1ha3 midterm crib sheet

Geography: the study of patterns and processes on the earth’s surface. Physical geography: Study of patterns & processes of the physical world. Physical environment (landforms, climate, hydrology, geology, ecology, etc). I.e., Mountains, rocks, rivers, glaciers, soils, weather & climate, earthquakes & volcanoes, etc. Human Geography : Study of patterns & processes of the human world, Social environment (economy, culture, politics, behavior, etc.). I.e., population, cities, economic activities, human behavior, health, transportation, settlement, etc. What is where? Involves: description . Describing the spatial organization (patterns) of people, places, and human phenomena. Why there? Involves: explanation . Explaining the processes that produce these patterns Why care? What is the meaning or significance of the patterns and their explanations? Involves: interpretation . Interpreting arguing what these patterns mean and their: Absolute Space : Objective, physically real, with measurable extent and definable boundaries. Key for map-making, description & analysis (explanation) of spatial distributions. Absolute space: How do cartographers (mapmakers) play with projection to most accurately project 3-D space onto a 2-D map? Relative Space: Subjective / perceptual and variable over time. Relative Space : Locations identified by their relative positioning and importance. E.g, In topological maps, scale, distance & positioning are: guesstimates. Clarity, relative spacing vs. objective accuracy Location : refers to a particular position in space. Absolute (mathematical) location : Relatively stable, unchanging. E.g., Latitude and longitude coordinates using an arbitrary mathematical grid: 80 degrees W, 43 degrees N Relative (perceived) location : Subject to change and interpretation. E.g., A short drive from downtown, or adjacent to Cootes Paradise, etc. Nominal (or toponym) location: A location of significance is typically given a name. Names of places can provide a degree of locational understanding. Place names can be contested E.g. Iqaluit/Frobisher Bay. Derry/Londonderry (or a sign of a city approaching) Place : A location with a particular identity, meaning, or significance. Individual or collective. Location + cultural/human meaning = place Sense of place : The personally significant attachments we associate with certain places. Sense of place can be positive or negative. Some places evoke a ‘sense of place’ even though you have never been there… such as? Placemaking: The transformation of ‘space’ or location into ‘place’. How are our perceptions actively shaped? By whom? Placelessness: Some places evoke little or no meaning whatsoever, we refer to these as being placeless. Often linked to homogeneity and standardization. E.g.: Walmart (big corporations where the interior all looks the same) Distance : The amount of space between two or more locations. Absolute/physical distance - the shortest possible distance between two things using a straight line. Time/travel distance. Economic distance: 407. Psychological distance: your own perception of distance Distribution : geographic phenomena can often be explained with reference to the distance between them and their spatial organization. Density : The frequency with which something exists in a measured area. Concentration/dispersion : How something is spread over an area. Concentrated/clustered (agglomerated) :Objects are close together (small distance). E.g., restaurants in a town’s central tourist area. Dispersed (scattered) : Objects are far apart E.g, Service Canada locations, recycling facilities. Pattern : the spatial arrangement of objects. Patterns can be: linear, rectilinear, random, uniform/ordered, etc. How do we describe the distribution of urban areas in Manitoba in terms of density, concentration, and pattern? Density: more density in the south. Concentration / Dispersion: more dispersed in the north. Pattern: some linear, near the water, or near major highways. Also linear pattern along the border of Saskatchewan Region : a part of the world that is different/distinct from the rest. A part of the earth’s surface that displays internal homogeneity and is relatively distinct (different or heterogeneous) from surrounding areas according to some criteria/criterion Criteria may be: Human/cultural or physical or combination of both. Internal homogeneity (uniformity) vs. external heterogeneity (difference) I.e. areas with uniform temperatures, etc. I.e. areas with uniform cultural practices and beliefs, etc. Regionalization : the process where we simplify our complex world and its human and physical geographic patterns and processes into regions Scale can make a difference: Scale : A way to think about society at different levels or layers. Global, national, regional, provincial, city, neighborhood. What might be viewed as a region from one perspective may no longer be significant when viewed from another Regions are often defined/identified by their landscapes : The visible features of the land/area. Landscapes can be natural/physical and/or human/cultural. Cultural landscape : the outcome of interactions between people and their environments; the visible human imprint on the land. Each cultural group imprints itself on the landscape in different ways. Cultural groups modify their landscapes to suit their needs; these differences can be slight or vast. Diffusion: the movement/spread of geographic phenomena across space and over time. Two main forms of diffusion: Relocation, Expansion. Relocation Diffusion : The spread of ideas, cultural characteristics, etc. from one area to another via the physical movement of people. E.g. immigrants. Expansion Diffusion : the spread of innovations and other phenomena Two main subtypes: Hierarchical : ideas, innovations, diseases, etc. Leapfrog from one important person to another, or from one city to another, temporarily bypassing other people or rural areas in between Contagious : geographic phenomena spread rapidly and throughout an area Mental maps : A unique personal representation of reality. Unique to individuals. Reflect imperfect knowledge. Perceptions drive behaviors - not reality

