Introduction to AP Human Geography Mr Stepek Geography

Introduction to AP Human Geography Mr. Stepek

Geography thru history GR #3, 7 - 8 • “geography” from the Greek (Eratosthenes) • “geo” = Earth • “graph” = to write or describe • geography = “to write about or describe the Earth” • Eratosthenes also calculated the Earth’s circumference within. 5% accuracy • Aristotle = torrid, temperate and frigid zones • Ptolemy = wrote Guide to Geography (“Geographica”) an eight volume series detailing the cities and peoples of the Earth.

Map scale (relationship of distance on a map to that in reality) (GR 9 – 10) • Expressed in terms of words, fraction, ratio, or bar scale • Large scale = small area • Small scale = large area

level of aggregation/generalization (on what “scale” are you analyzing a phenomenon) GR 25 Must compare “apples to apples”!!!

Models: Abstract generalization to help explain a common pattern. Spatial models show commonalities in the patterns on the landscapes Non-spatial models show a pattern on other than a map.

“Mapping a 3 -dimensional world on a 2 dimensional surface” = Map Projections (GR 11)

Mercator Projection (1569)

Classic distortion example: South America vs. Greenland

Robinson Projection

Peters Projection

Goode’s homolosine “Interrupted” projection All projections have some degree of distortion: size, shape, distance, or direction