1World Regional World Regional GeographyGeographyDavid SalleeDavid SalleeLesson 1Lesson 1••The study of place and spaceThe study of place and space••Studies the location and distribution of Studies the location and distribution of features on the Earthfeatures on the Earth’’s surfaces surface••Studies human activity, the Studies human activity, the natural environment, and the natural environment, and the relationship between the two relationship between the two ••Answers where and whyAnswers where and whyWhere is Timbuktu, Where is Timbuktu, and why did the settlement and why did the settlement evolve on this site?evolve on this site?GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHYwww.rohophoto.com/beyond.htmwww.rohophoto.com/beyond.htmzzThe The largest geographic unitslargest geographic unitsinto into which the inhabited world can be which the inhabited world can be divideddividedzzBased on both physical (natural) Based on both physical (natural) and human and human (cultural) (cultural) yardsticksyardsticksGEOGRAPHIC REALMSRealms are based on Spatial CriteriaRealms are based on Spatial CriteriazzThe result of the interaction The result of the interaction between human societies and between human societies and natural environments natural environments zzA A functionalfunctionalinteractioninteractionzzRevealed by farms, mines, fishing Revealed by farms, mines, fishing ports, transport routes, dams, ports, transport routes, dams, bridges, villages, and other bridges, villages, and other features on the landscapefeatures on the landscapeGEOGRAPHIC REALMSGEOGRAPHIC REALMSzzRepresent the most Represent the most comprehensive and comprehensive and encompassing definition encompassing definition of the great of the great clusters of clusters of humankind in humankind in the world the world todaytodayGEOGRAPHIC REALMSGEOGRAPHIC REALMSH is for Humankind"I smell humankind," said the oni.www.op97.k12.il.us/instruct/ ftcyber/funnyw/h.htmlWORLD GEOGRAPHIC REALMSWORLD GEOGRAPHIC REALMS••Geographic realms change over time.Geographic realms change over time.••Where geographic realms meet, Where geographic realms meet, transition transition zoneszones, not sharp boundaries, mark their , not sharp boundaries, mark their contacts.contacts.2zzAn area of An area of spatial changespatial changewhere peripheries of where peripheries of two adjacent realms or regions jointwo adjacent realms or regions joinzzMarked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp Marked by a gradual shift (rather than a sharp break) in the characteristics that distinguish break) in the characteristics that distinguish neighboring realmsneighboring realmsTRANSITION ZONESTRANSITION ZONESzzAreas of the earthAreas of the earth’’s surface marked by s surface marked by certain propertiescertain propertieszzScientific devices that enable us to Scientific devices that enable us to make spatial generalizationsmake spatial generalizationszzBased on criteria we establish Based on criteria we establish zzCriteria can be:Criteria can be:Human (cultural) propertiesHuman (cultural) propertiesPhysical (natural) characteristicsPhysical (natural) characteristicsor Bothor BothREGIONSREGIONSzzAll regions have:All regions have:AreaAreaBoundariesBoundariesLocationLocationREGIONSREGIONSzzMarked by a certain degree of Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity in one or more homogeneity in one or more phenomenaphenomenazzAlso Also calledcalleda a uniformuniformregion or region or homogeneoushomogeneousregionregionFORMAL REGIONFORMAL REGIONExamplesExamples::Corn BeltCorn BeltMegalopolisMegalopoliszzA region marked less by its sameness than its A region marked less by its sameness than its dynamic dynamic internal structureinternal structureFUNCTIONAL REGIONFUNCTIONAL REGIONExample:Example:Los Angeles Los Angeles Metropolitan Metropolitan AreaArea••A spatial system focused on a A spatial system focused on a central corecentral core••A region formed by a set of places A region formed by a set of places and their functional integrationand their functional integration••Also called a Also called a ““nodalnodal””regionregionzzLiterally means Literally means ““country behindcountry behind””zzA term that applies to a surrounding area A term that applies to a surrounding area served by an urban centerserved by an urban centerzzUrban center is the focus of goods and Urban center is the focus of goods and services produced in the hinterland, and is services produced in the hinterland, and is the latterthe latter’’s dominant focal point as wells dominant focal point as wellCoreCorePeripheryPeripheryPeripheryPeripheryHINTERLANDHINTERLANDzzDefinitionDefinition: Shared patterns of : Shared patterns of learned behaviorlearned behaviorzzComponentsComponents::––BeliefsBeliefs––InstitutionsInstitutions––TechnologyTechnologyCULTURECULTURE3zzA wideA wide--ranging and comprehensive ranging and comprehensive field that studies spatial aspects of field that studies spatial aspects of human cultureshuman cultureszzMajor components focus on:Major components focus on:¾¾Cultural LandscapesCultural Landscapes¾¾Culture HearthsCulture Hearths¾¾Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion¾¾Cultural EnvironmentsCultural Environments¾¾Culture Regions Culture Regions Not mutuallyexclusive -constantlyinteracting witheach otherCULTURAL GEOGRAPHYCULTURAL GEOGRAPHYzzThe composite of human imprints on The composite of human imprints on the earththe earth’’s surface.s surface.zzCarl SauerCarl Sauer’’s definition: s definition: ““the forms superimposed on the physical the forms superimposed on the physical landscape by the activities of manlandscape by the activities of man””CULTURAL LANDSCAPECULTURAL LANDSCAPECULTURAL LANDSCAPECULTURAL LANDSCAPEzzThe The source areassource areasfrom which radiated from which radiated ideas, innovations, and ideologies that ideas, innovations, and ideologies that change the world beyondchange the world beyondCULTURE HEARTHCULTURE HEARTHCHURCH OF THE NATIVITY: BETHLEHEMSEQUENT OCCUPANCESEQUENT OCCUPANCEE.J.PALKAzzA subfield within the human A subfield within the human branch of geographybranch of geographyzzThe study of the interaction of The study of the interaction of geographical area and political geographical area and political processprocesszzThe spatial analysis of political The spatial analysis of political phenomena and processesphenomena and