Geography The Beginning and the Themes A Framework

Geography –The Beginning and the Themes: A Framework for Studying the World Dr. Afxendiou Global History and Geography 9 Sachem North High School

In the beginning. . . • The universe was created billions and billions of years ago during the biggest explosion there ever was. Scientists call it the Big Bang.

Then… • 5 billion years ago the earth was born…

Before the dinosaurs the Earth's continents were all connected into one huge landmass called Pangaea. This huge supercontinent was surrounded by one gigantic ocean called Panthalassa.

Then the landmass started to split apart… …and the continents were formed

And believe it or not, it is still moving today…

So… WHY DO HISTORIANS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO GEOGRAPHY? HOW DO WE USE GEOGRAPHY AS HISTORIANS?

MR LIP • • • LOCATION PLACE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION MOVEMENT REGION Mix up the initials to get MR LIP

Theme 1: Location • Where is It? • Why is It There? Two Types of Location • Absolute • Relative

Absolute Location • • A specific place on the Earth’s surface Uses a grid system Latitude and longitude An address

Sachem North High School Absolute Location 40° N Latitude 73° W longitude or 212 Smith Road Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Northern Hemisphere Eastern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere What are the coordinates of the red dot? What continent is the dot on?

Relative Location • Where a place is in relation to another place • Uses directional words to describe: “near” “next to” “behind” “north of”

Sachem North High School Relative Location ‘Behind’ Samoset ‘Near’ Five Corners ‘North of” the expressway

Theme 2: Place Physical Characteristics • Land Features • Mountains, plains, and plateaus • Climate • Bodies of Water

Long Island: Physical Characteristics

Theme 2: Place Human Characteristics • • • People Culture Language Religion Buildings and Landmarks • Cities

Long Island: Human Characteristics

Theme 3: Human Environment Interaction How People Interact With Their Environment People. . . • Adapt to Their Environment • Modify Their Environment • Depend on Their Environment http: //www. fotosearch. com/comp/corbis/DGT 119/BAG 0017. jpg

Long Island: Human Environment Interaction

Study the picture and answer the following: (1) What do I see? (2) How does the environment affect these people?

Theme 4: Movement The Mobility of • People • Goods • Ideas How Places are linked to one another and the world

Theme 5: Regions What Places Have in Common • A region is a basic unit for geographic study. • Made up by social scientists to study characteristics they are interested in • Places that share certain characteristics are seen as forming this unit • Ex. New England • Ex. The Middle East