TOPICS GEOGRAPHY 201 This is a brief description of the topics which will be discussed in Human Geography You may wish to use this to structure your study for exams Are you familiar with each concept generalization Unit 1 What is Geography Definitions of geography as two perspectives spatial and ecological five themes location place humanenvironment interaction movement regions five amplifiers pattern perspective scale change systems and eighteen national standards Developing a sense of where Issues of scale understanding the world from the local scale to the global Developing a fluency in considering issues and problems at a variety of scales local to global core to periphery Unit 2 Cultural Geography Definitions of culture mentifacts sociofacts artifacts institutions beliefs technology language Collectivist vs individualist cultures distribution characteristics Using these definitions of culture to explain world culture patterns including variations in gender roles Culture change independent invention and diffusion Diffusion of culture traits Acculturation assimilation syncretism Cultural convergence and interdependence with improved global communication and transportation networks Culture regions local to global scale Unit 3 Cultural Geography Language Taxonomy of languages Distribution of languages worldwide Language as a clue to cultural diffusion and interchange Africa Toponyms Language as a clue to culture structure vocabulary social status gender differences Multilingualism in the United States and other nations Causes of multilingualism Lingua franca and pidgin Language territoriality and identity Unit 4 Cultural Geography Religion Types of religions universal ethnic animist Distribution origin and diffusion of specific religions Effects of religion on patterns of life daily schedule food preferences role of women importance of education work ethic and business practices political conflicts etc Cultural landscapes produced by specific religions including burial practices attitudes toward the environment calendar Unit 5 Political Geography Evolution of the modern state Nation vs state vs nation state Centripetal and centrifugal forces in modern nations the rise of nationalism vs regionalism Political systems at a variety of scales local to global Characteristics of states shape size location of capital core vs periphery Types of boundaries and boundary disputes Analysis of current world crises using above concepts Unit 6 Economic Geography The world system s of making a living subsistence market planned World distribution of economic systems Agriculture variations among systems in different world regions Von Thunen theory of agricultural location Location of economic activities in each system World economic systems specialization comparative advantage interdependence trade movement of capital to peripheral regions Characteristics of developed and developing world The rich north vs the poor south Sustainability Unit 7 Population Geography Basic concepts of population distribution density growth rate interpreting population pyramids Historical patterns in population growth the J curve and the S curve Demographic transition will it predict future patterns of population growth Factors which affect population growth in the developing world the Cycle of Doom Gender roles and world population growth Unit 8 Migration Migration as an enduring theme of human history migrations in ancient times the historical past and the present Migration at a variety of scales local regional and international Types of migrations Patterns of migration step migration chain migration channeled migration Role of distance decay and information flow in migration patterns Barriers to migration inducements to migration How is the decision to migrate made Push and pull factors voluntary and involuntary migration Rules of migration who what when and why Unit 9 Urban Geography What is a city functions and purposes Land value and urban growth in the United States Systems of cities and central place theory threshold and range World patterns in urban growth links between economic development and urbanization World urban morphology diversity in the United States Europe South America Africa and Asia The primate city vs rank size rule Social areas in North American cities Unit 10 Human Impact on the Environment Interaction of human systems and physical systems Ways humans adapt to modify and use the environment Issues of pollution resource use and management in the developed and developing world Perceptions of natural hazards at a variety of scales Cultural reactions to hazards planning for disaster in Japan vs So California Variations in world patterns of technology and consequent effects on environment Global solutions to global problems climate change ozone depletion land degradation