This image demonstrates the properties of density, concentration, and pattern in the following ways: Density - The number of dots per square unit of space shows the density is highest in the center and decreases moving outwards. Concentration - The dots are most closely packed together in the center, showing high concentration, and become more dispersed towards the edges, demonstrating lower concentration. Pattern - The dots are arranged in a circular pattern, with the highest density and concentration forming a circle in the center, and the density and concentration decreasing in concentric circles as you move outwards from the center. So in summary, this image uses the spatial distribution of dots to illustrate concepts of density, concentration, and pattern that are key to

1. Human Geography
Unit 1: Basic Concepts
Created by Daniel Eiland | http://www.mreiland.info

2. Introductions
Unit Geographic
Tools
Outline
The Five
Themes

3. Introduction
to
Geography

4. What is a geography?

5. “Geography is the
systematic study of the
spatial patterns of all
phenomena on or near
the Earth’s surface.”

6. Geography is:
A scientific and descriptive study of
the Earth’s surface.

7. Geography is:
Interactions between people and
their environment

8. Geography is:
A study of spatial and local
variation.

9. Geography is:
A
Study
Of
Spatial
Patterns.

10. What is the
why
Of where?

11. What is the above a picture of? Why might it
have been built the way that it was?

12. In this night picture of the earth, why are some areas brighter
than others? How would it have looked 200 years ago?

13. Who are some important Geographers?

14. Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE)
I was the first person
to demonstrate that
the Earth was
spherical.

15. Eratosthenes (3rd Century BCE)
I accurately calculated
the circumference of
the earth using
geometry and was the
first known person to
use the word
geography.

17. Claudius Ptolemy (CE 90 – CE 168)
I wrote a book called
Geography and
designed the
forerunner to
longitude and
latitude lines.

19. Abu Abd Allah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani al-Sabti
Al Idrisi (1099–1165)
I’m an Arabic
geographer who
worked for the King of
Sicily to create an
accurate
representation of the
world.

21. Abraham Ortelius (1527 – 1598)
I designed the
first modern
atlas: Theatre
of the World.

23. George Perkins Marsh (1801-1882)
I first described how
natural systems are
impacted by human
actions. I am considered
the first modern
environmentalist

24. Carl Sauer (1889-1975)
In 1925, I argued that
cultural landscapes, the
interactions between
people and their
environment, should be
the focus of geographic
study.

25. How did the maps change between
Eratosthenes and Ortelius? Why?

26. What fields of study exist in Human
Geography?

28. What are W.D. Pattinson’s four
traditions?

29. The Earth-Science Tradition

30. The Culture-Environment Tradition

31. The Locational Tradition

32. The Area-Analysis Tradition

33. What are the differences between
Human and Physical geography?

34. What characteristics of this image would
a human geographer notice? A physical
geographer?

35. What characteristics of this image would
a human geographer notice? A physical
geographer?

36. Human Geographers ask:
Where are people located?

37. Human Geographers ask:
What are people like?

38. Human Geographers ask:
What are their interactions over space?

39. Human Geographers ask:
What kind of landscapes do they build?

40. What kinds of data do geographers
use?

41. Qualitative Data
Examines cultural or regional Uses rigorous mathematical
geography. techniques to examine hard
Gathered through numerical data.
observations, interviews, and
the interpretations of texts.
Quantitative Data

42. Idiographic
Facts and Concepts that
figures unique are universally
to a particular applicable
place or
region
Nomothetic

43. Develop a qualitative, nomothetic question
about the populace of our school.

44. Develop a quantitative, idiographic
question about the populace of our school.

45. A
Geographers
Tools

46. What is cartography?

47. “Cartography is
the science of
making maps.”

49. What is a map-scale?

50. “A map-scale shows the
relationship of a feature’s size
on a map to its actual size on
Earth.”

51. Ratio or
1:24,000 1/100
Fraction
Map
Scale
Graphic Written
Scale scale
0|----------------|100km 1 inch equals one mile

52. Which would be a good scale for viewing a
classroom, a school, a parish, a country?
A) 1in:1000miles
C) 1in:100miles
D) 1in:10feet
E) 1in:100ft

53. What is resolution?

54. “Resolution is a map’s smallest
discernable unit. In other
words, it is the smallest item
you can see on a map.”

55. What is projection?

56. “Projection is the scientific
method of transferring
location on Earth’s surface to
a flat map.”

57. Shape
Distance
or
Direction
Relative
Size
Distortion

58. Mercator Projection
Distortion:
Size and Shape
The standard map projection for
nautical purposes.

59. Mollweide Projection
Distortion:
Shape and Angle
Primarily used where accurate representation
of area takes precedence over shape

60. Robinson Projection
Distortion:
Everything
in small
amounts.
Primarily used to create visually
appealing maps of the entire world.

