Why do we use the five themes Location

Why do we use the five themes? Location, Human/Environmental Interactions, Regions, Place, Movement l l Geographers begins with knowing WHERE things are. Next they ask WHY? Finally, HOW places influence our lives?

Location: Position on the Earth’s Surface l Ways to indicate location (position): – – – Maps: probably the best Place name (toponym): Chandler, Silver City, St. Petersburg Site: Physical characteristics Absolute location: latitude and longitude Relative location (situation): Chandler- 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Distribution: density (arithmetic), concentration, pattern

Where? Why? How?

Human/Environmental Interactions (Cultural Ecology) Cultural landscape- human-induced change l Environmental Determinism- human behavior is controlled by the environment l Possibilism- environment limits the range of choices a culture has, but doesn’t deter l Environmental modification- both positive and negative THINK OF EXAMPLES OF EACH OF THESE! l

Regions: Areas of Unique Characteristics l l Ways of organizing people geographically Distinctive characteristics – l Three types – l Area, location, boundaries, OTHER Formal, functional, perceptual Regions seen in a hierarchy – Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona, Southwestern US

Place: Associations Among Phenomena l l Culture: Anything that is passed from generation to generation Components of culture – – Culture region, culture trait, culture complex, Physical processes Climate, vegetation, soil, landforms

Movement l l Culture Hearths Cultural diffusion – Expansion diffusion: an idea staying strong and spreading l Contagious diffusion, Hierarchical diffusion, Stimulus diffusion – Relocation diffusion l Migrant diffusion, Acculturation, Transculturation – Forces against diffusion l Time-distance decay, Cultural barriers