GOOGLESCHOLAR: Assignment 1

Module 1 Overview

Introduction to Geography

This module will introduce you to the geographic perspective.  When one thinks about geography, one may think about the world in general.  Geography is more complex than one may think, though.  As this module will demonstrate, our world regional survey is no mere description of places and areas.  By examining the world by regions and realms, it allows us to view the world in an all-encompassing way.  Regional geography borrows information from many sources to create an overall image of our divided world.  The following modules will call upon systematic fields to give you a better understanding of the world's realms and regions.  More specifically, we will be looking at the physical, historical, human/cultural, economic, political, and religious/spiritual aspects of each of these realms and regions.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:

1A		identify the defining criteria for geographic realms and regions.
1B		analyze geography’s spatial perspective as it applies to human activity.
1C		differentiate among the major elements of the natural environment and their general geographic characteristics.
1D		name and locate the three largest world population clusters.
1E		examine the concept of cultural landscape.
1F		explain the meaning of state.
1G		analyze the spatial dimensions of economic development and the World Bank’s global classification scheme.

Module 1 Reading Assignment

de Blij, H. J., & Muller, P. O. (2012). Geography: Realms, regions, and concepts (15th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Chapter Introduction.

Introduction to Geography

The science of geography is likely the oldest of all sciences.  Geography is the answer to the question that the earliest humans asked, "What's over there?"  Exploration and the discovery of new places, new cultures, and new ideas have always been basic components of geography.

Thus, geography is often called the "mother of all sciences" as studying other people and other places led to other scientific fields such as biology, anthropology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and others.

What is Geography?

Geography is the science of space and place.  Geography is broken down into two basic areas, human geography and physical geography.

Please view the following videos regarding what geography is.

· What is geography?   This video takes the viewer to various places around the world.

· What is geography?   This video asks what is geography and why do we study it.

What Do Geographers Study?

Geographers study the spatial distribution, patterns, and trends of all human, cultural, and physical features over the surface of the Earth.

What Can You Do With Geography?

Please view the following video to see what you can do with geography and how it might actually be used in your future career:

· What can you do with geography?   This video demonstrates what can you do with the knowledge of geography and how it is put to use.

What Are the Different Areas of Geography?

Cartography.  It has often been said that geography is anything that can be mapped.  While all geographers know how to display their research on maps, the branch of cartography focuses on improving and developing technologies in map-making.  Cartographers work to create useful high-quality maps to show geographic information in the most useful format possible.  Visit the USGS site on Maps and GIS for more information.

Historical Geography.  Historical geography involves the studying of changes and patterns over time.

Political Geography.  Political geography is the investigation of all aspects of boundaries, country, state, and nation development, international organizations, diplomacy, internal country subdivisions, and voting.

Economic Geography.  Economic geography examines the distribution of production and distribution of goods, the distribution of wealth, and the spatial structure of economic conditions.

Physical Geography. Physical geography is concerned with the natural features on or near the surface of the earth.  Be sure to view the following video on what physical geography is:

· What is physical geography?   Physical geography is the study of the landscapes, and this video demonstrates the basics of physical geography.

Religious Geography.  Religious geography studies the patterns of different spiritual beliefs over space and time.

Cultural/Human Geography.  Cultural/human geography studies the rituals and traditions of humans over space and time.  Be sure to view the following video on what cultural/human geography is:

· Cultural geography : This video discusses the relationship between cultural elements and physical areas.

Population Geography.  Population geography is often equated with demography, but population geography is more than just patterns of birth, death, and marriage.  Population geographers are concerned with the distribution, migration, and growth of population in geographic areas.  Please visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more information on this area of geography.

Medical Geography.  Medical geography studies the geographic distribution of disease (including epidemics and pandemics), illness, death, and health care.

Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Geography.  Recreation, tourism, and sport geography is the study of leisure-time activities and their impact on local environments.  As tourism is one of the world's largest industries, it involves a great number of people making very temporary migrations, and is thus of great interest to geographers.

Military Geography.  Practitioners of military geography are most often found within the military, but the branch looks not only at the geographic distribution of military facilities and troops, but also utilizes geographic tools to develop military solutions.

Agricultural and Rural Geography.  Agricultural and rural geography study agriculture and rural settlement, the distribution of agriculture and the geographic movement and access to agricultural product, and land use in rural areas.  Please visit the USDA website for more information on this area of geography.

Transportation Geographers.  Transportation geographers research transportation networks (both private and public) and the use of those networks for moving people and goods.

Urban Geography.  Urban geography investigates the location, structure, development, and growth of cities – from tiny village to huge megalopolis.

Biogeography.  Biogeography is the study the geographic distribution of plants and animals on the earth.

Soils Geography.  Soils geography is the study of the upper layer of the lithosphere and the soil of the earth and its categorization and patterns of distribution.  Please visit the USDA's Web Soil Survey website to learn more about the soils where you live.

We now know what geography is, what geographers study, and what the different areas of geography are.  The introductory chapter of our textbook further explains various geographic basics that we will use as we explore the various world regions.