5 Themes of Geography

1. What is Geography?

2. Geography
Geography is
the study of
places and the
relationships
between people
and their
environments.

3. Term comes from Greek roots ‘ge’ meaning ‘earth’
and ‘graphein,’ which means to write or describe.

5. Five Themes of Geography
1. Location
A. Absolute = Exact location on earth’s surface
1.GPS 2. Map 3. Latitude &Longitude

6. B. Relative = general location
Example :
1. HCIS is located on the road of POL street and 53
street.
2. Mandalay is located in Myanmar.
3. Can you think of other examples?

7. 2. Place
 Two types of Characteristics of Place
Physical & Human
A. Physical:
 Natural things
1.Landforms - Is the land flat, hilly, or mountainous?
2.Vegetation- What kind of plants?
3. Animals- Kinds? Amounts?
4.Soil- Is it fertile?
5.Climate- Hot, cold, cool, dry, rainy?

8. B. Human:
1.Buildings( what type & made of what)
2.Roads (dirt/concrete)
3.Wires (electricity/phone)
4.Clothes (cotton/wool, shoes)
5. Religion
6.Language
7.Music
8.Politics

9. 3. Human / Environment Interaction
Three Ways People Interact with environment:
 1. __Adapt_ -
People do not change the environment they change their lives to fit the environment.
People adjust their lifestyle (clothing, housing, sports, food) to fit their environment.

10.  2. ___Modify_ -
People change the environment.
(buildings, roads, bridges, canals, dams, and harbors)

11.  3. __Depend On__
People depend on the environment to make a living.
(farmers, miners, fisherman, tourism...)

12. 4. Movement
 People
 Goods/Products
 Ideas/Information
( In and out of the country)

13. 5. Region
 Created by having a common feature
(Language, landscape, religion, occupation of people…)
 Man made is most cases