Lecture - Unit 1 : Thinking Geographically

Geography

The study of why things are located where they are and how they become distributed.

Cartography

The art and science of mapmaking.

Reference Maps

Maps designed for general information about places, including political and physical maps.

Thematic Maps

Maps that show spatial aspects of information or phenomena.

Political Map

A type of reference map that shows human-created boundaries and designations.

Physical Map

A type of reference map that shows natural features like mountains and rivers.

Absolute Location

The precise spot where something is located, often defined by latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

The location of something in relation to other things.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees.

Longitude

The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees.

Map Projection

The process of showing a curved surface (the Earth) on a flat surface (a map).

Distortion

The inaccuracies that occur in map projections, affecting shape, area, distance, and direction.

Mercator Projection

A cylindrical map projection used for navigation, known for accurate directions but distorted land masses near the poles.

Peters Projection

A map projection that accurately represents landmass sizes but distorts shapes.

Conic Projection

A map projection that represents the Earth on a cone, useful for midlatitude countries.

Azimuthal Projection

A planar projection that accurately shows distances and directions from a central point but distorts shapes elsewhere.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Technology used to analyze spatial data in layers.

Remote Sensing

The acquisition of information about an object or area from a distance, often using satellites.

Geospatial Data

Information that is associated with a specific location on the Earth's surface.

Quantitative Data

Data that can be measured and recorded using numbers.

Qualitative Data

Data that includes people's perceptions and descriptions, often collected through interviews and observations.

Sustainability

Development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Environmental Determinism

The theory that the physical environment shapes human social development.

Possibilism

The theory that the physical environment may limit some human actions, but people can adjust to their environment.

Diffusion

The process by which a characteristic spreads across space and over time.

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of an idea through the physical movement of people from one place to another.

Contagious Diffusion

The rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout a population.

Hierarchical Diffusion

The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority to other persons or places.

Stimulus Diffusion

The spread of an underlying principle, even if a characteristic itself fails to diffuse.

Globalization

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or operate on an international scale.

Formal Region

An area in which everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics.

Functional Region

A region defined by a particular set of activities or interactions that occur within it.

Vernacular Region

A region that people perceive to exist based on their cultural identity.