INTRODUCTION TO REGIONAL

GEOGRAPHY I
(Introduction, pages 1-25)
 Geography
• “To write about the earth”
• The study of place and space
• Studies the location and distribution of
features on the earth’s surface
• Studies human activity, the natural
environment, and the relationship between
the two
• Answers where? and why?
• 5 themes of geography
 The
Geographer’s
Perspective
 Maps: Tool of Geography
• Mental maps
– Idea in your mind i.e. getting around campus
• Modern cartography (the art and science of
map-making)
– Images from space craft-remote senses
– Geographic information systems (GIS)
GIS mapping
 Scale and Scope
• Small scale:
– Large area
– General view
– Little detail
• Large scale:
– Small area
– Much detail
Which is better? Depends on map’s purpose.
Map Scale
 World Geographic Realms

• Realms are
– based on spatial criteria
– the largest geographic units into which the world can be divided
– based on both physical (natural) and human (cultural) features
 Geographic Realms
• Represent the most comprehensive and
encompassing definition of the great
clusters of humankind in the world today

• Change over time…

• Would the world have been divided up the
same way in 1491?
 Transition Zones
• Where geographic realms meet, transition zones, not sharp
boundaries, mark their contact
• These zones are areas of spatial change where peripheries of
two adjacent realms or regions join
• Zones are marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp break)
in the characteristics that distinguish neighboring realms
e.g.
Geographical Classification

The
World

Regions Realms
 Regions
• Areas of the earth’s surface marked by certain
properties
• Based on criteria we establish
• Criteria can be:
– Human (cultural) properties
– Physical (natural) characteristics
– or both
• Regions are smaller and more detailed than
realms
 Regions
• All regions have:
– An area
– Boundaries
– Location
 Hinterland
• Literally means country behind
• A term that applies to the service area
“behind” (often surrounding) an urban center
• An urban center is the focus of goods and
services produced in the hinterland.

Elizabeth J. Leppman
Elizabeth J. Leppman Elizabeth J. Leppman

Hinterland City Hinterland

The Physical Setting: Landforms

• Continental drift
• Tectonic plates
• Subduction zones
• Pacific Ring of Fire
• Weathering
• Erosion
 The Physical Setting: Climate
• Hydrologic cycle
• Precipitation patterns
 Climate Change
• On a geologic
time-scale
climate change
has gone on for a
long time
– Cold periods
(glacial)
– Warm periods
(interglacial)
• Currently human-
accelerated
climate change
 Population Distribution
• Major clusters
– East Asia (A and B)
– South Asia (C)
– Europe (D)
• Eastern North America: smaller
 Cultural Geography
• Definition of culture: Shared patterns of learned behavior
• Components:
 Beliefs-personal,religious
 Institutions
 Technology-TV, computers
 Political Organization: The State
• A politically organized territory
• Administered by a sovereign government
• Recognized by a significant portion of the international
community.
• A state must also contain:
– a permanent resident population
– an organized economy
– a functioning internal circulation/transportation system
 Patterns of Development
• Core versus peripheral areas/Developed versus
developing
– Issues of power: core has power over the
periphery
– Advantages of location, interaction
– Exploitation of resources, including labor
– The specter of debt
– Corporate power (major
corporations from the
core)
Patterns of Development

Classification by World Bank

 Globalization
• Global economic
integration=inter-
connec ted
• Cultural
homogenization-
concern?

A. WinklerPrins

Pudong, China