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Module 1 Summary 1.01 Summary Understanding of the world has evolved over time. Using maps, field studies, and technology, geographers have expanded our knowledge about relationships between places on Earth. You also learned about how geographers apply spatial perspective in their studies of Earth. Like detectives, geographers ask questions, analyze issues, and look for patterns. Studying the spatial organization of places and regions helps geographers identify these patterns. In this lesson, you applied the skills, terms, and questions that geographers use to explain
the relationship between places. Building these skills will help prepare you for the AP
Exam and beyond. The skills may be incorporated into your daily life and decision
making.
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Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) German scientist who advanced the field of physical geography through his research and emphasis on the impact of physical features on regions Carl Ritter (1779–1859) German geographer who theorized that physical environment played a significant role in the development of human societies Carl Sauer (1889–1975) American geographer who developed the field of cultural geography and emphasized the relationship between different cultures and their environments Environmental determinism The belief that the physical environment determines societal development Environmental geography The study of the effects of human activities on Earth’s physical systems Geography The study of Earth’s physical and human features Human geography The study of human activities on Earth’s surface Industrial revolution A period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries during which major technological advancements transformed the nation from an agricultural society to an industrial society Physical geography The study of natural forces in Earth’s physical and biological systems Quantitative methods Research that relies on numerical measurements Spatial organization The arrangement of physical and human objects on Earth’s surface Spatial perspective Viewing physical and human objects according to where they appear in space 1.02 Recall that the field of cartography has evolved over time, and technological advances
have allowed cartographers to make sophisticated maps that help users think spatially
about the world. Maps not only inform our history, but they also form our perceptions.
Tools such as remote sensing, GIS, and GPS help change the way that geographers think
critically about the world and identify patterns among various phenomena. For example,
GIS helps ask questions such as what, where, why, and who. By creating layered maps,
geographers can study the ethnic groups who live near certain physical features or study
the relationship between the numbers of people who have a particular disease to the
location of factories and business in an area.
In this lesson, you learned the basics involved in reading and analyzing maps. Knowing
how to think spatially about the world and analyze visual representations of Earth will
help you on the AP Human Geography Exam and beyond. You can also apply these skills
when you encounter maps in your daily life.
Cardinal directions Directions associated with the compass points north, south, east, and west Cartography The science or practice of making maps Cognitive map Mental associations unique to an individual's perception Compass rose Symbol that represents the orientation of cardinal directions on a map Geographic Information System (GIS) A computer-­‐based mapping technology that uses a variety of geographic information about an area Intermediate direction Northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast Large scale A scale using large ratio Mental map Mental associations unique to an individual's perception Projection A method of showing the curved Earth on a flat surface Reference map Maps used to locate or navigate between places Remote sensing A process that uses satellites or other similar methods to acquire data about Earth’s surface Scale The ratio between the distance on the map and the actual distance on the surface of Earth Simplification The process of eliminating unnecessary details on a map Small scale A scale using very small ratio Thematic map Viewing physical and human objects according to where they appear in space Toponyms Names given to places on Earth 1.03 You should identify the basic map reading skills that will help you read and analyze maps. When you
examine a map, you should look for the map elements, study the cartographer's choices, and consider data
and historical context. Noting the types of projections and technology used to create the map can help you
better understand the map perspective and how it differs from other maps. Cultural perspectives, including
biases, can also have an effect on the final map product. Being aware of cultural perspectives will help you
in your final interpretation of a map. Finally, when you combine all these factors and look for spatial
patterns on the map, you will be able to make a thorough and accurate analysis of the map.
To be a proficient map-reader and interpreter takes practice. The more often you really look at a map, the
more likely you are to gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of the map and patterns that may exist.
This skill is one component for success on the AP Human Geography Exam. You will have a limited
amount of time to review and analyze maps on the test. If you move too quickly through the map questions,
you might miss important pieces of information needed to answer the questions correctly. If you take too
much time on individual questions, you will lose valuable time. Sharpening your skills now and throughout
the course will help you approach the questions with more confidence.
