Chapter 1: Introduction to Geography
1.1 Introduction
Key Questions
This chapter will introduce you to the realm of cultural geography and, thus, the cultural landscape. The chapter explores fundamental geographic concepts by introducing aspects of cultural processes that create, shape and affect what we call the ‘cultural landscape’. Along the way you are also introduced to some foundational geographic skills such as map reading.
- How is Human Geography conceptualized? And how is geographical thinking defined within this discipline?
Core Concepts:
- What are the major concepts underlying human geography?
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- Place and space
- Scale
- Location
- Regions
- Movement across space
- Expansion diffusion
- Relocation diffusion
- Human-environment interaction
- cultural landscape
On Maps:
- What are the major map categories? How do these maps differ in portraying sections of the earth?
- What role do maps play in understanding the world?
- What is ‘thinking geographically’ and why does it matter?
