Geography - Chapter 1 Notes

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE - James M. Rubenstein

KEY ISSUES

• Geography's Key Issues
  • Why is geography a science?
  • Why is every place unique?
  • Why are different places similar?
  • Why are some actions not sustainable?

KEY ISSUE 1: WHY IS GEOGRAPHY A SCIENCE?

• Geography Defined

  • Geography is the study of where things are found on Earth's surface and the reasons for their location.
  • Comes from Greek words: geo (Earth) and graphia (writing).
  • Coined by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar.
  • Geography studies why things are found where they are.

• Geography as a Science:

  • Geography relies on both asking where and why when studying Earth’s surface.
  • Every place is unique; geography explains how places are interrelated.
  • Sustainability is vital to geography.

• Geography's Essential Tools: The study of Earth’s surface

  • Locations and reasons for locations should be studied.
  • Places possess unique features.
  • Regions can be sustainable or trending towards green areas.
  • Geography integrates human activities and the physical environment.

• Geography and Location

  • Locations are unique.
  • Some areas are easily understood, while others are complex.
  • Geography focuses on locations, reasons, and distribution across varying spaces.
  • Every area on Earth is unique, with unique combinations of features.

• Geography and History

  • Both fields rely on location to explain human activities.
  • Geography studies where things occur and why.
  • History examines when and why events occur.
  • Geography looks at spatial organization of activities.
  • History emphasizes chronological order of events.
  • German philosopher Kant compared geography (space) and history (time).
  • Example: Tracing the course of a river involves both geography (location) and history (how the course has changed).

• Contemporary Geographic Tools

  • Maps are now generated electronically, not just printed on paper.
  • GIS (Geographic Information System) is a vital tool.
  • Remote sensing acquires data about Earth's surface from satellites and aircraft.
  • GPS (Global Positioning System) determines precise locations on Earth’s surface.

• Contemporary Mapping - Geographic Information System (GIS)

  • GIS captures, stores, queries, and displays geographic data.
  • Produces maps that are more accurate than hand-drawn maps.
  • Complex maps can be created using collected data.
  • GIS is used in various fields such as studying vehicle accidents.

• Contemporary Mapping - Remote Sensing

  • Satellites scan the Earth's surface and transmit images.
  • Photographs of areas are used for gathering data.
  • Resolution issues (the detail that can be depicted) are a concern.
  • Government organizations & corporations utilize remote sensing.
  • For Ex: Example: Google Earth uses aerial imagery.

• Contemporary Mapping - GPS (Global Positioning Systems)

  • GPS uses satellites to pinpoint locations on Earth.
  • Used for navigation, especially in vehicles and ships.
  • Satellites, tracking stations, and receivers all function together.
  • GPS includes dozens of satellites in predetermined positions.

• Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI)

  • Individuals create maps and freely share them; information dissemination is free.
  • Part of the broader “citizen science” trend.
  • Participatory GIS (PGIS) is used for community-based mapping.
  • Mashups overlay data from various sources; API (application programming interface) links databases.
  • Example: Mapping Puerto Rico devastation after Hurricane Maria using satellite imagery.

• Mental Maps

  • Personal representation of a portion of Earth's surface.
  • Contains personal impressions and knowledge of a place.

KEY ISSUE 2: WHY IS EVERY PLACE UNIQUE?

• Place: A Unique Location

  • A specific point on Earth, distinguished by particular characteristics.
  • Geographers explain similarities between places.
  • Each place occupies a unique location.
  • Places can be described by characteristics.

• Understanding Places through Key Characteristics

  • Places possess a unique combination of features.
  • Geographers explain why regions and places are arranged the way they are.
  • A place is a point on Earth with unique features.

• Place Names (Toponym)

  • Most common way to describe a location
  • Names derive from people, history, or physical features.
  • Names may have emotional connections.
  • Place names can be changed or eliminated.

• Site

  • Physical characteristics of a place (climate, water, topography, soil, vegetation, latitude, elevation).
  • Essential in selecting settlements b/c combination of physical features gives each place a distinctive character.

• Situation

  • Relative location of a place (what it is near)
  • Important for finding unfamiliar places (gives direction to things).
  • Ex: Gibratar -> Used for shipping and distribution of goods between Europe and Africa.

• Formal Regions

  • Also known as uniform or homogeneous regions.
  • Area where everyone shares common characteristics (language, economic activity, etc.).
  • Ex: Montana.

• Functional Regions

  • Area organized around a node; tied to a central point through transportation or communications.
  • Often used to convey information about economic areas.
  • Example: TV station coverage area; social media connections.

• Vernacular Regions

  • Also known as perceptual regions.
  • Area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity (ex: the American South).

• Culture

  • What people care about (beliefs, values, customs).
  • What people take care of (earning a ivelihood).
  • Culture is a body of learned beliefs, social forms, and material traits.
  • Culture can also be expressed by generating wealth (ie; agriculture).

KEY ISSUE 3: WHY ARE DIFFERENT PLACES SIMILAR?

• Scale: From Local to Global
  • Scale is the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole.
  • Globalization means processes are increasingly global.
  • Transnational corporations play a major role.
  • Ex: Pepsico
• Globalization of Culture
  • Increasingly uniform cultural landscapes are occurring.
  • Globalization requires a form of common communication
  • English has become a lingua franca facilitating global trade and culture.
  • Fast food restaurants offer familiar places worldwide.
• Distribution
  • Arrangement of features in space.
  • Three main properties: density, concentration, and pattern
• Density (and Types)
  • Frequency something occurs in space.
  • Arithmetic density: Total number of objects in an area
  • Physiological density: Number of people per unit area of arable land.
  • Agricultural density: Number of farmers per area of farmland.