Chapter 1

What is Geography? (section 1)

  • Geography comes form two roots meaning “earth” (geo-) and “description” (-graphy).
  • Geography has two main branches: physical geography and human geography.
  • Eratosthenes was the first man to use the word geography.
  • Eratosthenes calculated the earth’s circumference.
  • Hipparchus made it easier to locate places on maps by drawing a grid.
  • Ptolemy promoted a geocentric theory.
  • Nicolaus Copernicus published a lengthy work arguing the heliocentric theory.
  • The art of mapmaking is called cartography.
  • Gerhardus Mercator published a map in 1560 that became the standard of excellence. His system is still used today.

The Geographic Grid (section 2)

  • Geographers have divided the earth’s sphere into two halves, calling each half a hemisphere.
  • The line that divides the earth between the north and south is the equator.
  • Latitude is parallel to the equator.
  • Imaginary lines of longitude run north and south.
  • One of the meridians has been designated the prime meridian from which all others are measured.
  • The prime meridian (0°) extends through Greenwich, England.
  • A great circle cuts the earth into two equal pars, or hemispheres.

Map Projections (section 3)

  • The earth’s surface does not “flatten” without distortion.
  • There are four features of a globe that we try to avoid distorting on a flat map: area, shape, distance, and direction.
  • A typical globe is covered by twelve paper strips called gores.
  • The first important cylindrical projection was published by Mercator in 1569.
  • The most popular cylindrical projection map is Goode’s interrupted projection.
  • Robinson’s projection greatest advantage is that it minimizes all four types of distortions.
  • An azimuthal map is useful for compact areas.
  • A conic projection touches an entire line of latitude.
  • A conic projection is most useful for showing wide regions.

Map Relief (section 4)

  • Relief refers to the height and depth of land features (altitude).
  • A relief map show the third dimension of the earth’s surface.
  • On most color relief maps, green represents land near sea level.
  • The lines that separate colors on a relief map are called contour lines.
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