Introduction to basic geo

1. INTRODUCTION TO BASIC
GEOGRAPHY

2. WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?
•Geography and maps are a fundamental language for
understanding the world.
•Geography is an ancient and honorable field of learning
with its roots firmly set in classical antiquity.
•The word GEOGRAPHY comes from two Greek words
•a. “GEO” which means “EARTH” and;
• b. “GRAPHE” which means “to write” or “to draw”
•Geography literally means “Earth description”

3. WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?
• A science of space and place.
•A discipline which deals with both (1) Physical and (2)
Social Science aspect
• Geography is concerned with the study of the earth’s
surface including people’s responses to topography and
climate as well as soil and vegetation and the
distribution and interaction of different phenomena on
Earth.

4. WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?
•The first unique concept or approach in the study of
geography is to study the aerial distribution of
phenomena such as:
 People
Climates
Farms
Roads
Shopping centers and;
Schools

5. WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?
•These phenomena can be described generally, or
be precisely located, counted or measured placed
on a map, or in a computer database.
• The second unique aspect is spatial interaction or
the relationship of phenomena below in a given
place.

6. OTHER DESCRIPTIONS …

7. GEOGRAPHY IS PLACE
•Geography is about more than just the location,
coordinates, and position of things on Earth.
Geography also studies the physical and human
characteristics of places. From the dimensions of a
single room to the extent of a cultural region or the
entirety of the globe itself, geographers explore the
meaning, function, and history of places, how places
change, and how they are perceived.

8. GEOGRAPHY IS PEOPLE
•Even though the term “geo-graphy” literally means
to graph the earth, geography is also about the
study of people. It is about the spatial aspects of
human existence, how humans occupy and alter
the landscape, and the relationships between
nature and society.

9. GEOGRAPHY IS EXPLORATION
•History’s great explorers led challenging expeditions to
the farthest reaches of the globe—to new continents,
the poles, the tops of mountains, and the bottoms of
the oceans. Today, modern technologies such as
satellite imaging, remote sensing, and lidar have
extended our ability to explore how earth and human
systems work.

10. GEOGRAPHY IS MAPPING
•Since ancient times, maps have provided the means to
capture geographic knowledge and share information
with others in a simple and easily comprehensible way.
Recent advances in technology have forever changed
the way we create and use maps, and how we use
them to tell geographic stories and solve geographic
problems.

11. GEOGRAPHY IS STORYTELLING
•Geography offers a unique lens through which to
observe and richly describe current events, recount
history, inspire, educate, and amuse. Geographic
storytelling engages audiences, using maps to connect
stories to actual locations on earth. Modern geographic
tools let you move beyond the traditional idea of a
map, combining narrative text, images, videos, and
other content to effectively tell your story.

12. GEOGRAPHY IS LEARNING
• Learning geography gives students deeper
understanding of today’s most challenging issues
including population, climate, health, and natural
resources. Tools such as GIS allow students to view,
understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in
many ways that deliver insights in the form of maps,
globes, reports, and charts.

13. GEOGRAPHY IS SCIENCE
•Science an endeavor in which someone investigates a
question or a problem, using reliable, verifiable
methods, and sharing broadly what she or he finds as
a result has always been tied closely to increasing our
understanding of the world around us. Geography
provides the framework and foundation for enabling
many kinds of scientific research.

14. GEOGRAPHY IS GIS
•Like virtually every discipline, the practice and
study of geography has been fundamentally
altered by the digital revolution. Today’s
geographers are equipped with sophisticated
programs that run on desktops and online.
Collectively, these digital mapping and spatial
analysis tools are known as GIS, or geographic
information systems.

15. GEOGRAPHY IS CAREERS
•An understanding of geography helps people make
critical business and organizational decisions.
Geography careers exist in every field of human
endeavor, from environmental science to business
and beyond. This wide range of opportunities enables
you to pursue your passions and interests for a
dynamic and meaningful career.