61. Azimuthal Equidistant Projection
Distortion:
Shape and distance
as one gets farther
from the center.
Used when drawing Polar maps.

62. Fuller Projection
Distortion:
Maintains the
accurate shape
and size but
rearranges
direction.

63. Peters Projection
Distortion:
Retains the accurate
size of landmasses but
sacrifices shape.
Often seen as a politically driven map.

64. A) B)
C) D)

65. What is a reference map?

66. “A reference map
shows locations of
places and geographic
features.”

67. What is relative location?

68. “Relative location is the position
on Earth's surface relative to
other features.”

69. Where is Caddo Parish located
relatively?

70. What is absolute location?

71. “Absolute location is a point
on the earth's surface
expressed by a coordinate
system such as latitude and
longitude.”

72. What is longitude?

73. “Longitude is the numbering
system that enumerates
meridians, arcs that are
drawn between the north
and south pole.”

74. Longitude
0° Longitude runs through
Greenwich, England and is known
as the Prime Meridian

75. What is latitude?

76. “Latitude is the numbering
system that enumerates
parallels, circles drawn around
the globe parallel to the
equator and at right angles to
the meridians.”

77. Latitude
0° Latitude is the equator.
90° north latitude is the north
pole.
90° south latitude is the south
pole.

78. What are time zones?

79. “A Time zone is a region on
Earth that has a uniform
standard time for legal,
commercial, and social
purposes.”

80. What is the international date line?

81. “The International Date Line is an
imaginary line on the surface of the
Earth, that runs from the north to
the south pole and demarcates one
calendar day from the next.”

82. A traveler crossing the
International Date Line
eastbound subtracts
one day, or 24 hours, so
that the calendar date
to the west of the line
is repeated.

83. What is a thematic map?

84. “A thematic map is a type
of map or chart especially
designed to show a
particular theme connected
with a specific geographic
area.”

85. Choropleth Maps
Uses differences in shading, , or the
placing of symbols.

86. Dot Maps
Uses dots in a
specific area.
Each dot is a
specific quantity.

87. Isoline Maps
Uses continuous lines joining
points of the same value.

88. Mental Maps
Shows an person’s internal
perception of space.

89. Cartograms
Expands or shrinks the area of
locations to demonstrate different
types of data.

90. The World Population
What does this map show you about the
world’s population?

91. What is GIS?

92. “GIS or a Geographic
Information System is a
computer system that
stores, organizes, analyzes, and
displays geographic data.”

94. Identify the feature above.

95. Identify this feature above.

96. Identify this above feature.

97. For Your Consideration
Imagine that you are a researcher using GIS to
determine information. What is a question that
you might be able to answer using the
technologies available?

98. What is GPS?

99. “GPS or a Global Positioning
System determines the precise
position of something on Earth
through satellites, tracking
stations, and receivers.”

100. What is remote sensing?

101. “Remote sensing is the
acquisition of data about the
Earth’s surface from a satellite
orbiting the planet or from
other long distance methods.”

102. What is a geographic model?

103. “A Geographic Model is a
simplified way to explain
complex patterns, make
informed decisions and explain
future behaviors.”

104. Part 3: The Five Themes of Geography

105. Theme 1: Location

106. What is site and situation?

107. “Site is describing a location of
a place based on its physical
characteristics. Situation is the
location of a place relative to
other places.”

108. Describe your town or city only by
discussing its location relative to other
places.

109. Describe your town or city only by
discussing its physical characteristics.

110. Is it Site or Situation?

111. Much of South Louisiana is made
up of swamp-land.
A. Site
B. Situation

112. Baton Rouge is next to the
Mississippi River.
A. Site
B. Situation

113. The first Woodlawn High School
was built on a fault line.
A. Site
B. Situation

114. The new Woodlawn High School
was built next to a church.
A. Site
B. Situation

115. What is a Toponym?

116. “A Toponym is the name of
something on the Earth.”

117. Theme 2: Region

118. What is a region?

119. “A region is an area of Earth
defined by one or more
distinctive characteristics.”

120. “The physical
features, economic
features, and cultural features
that make up a region are
called its cultural landscape.”

121. What types of regions are there?

122. Formal Regions
Everyone shares in common one or
more distinctive characteristics.

123. Formal Regions
Borders are easy to track and slow to
change.

124. Formal Regions
Examples: Political regions and long
lasting economic regions.

125. Functional Regions
Organized around a central node.

126. Functional Regions
Tied to the point by transportation and communication
systems or by economic or functional associations.