Formal (or uniform) region : an area (region) that possesses a certain degree of uniformity with respect to one or more physical or cultural traits For most Functional (or nodal) region - an area (region) organized around a node or focal point, and unified by specific economic, political, or social activity Vernacular (or perceptual) region - an area (region) identified on the basis of perceptions held by people inside or outside the region, or both Landscape : the characteristics, or overall appearance, of a particular area or location, comprising its combination of natural and human influences Map: A two-dimensional graphical representation of the world; a device used to i.) communicate information and ii.) analyze spatial problems. E.g., the locations of towns & cities; property boundaries; the distribution of poverty in Hamilton; the diffusion of contagious disease Maps are ‘socially constructed’. Maps reflect the power of the people that draw them. Maps reflect current knowledge: Terra Incognita. Maps are political and cultural. They both create and reinforce: Cultural worldviews, biases in a certain time and space. Anxieties, preoccupations. Justification for necessary action. Maps are like other forms of visual representation of data (e.g. figures, tables, etc.) Key considerations in the production, and understanding (interpreting), of maps: Scale. Perspective, Projection, Type Scale : indicates the spatial relationship between real-world locations, distances and areas, and their representation on the map All maps are scaled representations of the real world. Scale is typically expressed as a ratio (e.g. 1:50,000) or a representative fraction (e.g. 1/50,000). Small scale maps show large areas, and generally depict very little detail. Large scale maps show smaller areas, and generally have greater levels of detail. Perspective : How is the map ‘oriented’? Are there tools to allow me to orient myself on the map? Typically we orient north at the top. Atlantic-centric and the “European World-View”. Pacific-centric and the “Asian World-View”. There is no ‘correct’ map perspective; instead, let’s consider the author’s intentions and biases Map Type: ‘Accurate’ representation of spatial data. Dot maps : Reveal patterns of spatial concentration (clustering) or dispersion. E.g. Density, origins, diffusion of disease. Choropleth maps : Communicate information using colour, shading E.g. Population density, growth/decline, aging, etc. Isopleth Maps : Use colour to connect locations of equal data value E.g., Rainfall, temperature, plant hardiness, etc. Cartograms : Space is distorted to emphasize particular attributes. E.g. electoral outcomes, population sizes, etc. Cartograms : Space is distorted to emphasize particular attributes. E.g. electoral outcomes, population sizes, etc. Culture : the way of life of the members of a society. Tied to our values, beliefs, worldviews, lifestyles, traditions, costumes, and practices. Cultural artifacts are objects that teach us about culture. The tangible things tell us about intangible things. Cultural region : an area with a degree of homogeneity in cultural characteristics. Spatial scale matters. Regionalization: varies from one person to the next. A hearth area: The area from which a cultural activity emerges or is most concentrated It may diffuse across space Consider subculture: The values, beliefs, lifestyle of a minority group within society. Cultural adaptation : The adaptation (adjustment), by people and cultures, to the challenges posed by the physical environment Cultural landscape: The outcome of interactions between people (societies) and: their environments. The visible human imprint on the land. Cultural landscapes reflect human modifications of the land Language: A fundamental way that we distinguish between cultural groups. Linguistic minorities as cultural minorities. 6,900-7,100 languages are ‘alive’ today. Languages regularly go extinct. Most languages are spoken by few people. Is loss of language a positive or negative thing? Positive : Improved global communications. Negative : Loss of culture akin to declining biodiversity. Language suppression : A way that states engage in cultural assimilation (genocide) of minority ethnic groups Language family : A group of closely related languages that likely share a common (and ancient) origin (Indo-European & Sino-Tibetan). Language branch : A subset of a language family, and with a more recent origin (i.e. past several thousand years) Indo-European: Romance Languages (e.g. French, Spanish, Italian, etc.), Germanic Languages (e.g. English, German, Dutch, etc.). Indo-European languages & cultural adaptation - A single hearth area (eastern Europe near the Black sea) and then diffusion . Location in modern-day Eastern Europe, near the Black Sea. Diversification through cultural adaptation . Recall: Adaption, evolution in response to new environments. Religion : A set of beliefs (and associated activities) that facilitates an appreciation and understanding of our place in the world and acts to unify all those that believe into a single community Religion: One of the fundamental ways that we differentiate between cultural groups. christianity ~ ⅓ of the population. Islam ~ ¼ of the global population. Religions from Semitic hearth: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Religions from the Indo-Gangetic hearth: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, etc. Religion can diffuse through human migration, Relocation diffusion, Migrants bring their religion with them, Then, they often retain their religion (perhaps unlike language customs, etc.) A universalizing religion: Sees its faith as applying to everyone, Attempts to have global influence, and to appeal to people in all areas of the world, Actively seeks new converts. An ethnic religion: Appeals to a particular group of people, Usually living in one region of the world, Usually do not actively seek to convert others to their “way of view” Polytheistic : Worships more than one god. Monotheistic : A single god. Geopolitical conflicts: Historically, religions have competed for people and places