Geography Unit 1: Map Projections & Locations

Unit 1

• Map Projections: All map projections are inaccurate because a 3D sphere cannot be perfectly represented on a 2D surface.
• Mercator Projection: Good for navigation, but distorts size and shape, particularly at higher latitudes. Peters Projection attempts to correct size distortion, but may distort shape.
• Map Elements: Maps contain elements like title, legend, scale, compass rose, and symbols, each with specific purposes.
• Absolute Location: Determined by coordinates (latitude and longitude).
• Absolute vs. Relative Location: Absolute pinpoints a precise point; relative describes location in relation to other places.
• City Coordinates: Students should practice finding coordinates for New York, Paris, Shanghai, and Rio de Janeiro.
• John Snow & Disease Mapping: John Snow's use of maps to track cholera outbreaks revolutionized disease study, demonstrating a link between geography and disease spread.
• Thematic Maps: Types of thematic maps (e.g., choropleth, dot density, cartograms) should be analyzed. Analysis should be done using four levels.
• Human-Environment Interaction: Students should analyze how humans impact and are impacted by the environment. Case studies of climate change and its effects in the U.S. should be understood.
• Environmental Opportunities vs Constraints: Students should define and give examples of environmental opportunities and constraints from "Human Planet" (text).

Unit 2

• Culture: Defining culture as a learned set of meanings for understanding and interacting with the world.
• Levels of Culture: Cultural traits at different levels (e.g., iceberg model - visible and invisible aspects).
• PERSIA GEM: The aspects of PERSIA GEM (Politics, Economics, Religion, Social structures, Interactions, and Art/architecture) and examples of each should be clarified
• Cultural Hearths: Major locations where cultural traits originated (e.g., ancient civilizations).
• Cultural Diffusion: How cultural traits spread through different means (e.g. migration, trade).
• Examples of Diffusion: Relevant instances of cultural diffusion (e.g. Silk Road and the Columbian Exchange)
• Cultural Diffusion & Traits: Analyzing how cultural traits are diffused according to various forms of diffusion.
• Cultural Diffusion in food: (e.g. fortune cookies and Chinese food).
• McDonald's Global Expansion/Cultural Diffusion: How McDonald's uses regional preferences to expand globally, and the type of diffusion associated with those actions.
• Homogenization: The process of making cultures more similar.

Unit 3

• High Fertility Rates: Reasons behind high fertility rates in developing countries and the possible ramifications.
• Low Fertility Rates: Explanations for low fertility rates in developed countries.
• Global Fertility Trends: Concerns around global trends related to fertility.
• Migration Patterns: The impact of falling fertility rates on global migration.
• Economic Impacts: How falling fertility can affect a country's economic future.
• Specific Factors: Why women in specific regions (e.g., Niger) have high fertility rates.
• Population Structure: How age structure of a population (e.g. population with a lot of young people or a Lot of older people) affects countries.
• Pronatalism/Antinatalism: Students should define these concepts and recognize their contexts.
• One Child Policy: Defining and analyzing the one-child policy, its outcomes, and how it has affected the country.
• Migration Factors: Definition and analysis of factors that shape migration patterns, including push and pull factors.
• Refugees & Displaced People: Definition and examples of refugees and internally displaced persons. Issues associated with refugees fleeing certain regions.
• Motivations for Migration: Understanding the reasons why people migrate. Region-specific cases.

Unit 4

• Imperialism & Colonialism: Motivations for imperialism and colonialism, with specific relevance to the African continent.
• Impact of Imperialism: Impact on countries of interest, particularly in India and South Africa.
• World Organization: The formation of the United Nations, its work, and challenges faced.
• Apartheid: Definition and explanation of the apartheid system in South Africa and the reasons behind.
• Apartheid legacy: The legacy of the apartheid system and how it ended.

Explore the essentials of map projections, including the Mercator and Peters projections, and understand the differences between absolute and relative location. Delve into the significance of thematic maps and learn how John Snow utilized mapping to combat disease outbreaks. This quiz will enhance your geographical knowledge and mapping skills.