INTRODUCTION TO INTRODUCTION TO REGIONAL GEOGRAPHYREGIONAL GEOGRAPHY

E.J. PALKA

OUTLINE•Geography: The discipline• Geographic Realms• Transition Zones• Regions• Physical Setting

• The study of place and space. The word, “spatial” is a purely Geographical concept. Does NOT refer to “outer space”.

• Divided into: Physical & Human. Studies human activity, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two.

• Studies the location and distribution of features on the Earth’s surface. Answers where and why

• Why is Timbuktu where it is, and why did the settlement evolve on this site? (see handouts)

GEOGRAPHY

• The The largest geographic unitslargest geographic units into which the inhabited world can into which the inhabited world can be dividedbe divided

• Based on both physical (natural) Based on both physical (natural) and human (cultural) criteriaand human (cultural) criteria

GEOGRAPHIC REALMSRealms are based on Spatial Criteria

WORLD GEOGRAPHIC REALMS

•Geographic realms change over time.

•Where geographic realms meet, transition zones, not sharp boundaries, mark their contacts.

• An area of An area of spatial changespatial change where peripheries of where peripheries of two adjacent realms or regions jointwo adjacent realms or regions join

• Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp break) in the characteristics that distinguish break) in the characteristics that distinguish neighboring realmsneighboring realms

TRANSITION ZONES

GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION

The Worl

d

RealmsRegions

CONCEPT OFSCALE

• Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity (sameness) in one or more phenomena. In other (sameness) in one or more phenomena. In other words, areas of similar characteristics.words, areas of similar characteristics.

• Also called a Also called a uniformuniform region or region or homogeneoushomogeneous regionregion

REGION

ExamplesExamples::Corn BeltMegalopolis

• Scientific devices that enable us to make spatial Scientific devices that enable us to make spatial generalizationsgeneralizations

• Based on criteria we establish Based on criteria we establish

• Criteria can be:Criteria can be:

• Human (cultural) propertiesHuman (cultural) properties

• Physical (natural) characteristicsPhysical (natural) characteristics

• or Bothor Both

REGIONS

• All regions have:All regions have:• AreaArea• BoundariesBoundaries• LocationLocation

REGIONS

THE PHYSICAL SETTING•Physical Geography

•Alfred Wegner •Tectonic plates•Continental drift•Pacific Ring of fire

CLIMATE•Hydrologic cycle•Precipitation patterns•Climate regions

A wide-ranging and comprehensive field that A wide-ranging and comprehensive field that studies spatial aspects of human culturesstudies spatial aspects of human cultures

CultureCulture: : Shared patterns of learned behaviorShared patterns of learned behavior ComponentsComponents: : Beliefs; Institutions; and Beliefs; Institutions; and

TechnologyTechnology

CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY

The composite of human imprints The composite of human imprints on the earth’s surface.on the earth’s surface.

Carl Sauer’s definition: Carl Sauer’s definition: “the forms “the forms superimposed on the physical superimposed on the physical landscape by the activities of man”landscape by the activities of man”

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

The The source areassource areas from which radiated ideas, innovations, from which radiated ideas, innovations, and ideologies that change the world beyondand ideologies that change the world beyond

CULTURE HEARTH

A subfield within the human branch of A subfield within the human branch of geographygeography

The study of the interaction of geographical The study of the interaction of geographical area and political processarea and political process

The spatial analysis of political phenomena The spatial analysis of political phenomena and processesand processes

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

A A politically organizedpolitically organized territory territory

Administered by a Administered by a sovereign governmentsovereign government

RecognizedRecognized by a significant portion of the by a significant portion of the international community.international community.

A state must also contain: A state must also contain: • a a permanent resident populationpermanent resident population

• an an organized economyorganized economy

• a functioning a functioning internal circulationinternal circulation systemsystem

STATE

Must a nation be a

place?

Some examples of stateless nations: the Cherokee Nation, the Some examples of stateless nations: the Cherokee Nation, the Palestinians, the Kurds (see next slide). Palestinians, the Kurds (see next slide).

NATION

THE KURDS

KURDISH REGION

4 major clusters4 major clusters1) East Asia1) East Asia 2) South Asia2) South Asia3) Europe3) Europe 4) Eastern North America4) Eastern North America

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENTEconomic geography: Core areas vs. peripheriesEconomic conditions (World Bank’s groupings)

PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT

THE GEOGRAPHER’S

PERSPECTIVE