Basics of Geography

Does yours look like this?

NA

SA

Africa

EuropeAsia

Australia

Antartica

Pacific Ocean

Indian Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Arctic Ocean

Other Regions of the World

Sub Sahara Africa

Central America / Latin America

Middle East/ SW Asia

SE Asia

Pacific Rim (Ring of Fire)

The People of Social Studies

People of Social Studies

• Political Scientist – Person who studies governments and their relationships

Anthropologist

• Person who studies cultures

Archaeologist

• Person who studies artifacts and bones of different cultures

Economist

• One who studies resources and how they are used

Geographer

• One that studies geographical features and their impact on history

Types of Maps

Political Map

• Shows boards and capitals as well as major cities

Topographic Map

• Shows landforms and physical features of area

Cartogram Map

• Shows the size of a country or area based upon what is being measured

Types of Maps

Activity:

On a scrap piece of paper draw a map of the world

Political Map

• Shows borders and capitals as well as major cities

Topographic Map

• Shows landforms and physical features of area

Cartogram Map• Shows the size of a country or area based

upon what is being measured

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude

• Measures North and South from Equator (0 Degrees)

Longitude

• Measures East and West from Prime Meridian (0 Degrees)

Hemisphere

• Hemi = Half

• Earth can be split 2 ways, either by using Equator or by using Prime Meridian

If Split by Equator…

• We get the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

If Split by Prime Meridian

• We get the Eastern and Western Hemispheres

Sources

Sources in Social studies

• Primary Source – Came from the time in which the person was living

• Examples: Diary, journal, autobiography

• Ex. A book about Adolf Hitler written in 1940.

Secondary Source

• A book or material written by someone not in that time period.

• Example: Biography

• Ex. Mr. Russell writing a book about Adolf Hitler

What does geography influence?

• Job• Activities• Foods• Clothing• Language• Music• Interests• Culture

What is cultural diffusion?

Cultural Diffusion

• The spread of ideas, language, religion, and technology from one place to another

Examples

• Pizza

• Chinese Food

• Uggs

• Playstation

• Tim Hortons

Why does cultural diffusion happen?

• Trade

• Communication

• Forced/ Conquering

“We are all bound by our geography. It helps dictate who

we are and who we become”

If you could live anywhere in the world, were would it be? Why?

Importance of Water

• Why do we need water?

– To live– To drink – To clean– For crops– For travel

Water in regard to geography• It can bring places together

link them Ex. Japan, Korea and China

• Or it keep them apart

• Europe and America till 1400’s

Coastlines

Irregular Coastlines

• Jagged Coastline– Good for bays, harbors, trade!!

Examples

Regular Coastline

• Smooth coastline– No bays, harbors– Hinders trade

Examples

Mountain Ranges

Or, the good, the bad, and the ugly

European Mountains: Not a Problem

• Pyrenees divide but do not isolate

• Alps - highest range, central southern Europe

• Apennines, Dinaric, Balkans, Carpathians do not isolate

• Kjolen Mts.

• Borders: Caucasus and Urals

• Irregular Coast and Navigable Rivers lessen isolation

Latin American Mountains

• The Andes• Altiplano• Sierra Madres• Central Mexican

Plateau

VERTICAL CLIMATE

• At Sea Level, Tropical Fruits and Crops Grown

• Temperate Vegetables, Coffee at higher zone

• Cold Zone: Potatoes• Vertical Climate allows

a variety of goods and trade among regions.

                                         

      

Middle East-Desert and Plateaus

• TURKEY: THE ANATOLIAN PLATEAU

• THE IRANIAN PLATEAU (dry)

• Saudi “Empty Quarter”• Most Live Near Fertile

Crescent, Nile, or Coast.

Africa:Vast Plateau, Poor Soil

• ATLAS MOUNTAINS• DRAKENSBURG

MOUNTAINS• RUWENZORI Mts.• GREAT RIFT

VALLEY• Rivers do not unite

continent

ISOLATION

• The Andes isolate Chile from Argentina and slowed their wars

• The Chinese and Indians have developed separate cultures due to their isolation

How do mountains affect people?

• Isolate people – create borders– STOP CULTURAL

DIFFUSION!!!!

• Lack arable (Farming) land• Natural Defense (Buffer Zone)• Separate people (Balkans in

Europe)• Colder due to vertical climate

(lower population)

Deserts

Deserts

• Isolate People = little Cultural diffusion

• Few Resources

• Buffer Zone

• Little to no arable land

Desertification

• Spreading of the desert

Deforestation

• Cutting down of rain forests

Why do they cut?

• It is a way to get money in areas that lack resources

Results

• Land becomes non arable wasteland

• Loss of species

• Loss of land and homes for natives that live in forests

Poland: A case study

• Located on Easter European Plain = – Flat Land

Flat Land = Easily invadedEx. Germany, Russia throughout history

Russia

• No warm water port = hurts trade

Developed vs Developing countriesDeveloped = Blue