Geography Textbook Notes

Geography Textbook Questions #1

1. Influence of Places

• Places significantly shape cultures, identities, and daily routines.
• They influence job opportunities, access to education and healthcare, and overall quality of life.
• Physical features such as climate and terrain affect climate and economic activities.
• Social and political environments impact rights, safety, and community values.

2. Physical vs. Human Geography

• Physical geography studies the Earth's natural features, including landforms, climate, and ecosystems.
• Human geography focuses on human activities, cultures, economies, and interactions with the environment.

3. Geographical Information System (GIS)

• GIS is a computer system used to collect, store, analyze, and display geographical data.
• Data includes maps, satellite images, and location information.
• GIS applications:
  • Mapping and analyzing crime patterns.
  • Planning urban development and infrastructure.
  • Managing natural resources and environmental conservation.
  • Tracking disease outbreaks and public health trends.

4. Types of Location

• Absolute location: A fixed point using coordinates.
• Relative location: Describes a place in relation to other places (e.g., "next to the library").
• Cognitive location: A personal, mental map of where things are (e.g., how you memorize your neighborhood).

5. Types of Distance

• Absolute distance: Measured in exact units (e.g., kilometers or miles).
• Relative distance: Based on time, cost, or effort (e.g., "a 30-minute drive").
• Cognitive distance: Perceived distance, which may vary from actual distance (e.g., a place may feel far because it's hard to get to).

6. Types of Diffusion

• Expansion (contagious) diffusion: A viral social media trend spreading rapidly.
• Hierarchical diffusion: A fashion trend starting in major cities and moving to smaller towns.
• Relocation diffusion: Immigrants bringing their cuisine or language to a new country.

Geography Textbook Questions #2

7. Ordinary vs. Symbolic Landscapes

• Ordinary landscapes: Typical suburban neighborhoods.
• Symbolic landscapes: Parliament Hill in Ottawa or the Statue of Liberty - places with deeper cultural or political meaning.

8. Developing a Sense of Place

• Through personal experiences, memories, and emotional connections.
• Through shared cultural, historical, or social meanings attached to the place.
• By participating in community events or traditions.

9. Importance of Geography

• Helps us understand the world and how people and places are connected.
• Shows how environments shape societies.
• Aids in solving problems like climate change.

1. Core, Periphery, and Semi-Periphery

• Core: Wealthy, powerful, advanced economies.
• Periphery: Poorer, less developed, resource suppliers.
• Semi-periphery: In between; emerging economies, some industry.

2. Relational Space

• The concept of space used in the world system model is relational space.
• Relational space describes how places are connected economically and politically.

3. Core Dominance

• Core regions maintain dominance over the periphery through:
  • Trade control.
  • Investment.
  • Technology.
  • Political influence.

4. Colonial International Division of Labor

• Colonies exported raw materials and remained poor.
• Core nations grew rich from industry.

5. Neocolonialism Examples

• Poor countries reliant on loans from rich countries.
• Global brands dominating local markets.

6. Globalization

• Globalization = growing world interconnection.
• Today’s links are faster, digital, and more widespread.

7. Economic and Cultural Globalization Examples

• Economic: Global trade, outsourcing jobs.
• Cultural: Worldwide music, fast food, social media.

8. Importance of Place in Globalization

• Globalization connects the world, but places remain important because of their unique culture and identity.
• People adapt global trends locally.
• People still care about the origin of products, like food, fashion, and traditions.

9. Globalization and Prosperity Differences

• Core countries benefit more; they control technology, trade, and profits.
• Peripheral regions often remain poor, exporting cheap resources and labor.
• Core countries grow richer from production and innovation.

10. Fast World vs. Slow World

• Fast world: Connected, high tech, globalized.
• Slow world: Poorer, less connected, limited access to the global economy.

11. Digital Divide

• Causes of the digital divide:
  • Lack of internet access.
  • Limited financial resources.
  • Inadequate education.
• Effects of the digital divide:
  • Inequality in job opportunities.
  • Disparities in learning resources.
  • Restricted access to information.