Culture The sum of all customs arts, attitudes, and behaviors shared by and passed on by a group of people Human feature Geographic features that human beings made, such as infrastructure (roads, bridges, and tunnels), landmarks, and cities The point of view of the cartographer including cultural perspectives or bias Map perspective Physical features The natural features of Earth, such as mountains, lakes, and deserts Satire A device, such as literature or a television program, that uses exaggeration to show human follies and misbehaviors 1.04
One of the most important questions geographers ask is “Where is it located?” Human
geographers are most interested in where people and their activities are located on Earth.
To discuss and organize geographic concepts, such as where things are located,
geographers developed the five themes of geography. Knowing how to describe location,
the first theme of geography, is a way of helping you understand the importance of a
location. When you use relative location to describe a place, you often describe physical
features and landmarks that are located nearby. For instance, Hong Kong is nestled
between the Pearl River Basin and the South China Sea along China’s southern coast.
This description might help you realize that Hong Kong is an important trading region in
China because of its access to a well-traveled water passageway. On the AP Exam, being
able to describe the relative location of a place will give you a better understanding of
what the place is like and may give you an advantage on the multiple-choice or freeresponse sections.
In this lesson, you applied the skills, terms, and questions that geographers use to
describe specific areas and regions on Earth. Building these skills will help prepare you
for the AP Exam and beyond. The skills may be incorporated into your daily life and
decision making.
Absolute location Position on Earth’s surface defined by latitude and longitude Latitude The system of numbers used to indicate the location of parallels drawn on a globe Longitude The system of numbers used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe Map scale Viewing physical and human objects according to where they appear in space Meridians Arcs that are formed around the globe between the North and South Poles Parallels Arcs drawn parallel to the equator around the globe Relative location Position on Earth’s surface in relationship to physical or man-­‐
made features Relative scale The way in which areas of the world are grouped together for study Scale of analysis The way in which areas of the world are grouped together for study Space-­‐time compression The idea that with increased technology the actual distance between two places is shrinking because it takes less time to travel between them Trilateration Determining absolute location using distance from three or more known locations 1.05 In this lesson, you analyzed maps and case studies to develop a better understanding of the unique physical and human characteristics that define place. Each place on Earth has a unique combination of vegetation and climate types, natural resources, elevation, and cultural characteristics. Switzerland and Bhutan share physical similarities in elevation and climate. As a result, they also share some cultural similarities; however, they have developed unique traditions and cultural values. You explored how the physical diversity of Africa has created a wide range of land uses from ranching to mining across the continent. Then, you made inferences on the connections between physical features and land use. You also studied some of the cultural characteristics of place, such as religion and resource distribution. Based on the combination of physical features and cultural features, some places are more desirable to live in than others. Arable land Land that can be used for growing crops Cajun Descendants of the French Canadians from Nova Scotia who settled in areas surrounding the bayous of Louisiana Creole A person who is a descendant of early French or Spanish settlers of the United States Gulf states Cultural landscape The tangible products resulting from the complex interaction between people and their environments Ecumene An area of Earth that is inhabited by permanent human settlements Elevation The height of an area relative to sea level Non-­‐ecumene An area of Earth that does not have permanent human settlements Place The combination of physical and human characteristics of a specific location Site The living and nonliving features of a specific location Stupa Dome-­‐shaped Buddhist monuments that house sacred relics 1.06 You should recall that geographers break the world into regions to organize and study it. You learned that regions can be based on physical, human, and cultural characteristics. Geographers classify regions in three ways: formal, functional, and perceptual. Formal regions have an identifying characteristic that is found throughout the entire region; functional regions are organized around a central point that connects it with other locations; and perceptual regions are based on people's mental images of places. Based on the definitions of these different types of regions, you should also be able to identify examples of each. Last, you learned that because human beings have created the classifications of regions, regions can overlap, change over time, and have boundaries that are not always clear. Cultural region An area in which people share the same culture, which usually means the same history, beliefs, and languages Formal region An area whose defining characteristic, such as climate or the nationality of people who live there, is found throughout in the region Functional region Global Positioning System (GPS) A region that is linked by a particular activity or function, such as a transportation system or an economic activity, and organized around a central point, or node, which is connected to places within the region A system of satellites that sends signals to receivers to determine the exact location of an object on Earth Perceptual region A region determined by people’s mental images, or perceptions, of places Region An area of land that is defined by geographers as sharing common characteristics that set it apart from other regions 1.07 Your answer to the first question will vary depending on your perspective of the world.
