Introduction to AP Human Geography

1. Introduction to AP Human Geography Mr. Stepek

2. Geography thru history GR #3, 7 - 8 • “geography” from the Greek (Eratosthenes) • “geo” = Earth • “graph” = to write or describe •  geography = “to write about or describe the Earth” • Eratosthenes also calculated the Earth’s circumference within .5% accuracy • Aristotle = torrid, temperate and frigid zones • Ptolemy = wrote Guide to Geography (“Geographica”) an eight volume series detailing the cities and peoples of the Earth.

3. Map scale (relationship of distance on a map to that in reality) (GR 9 – 10) • Expressed in terms of words, fraction, ratio, or bar scale Small scale = large area • Large scale = small area

4. level of aggregation/generalization(on what “scale” are you analyzing a phenomenon) GR25 Must compare “apples to apples”!!!

5. Models: Abstract generalization to help explain a common pattern. Spatial models show commonalities in the patterns on the landscapes Non-spatial models show a pattern on other than a map.

6. “Mapping a 3-dimensional world on a 2-dimensional surface” = Map Projections(GR 11)

7. Mercator Projection (1569)

8. Classic distortion example: South America vs. Greenland

9. Robinson Projection

10. Peters Projection

11. Goode’s homolosine “Interrupted” projection All projections have some degree of distortion: size, shape, distance, or direction