Study Guide for Unit 1 - Introduction to World Geography

Describe 5 things that Geography entails?

1. Location

2. Place

3. Human Environment Interaction

4. Movement

5. Region

What is physical geography? The study of landscapes and environments 

What is human geography? The study of societies, cultures and economics

What is environmental geography? The study of how humans impact the Earth

Explain each of the 5 themes of geography:

1. Location

   1. Absolute location- A latitude and longitude or street address 

   2. Relative location- Described by landmarks, distance and direction for one place to another 

2. Place

   1. Physical characteristics- Landforms, bodies of water, and climate 

   2. Human characteristics- The people, culture, language, region and customs that exists in a location

3. Human-Environment Interaction- How people affect the environment and how the environment is affected by people

4. Movement- Transportation of people, goods, information, and ideas

5. Region- An area that shares similar characteristics

   1. Formal- Defined by specific, related characteristics with defined boundaries

   2. Functional- Organized around a set of interactions and connections, defined by a specific social or economic attribute

   3. Perceptual- Where people perceive the region and its characteristics based on opinion 

Describe the following items you might find on a map

1. Compass rose- A maps directional indicator (N,E,S,W)

2. Map Scale- Defines distance on a map

3. Latitude and Longitude- Latitude is the horizontal distance (North and South) Longitude is the vertical distance (East and West)

4. Map legend- Shows symbols and colors on a map 

Describe the different types of maps

1. Physical/Topographical maps- Shows that natural features of an area

2. Political maps- Shows the human made features

3. Thematic maps- Tells something specific about and area

Describe what one would find in each of the Biomes

1. Deciduous- Warm summers, cold winters filled with trees and woody vegetation

2. Tropical Rainforest- Hot and humid climate with abundant rainfall

3. Desert- Extreme arid conditions, low precipitation, and high temperatures

4. Grassland- Vast expanses of grasses, hot summers cold winters

5. Taiga- Cold temperatures, long winters short cool summer

6. Savanna- Combo of grassland and scattered trees, distinct wet and dry seasons

7. Tundra- Frigid temperatures, permafrost, short growing season

8. Aquatic- Saltwater and freshwater environment

Describe what each of the climate zones are like

1. Polar- Located near north and south poles, cool summers, frigid winters warmest 60

2. Temperate- Between tropical and polar hot summer cold winter 

3. Arid- Lack of rain, Hot desserts

4. Tropical- Hot and rainy 

What is meant by human environment interaction?- The way people adapt to their environment and modify their local environment

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources? Renewable sources are unlimited while non-renewable resources are finite

What is culture?- The customs, behaviors and norms of a particular group

What is meant by the term ethnic group?- Groups that share the same language, customs and common heritage

What is a cultural hearth?- The place of origin for cultural traits

What is cultural diffusion?- The spread of cultural ideas

What is cultural acculturation?- How society changed from being exposed to different cultures 

How do religions spread? Diffusion and Conversion 

How do languages spread? Diffusion