Environmental determinists strongly believe that geography is destiny because it
determines how people live. Climate, soil, elevation, and resources influence everything
from what you eat to what you do for a living.
Possibilists disagree with this idea. They believe that because humans can modify their
environment, societies are not shaped by physical features of land alone; cultural values
play a role in determining how the society uses land.
There are examples in human geography that support both perspectives. You may recall
that people who live in extremely cold environments must design houses that keep in the
heat. On the other hand, you might point out that modern technology has enabled people
to cultivate land that was once unsuitable for farming. In this case, human beings have
not let the environment determine their destiny.
You examined desertification in Africa and the shrinking of the Aral Sea. Based on this
information, you should be able to explain how people alter the environment in which
they live. Altering the environment can have positive and negative effects. Understanding
and predicting these effects is essential for weighing potential risks and benefits.
Sometimes the effects of modifying the environment are not widely known until the
damage is done. In these cases, people study the effects and look for ways to minimize
future damage.
Desertification The degradation of arid or semiarid land so that it becomes desert Environmental perspective A perspective focused on the interaction between physical and human systems or between natural landscapes and societies Possibilism The belief that humans have a range of possible choices in adapting to their physical environment 1.08 In this lesson you learned that geographers study movement, one of the five major themes of geography, to identify and describe spatial relationships among people and places. The movement of people, goods, ideas, and disease is a constant, global process. Modern advancements in transportation and communication technology have accelerated the pace of movement. You may recall that migration, a type of movement, can occur within a country and between countries. One of the most significant types of migration of people today is rural-­‐to-­‐urban migration. You also learned that geographers track the movement of goods, services, ideas, and diseases. As human geographers study and track patterns, they are able to make predictions of future trends in movement and the possible global impact. They also help us identify the causes, effects, and patterns of movement. Studying these spatial patterns and their significance is an important part of understanding the world today, including your own community. Distance decay The farther away different places are from an original site, the less likely the interaction with the original place will be Emigrant A person who leaves one area for another Immigrant A person entering an area or country to settle permanently Megacities Cities that have a population greater than 5 million people Migrant A person who moves temporarily from one area of a country to another Migration The movement of people from one area of a country to another or to another country Movement The act of changing the position of something. Geographers study the movement occurring in space, such as the movement of information, people, and goods. Pandemic A widespread incidence of a disease in the world Push-­‐pull factors Factors that either cause people to leave their homes or ones that draw them to another area 1.09 In this lesson, you learned how cultural diffusion has led to the creation of a global culture, connecting various places around the world. Improvements in travel and communications technologies have accelerated the process. You read about different types of diffusion and how the process of diffusion can change societies. You may recall that transnational corporations organize their work to take advantage of different locations. Although some countries have embraced the diffusion of cultural ideas and goods, the move toward a global culture has met resistance in some regions. Global culture may threaten traditional, local cultures. Cultural diffusion is a worldwide phenomenon. Geographers use and create maps to show the extent of cultural diffusion from a spatial perspective. Contagious diffusion A type of expansion diffusion in which an idea or characteristic diffuses rapidly throughout the population Diffusion The process by which an idea, innovation, or characteristic spreads from one place to another Expansion diffusion The spread of a feature from one place to others through expansion rather than the movement of people Hearth The original location of a new idea, innovation, or characteristic Hierarchical diffusion A type of expansion diffusion that extends from people or places of power to people and places of lesser power Relocation diffusion Business and cultural diffusion which occurs when people move from one location to another Stimulus diffusion A type of expansion diffusion in which an underlying concept diffuses without the diffusion of the original product or process Subsistence farming Farming that provides only enough food for the personal consumption of the farmer and the farmer’s family Transnational Involving or operating in several nations DBA Questions: These are the questions that we will be covering when we completed your discussion based assessment: 1. What are the three main questions that human geographers ask?
Describe how geographers use spatial perspective to answer questions.
2. What are push and pull factors? Give specific examples of push and
pull factors at work.
3. Geographers look for what makes a place unique or different from
other places on Earth. What physical and cultural features make your
hometown unique? How does this affect life in your hometown?
4. What is space-time compression? Give specific examples of how
space-time compression has affected globalization?
5. Explain the debate between environmental determinism and
possibilism. How do these two theories differ? Which perspective do find
most convincing and why?