

land mass shown accurately, but shape is distorted

Mercator Projection Map

shape is accurate, but size is distorted

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

(airplane map) scale for distance is accurate

Gnomonic Projection Map

distance is accurate. used for air and sea navigation

Topographic Map

detailed Earth surface - showing natural and man-made features

shows elevation & terrain

Thematic Map

shows a variation of a topic across a geographic area

Mental Maps

images of a location that exists in someones mind

Spatial Distribution

a tool that measures the physical location in which things occur

Random Distribution

There is no specific pattern or logic to how things are spread out. (e.g., Wildflowers naturally sprouting in a meadow)

Uniform Patterns

even spacing between entries - implies human planning

spatial clustering

when things group together in one area “hot spot”

(ex.) downtown restaurants, Silicon Valley

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

computer systems that combine software, hardware, & human knowledge to collect, process, analyze, & present geographic data about a specific place. 

Adaptation

when humans change something about themselves to adjust to their living environment.

(Ex.) air conditioning in hot climates or building your house on stilts in a flood zone.

modification

when humans change the physical environment.

(ex.) build a dam for hydroelectricity, alters the physical environment by changing the flow of the river

Cultural regions

groups who identify with a common cultural heritage.

(ex. ethnicity, language, religion, or historical background)

cultural trait examples

language dialects, traditional arts, music, cuisine, clothing styles, rituals, and social customs

geographic boundaries

natural - mountains, rivers, or coastlines

man-made - political borders or administrative divisions

Culture

shared values, attitudes, beliefs, religions, languages, and way of life in a region

subculture

individuals within a culture that deviate from the larger group on some areas

diffusion

the spread of culture from one area to another

Spatial Diffusion

The spread of people, things, ideas, cultural practices, disease, technology, weather, etc from place to place. 

Expansion Diffusion 

The spread of ideas or innovations through a culture and then to other cultures. 

Contagious Diffusion 

The spread of ideas or innovations over an area due to person-to-person contact within a culture or across different cultures. 

Hierarchical  Diffusion

the spread of ideas and innovations from powerful and influential cultures to small or subjugated cultures

Stimulus Diffusion

A change in a culture due to an innovation or invention in another culture. 

Relocation Diffusion 

The spread of ideas and innovation is due to the migration of people from one region to another. 

The migrating people bring their ideas and cultural practices to a new region and spread them. 

cultural adaptation

a shift in natural & societal systems that occurs in societies

changes some ways of life, especially when necessary due to geographic location

(ex: agriculture & rural areas shape culture in Midwest)

Cultural Diffusion

as different cultures interact, ideas and beliefs merge together

creates more diverse communities, reduces discrimination, and shares tech advancements

negative - some practices might be lost as time goes on

(ex: food customs merge - french/cajun in NOLA)

Cultural Exchange

happens when different ideas, traditions, and info is shared between people w different cultural backgrounds

(ex: Anime/Kpop is popular globally)

Syncretism

The process of merging multiple religions, cultures, or ideas.

Adaptation

The ways people modify their cultures or learn new things to adapt to changing environmental, economic, or political circumstances. 

Acculturation

When groups adopt the cultural traits of another culture while still retaining their own cultural identity, often has blending.

(ex. Tex-Mex)

Assimilation

adopting the customs, values, and practices of another dominant culture, often leading to the gradual loss of their original cultural identity.

(ex: 2nd gen immigrants to America)

Extinction

Cultures can disappear; often, this is due to disease, famine, or warfare. 

Survivors were forced to adapt to new environments and merge with other cultural groups.