HUMAN GEOGRAPHYITS NATURE AND PERSPECTIVES

GEOGRAPHY AS A FIELD OF STUDY• Physical and human geography are the

two branches of study•Spatial perspective is the unifying bond and is illustrated with maps

•Spatial analysis of patterns and processes

NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS

• Herodotus – linked history and geography

•Aristotle – possible relationships between latitude, climate, and population density

•Eratosthenes – father of geography; calculated the circumference of Earth

NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS

• Hipparchus – devised a grid system to map the curved surface of Earth

•Ptolemy – created first gazetteer & world’s first map; north at the top

NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS• Carl Sauer – possibilism – human

activity is determined by choices that humans make rather than by physical environments

KEY CONCEPTS: SPACE

• Absolute Space – it exists in the aerial relations among phenomena on Earth’s surface

•Relative Space – is perceptual: it is socially produced and is subject to continual change

KEY CONCEPTS: PLACE• Refers to a location that has a

particular identity or value

•Value may vary depending on one’s perspective

KEY CONCEPTS: SCALE

• Refers to the size of the area studied

•Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda cannot be examined just by looking at the country

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLSMaps

•PropertiesSize

ShapeDistance

Direction

•Latitude and Longitude

•TypesPhysical Political

Special Interest

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLSMaps•Demonstrate that all places on Earth have their own distinctive properties

•Geographers disaggregate data to analyze each component

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS• Interpretations

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLSRegion

•A part of Earth that displays internal homogeneity and is relatively distinct from surrounding areas

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLSRegionalization •A special kind of classification in which locations on Earth’s surface are assigned to various regions, which must be contiguous spatial units

Simplifying device = historical periodFormal regions = classifying large regionsFunctional regions = spatial analysisVernacular regions = human landscapes

SOURCES OF DATA

• Field research

•Census data•GIS

•ISS/Space Shuttle photography