GEOG 101 – World Regional Geography

Professor: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue

Introduction to World Regional Geography

A – Realms and RegionsB – Physical SettingC – Cultures and PopulationD – StatesE – Development

Realms and Regions

■ Geography• From the Greek “Geo” (the world) and “Graphos” (to write about

or to describe). • Studies the location and distribution of features on the Earth’s

surface.• Features:

• Human activities.• Natural environment.• The relationship between the two.

• Answers where and why.

AA

Realms and Regions

■ Classification Systems• Many sciences establish a taxonomy (classification) of the

elements investigated.• Biologists, chemists, geologists, historians, astrophysicists,

epidemiologists, etc.• Geography does the same:

• Tries to find a commonality to a certain area.• Often a matter of scale.• The smaller the scale the less likely the commonality.

AA

Realms and Regions

■ Realm• The largest geographic units into which the inhabited world can

be divided.• Based on both physical (natural) and human (cultural) characteristics.• The smallest scale of commonality.

• The result of the interaction between human societies and natural environments:

• A functional interaction.• Represent the most comprehensive and encompassing definition

of the great clusters of humankind.• Geographic realms change over time:

• Russia (disintegration of the former Soviet Union).• European integration.

Realms of the World

Realms and Regions

■ Transition zones• Where geographic realms meet.• An area of spatial change where peripheries of two adjacent

realms or regions join.• Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp break) in the

characteristics that distinguish neighboring realms.

Transition Zones

Realms and Regions

■ Regions• Areas of the earth’s surface marked by certain properties.• Based on an established criteria:

• Human (cultural) properties• Physical (natural) characteristics

• All regions have:• Area• Boundaries• Location

■ Formal region• Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity in one or more

phenomena.• Also called a uniform region or homogeneous region.

A Regional Framework of the United States

Realms and Regions

■ Functional region• A region marked less by its sameness than its dynamic internal

structure.• A spatial system focused on a central core.• A region formed by a set of places and their functional

integration.• Also called a “nodal” region.

Los Angeles Nodal Region

Physical Setting

■ Physical Geography• The study of physical processes in space.• Continental drift / Tectonic plates / Subduction.• Pacific Ring of fire.• Weathering:

• Decay and breakup of rocks on the earth's surface by natural chemical and mechanical processes.

• Erosion:• The wearing away of land or soil by the action of wind, water, or ice.

BB

Tectonic Plates

World Seismic and Volcanic Activity

Cultures and Population

■ Culture• Shared patterns of learned behavior.• Components:

• Beliefs.• Institutions.• Technology.

■ Cultural geography• Spatial aspects of human cultures.• Major components focus on:

• Cultural Landscapes.• Culture Hearths.• Cultural Diffusion.• Cultural Environments.• Cultural Regions.

CC

Cultures and Population

■ Cultural landscape• The composite of human imprints on the earth’s surface.• Take many shapes:

• Agricultural tenure.• Organization of cities.• Architecture.

■ Cultural hearths• The source areas from which radiated ideas, innovations, and

ideologies that changed the world beyond.■ Cultural diffusion• Process during which a culture / religion spread to new areas.

Core Cultural Hearths of Humanity

Diffusion of Major Religions in Pacific Asia

Hinduism (4,000 B.C.)

Buddhism (563 B.C.)

Islam (571 A.D.)

Christianity (1510 A.D.)

Shinto

Traditional Chinese

Christian presence

Cultures and Population

■ Population distribution• Linked with agricultural potential.• 4 major clusters:

• 1) East Asia• 2) South Asia• 3) Europe• 4) Eastern North America

World Population

States

■ Political geography• The study of the interaction of geographical area and political

processes.• The spatial analysis of political phenomena (e.g. voting) and

processes.■ State• A politically organized territory.• Administered by a sovereign government.• Recognized by the international community.• A state must also contain:

• A permanent resident population.• An organized economy.• A functioning internal circulation system.

DD

States

■ Nation• All the citizens of a state (legal definition).• Group of people with a strong linguistic, ethnic, religious and

cultural commonality.■ Nation-state• A country whose population possesses a substantial degree of

cultural homogeneity and unity.• Japan, most of Europe.

Development

■ Economic geography• The study of economic activities in space.• Particularly concerned about production and consumption.

■ Economic conditions• Significant variations in income.• Developed and developing countries.• From low to high-Income.

■ Globalization• A complex and highly dynamic process.• New industrial regions.• New markets.• Global products.• Three main poles of the global economy.

EE

Poles of the Global Economy

Newly IndustrializingDevelopingUnderdeveloped

AdvancedOil Export / Rent

North AmericaWestern Europe

East Asia

Economies