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
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