World Geography Honors Chapter 1 - The Geographer’s World

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and definitions in World Geography, focusing on spatial elements, themes, tools, and systems.

Thinking Like a Geographer

Helps understand the beauty and complexity of the world by studying spatial elements.

Spatial Elements

Includes where on Earth a place is, how it interacts with other places, its size and shape.

Landscape

A portion of Earth’s surface that can be viewed at one time, from one location.

Dynamic Earth

Earth is always changing, with some changes being rapid and others gradual.

Five Themes of Geography

The organization of geography into location, place, region, human-environment interaction, and movement.

Location

Refers to where on Earth a thing is found, characterized by relative and absolute location.

Relative Location

Where a place is compared to another place.

Absolute Location

An exact location on Earth.

Place

A meaningful or special location on Earth with distinct characteristics.

Region

Places located near one another that share some features.

Human-Environment Interaction

How people affect and are affected by their environment.

Movement

How people, products, ideas, and information move from one place to another.

Six Essential Elements of Geography

Includes the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and the uses of geography.

Latitude

Imaginary lines that are horizontal and parallel, used to locate places on Earth.

Longitude

Imaginary lines that connect the North and South Poles, used to locate places on Earth.

Equator

An important line of latitude that runs around the middle of Earth.

Prime Meridian

An important line of longitude with a value of 0° longitude.

Globe

The most accurate kind of map, representing Earth as a sphere.

Hemispheres

Half of a sphere, dividing Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Map

A flat representation of Earth that may distort physical reality.

Map Projection

A graphic way to convert round Earth onto a flat map.

General Purpose Maps

Maps that show a lot of information like landforms and boundaries.

Thematic Maps

Maps with one main purpose, such as road maps.

GPS

Global Positioning System, used to track location and navigate.

GIS

Geographic Information System, uses computers to analyze geographic information.