127. Functional Regions
Examples: Subway Systems, Newspaper Distribution, Store
Distribution

128. Perceptual Regions
A place that people believe exists as part of their
cultural identity.

129. Perceptual Regions
Informal and varies dependent on who is defining
them.

130. Perceptual Regions
Examples: “The South” “The Country”

131. The next 10 slides ask you to
identify if the region shown is
formal, functional, or vernacular.

132. The Corn Belt
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

133. The South
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

134. Kentucky
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

135. A county in Kentucky
A. Formal Breckenridge
County
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

136. Eastern Kentucky
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

137. Eastern Kentucky
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

138. Chicagoland (Chicago and all the areas
served by the city)
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

139. The Deep South
A. Formal
B. Functional
C. Vernacular

140. Theme 3: Movement

141. What is movement?

142. “Movement is the way that
people, products, information
and ideas move from one place
to another.”

143. Compare how long it would take you to get
from school to the mall (6.2 Miles) using
the following forms of transportation.
1) Walking (3.1 MPH)
2) Horse (15 MPH)
3) Car (45 MPH)
4) Helicopter (100 MPH)

144. How has the time it takes to travel
changed through the years? Why?

145. What is distance-decay?

146. “Distance Decay is the
lessening interaction between
places as the friction of
distance increases.”

147. What is friction-of-distance?

148. “Friction of Distance is the
effect of distance on
interaction between places.”

149. Distance-Decay Models for Stores

150. What is space-time compression?

151. “Space-Time Compression is
the reduction in time it takes
for something to reach another
place because of a change in
technology.”

152. 1500-1840
1850-1930
1950s
1960s
1980s

153. What determines the interaction between
places?

154. Proximity
The nearness to important features.

155. Connectivity
Directness of routes linking pairs of
places.

156. Accessibility
The relative ease with which a destination may
be reached from other locations.

157. What is the Gravity Model?

158. “The Gravity Model says that
the interaction between two
places is equal to the product
of the places’ population
divided by the square of their
distance apart.”

159. The Gravity Model

160. Insights from the Gravity Model
1) Larger cities have greater gravitational pull
than small ones.
2) Two large cities like Los Angeles and New York
can still pull on each other even with the
distance between them.

161. What is diffusion?

162. “Diffusion is the process by
which a characteristic spreads
across space from one place to
another over time.”

163. What is the a Cultural Hearth?

164. A hearth is the place
which an innovation or
cultural change
originates.

165. How do cultural elements diffuse?

166. Core: The “most pure” area
that possesses all cultural
traits used to define a region.
Domain: The area in which the
culture is dominant but less
intense.
Sphere: The zone of outer
influence where people with
the culture traits can even be a
minority in another region.

168. Relocation Diffusion: The diffusion of a
characteristic as people move from
place to place.

173. The rapid, widespread
diffusion of a characteristic
through the population.

174. Can you tell where the cholera outbreak
started?

175. The spread of an idea
from persons or nodes
of authority or power to
other persons or places.

176. Stimulus Diffusion:
Spread of an idea after
reestablishing it after
initial failure.

177. For Your Consideration:
The next few slides will ask you to
identify what type of diffusion is
being discussed.

178. Fashion Trends from cities to
surrounding areas.
A. Contagious
B. Hierarchical
C. Stimulus
D. Relocation

179. Christianity not being adopted by its
initiating group (the Jews)
A. Contagious
B. Hierarchical
C. Stimulus
D. Relocation

180. The serving of Lamb Burgers at
McDonalds in India
A. Contagious
B. Hierarchical
C. Stimulus
D. Relocation

181. When missionaries try to convert kings
first to spread their religion.
A. Contagious
B. Hierarchical
C. Stimulus
D. Relocation

182. The spread of Islam from Mecca from
individual to individual
A. Contagious
B. Hierarchical
C. Stimulus
D. Relocation

183. Italians teaching Americans to make
pizza when they moved to North
America.
A. Contagious
B. Hierarchical
C. Stimulus
D. Relocation

184. Theme 4: Place

185. “Place is an area that is defined
by everything in it.”

186. How do geographers analyze space?

187. How does the
big affect the
small?
What
characteristics
of the small are
Scale How does the
small affect the
characteristics
of the big? Asks big?
What
characteristics
of the big are
part of the
small?

188. How does your perception of cancer rates change
when you look at a country and state level map?

189. What is distribution?

190. Density
How many things are in one square unit of
space?

191. Concentration
How closely are things related to one
another in a space?

192. Pattern
How are things arranged in a space?

193. How does this image
demonstrate the properties of
density, concentration, and
pattern?

194. Describe this classroom using the words
density, concentration, and pattern.

195. Theme 5: Human/Environment Interaction

196. “Human-Environmental
Interaction is how humans
modify, adapt to, and depend
on their environment. Cultural
Ecology is the study of human-
environment relationships.”

197. Environmental Determinism
How a People have
physical the ability to
environment adjust to
causes social their
development. environment.
Possibilism

198. End of Unit 1