September 19 Wednesday Class Notes

Key Issues

• How do geographers describe where things are?
• Why is each point on earth unique?
• Why are different places similar?
• Why are some human actions not sustainable?

1.1.1: Explain differences between early maps and contemporary maps

1.1.2: Describe the role of map scale and projections and making maps (cartography)

1.1.3: Explain how latitude and longitude are used to locate points on Earth's surface

Geography: is the study of where things are found on earth's surface and the reasons for the locations

Human geographers ask two simple questions.

• Where are people and activities found on earth?
• Why are they found there?

A map is two-dimensional or flat-scale model of earth's surface, or a portion of it

Cartography: is the science of map making

Maps serve two purposes

• Reference tool to identify an objects absolute and relative location
• A communications tool to convey the distribution of human activities or physical features

The earliest maps were reference tools

The first world map was made by Eratosthenes (276-194 B.C.)

Improvements where made later by Ptolemy

• After Ptolemy, advancements where made in cartography, which made mostly outside Europe by the china and Islamic world