GGH1501 - Learning Unit 1: Thinking Like a Geographer.

1.1 Introduction to Thinking Like a Geographer

Geography is not just memorizing facts, but about understanding complex connections and interactions at different scales.

GGH1501 emphasizes a global perspective with focus on Africa and the Global South.

Geography involves understanding how places evolve, spatio-temporal patterns, and interconnectedness of people and nature.

"Effective learning in geography relies on an integration of the physical environment, human contexts and activities, and geographical skills." - Rawding, 2014

Spotlight 1.1: African and Indigenous Epistemology.

Ancient African civilizations like Kemet (Egypt) saw humans and nature as interconnected.

Geography aligns with this worldview by aiming for a holistic understanding of the world.

African epistemology provides foundational insight into contextual and relational geography.

"By studying nature... implies teaching people something about themselves and about nature." - Engel-Di Mauro & Carroll, 2014

1.2 Aim and Learning Outcomes (Key Objectives):

Define what geography is and explain its historical development.

Distinguish different traditions in geography.

Apply geographic concepts: scale, location, distance, time, place, region, etc.

Understand spatial relationships and **uniqueness

1.3 Required Reading

You must use material from these OERs:

Dastrup (2021a) – Introduction to World Geography

Dorrell et al. (2019) – Introduction to Human Geography

Dastrup (2021b) – Physical Geography and Natural Disasters

Important: Only study specific sections listed (not whole chapters).

1.4 Main Topics Covered

History and nature of geography

Scientific enquiry, traditions, and approaches in geography

Key concepts in geography

Geographical distribution of phenomena

Interaction between places and regions

Relevance of geography in the 21st century

1.5 Important Maps and Diagrams You Must Know

Geography relationships diagram – Dorrell et al., 2019: Chapter 1, Fig 1.1

Map scales comparison – Dorrell et al., 2019: Chapter 1, Fig 1.3

Geographic grid system (longitude & latitude) – Dorrell et al., 2019: Fig 1.4 and Dastrup, 2021a

World time zones – Dorrell et al., 2019: Fig 1.5 and Dastrup, 2021a
1.5.1 History and Nature of Geography

"Geography is one of the oldest sciences and played a major role in exploring the world."

Geography evolved from location and navigation to solving modern global problems.

Focus Questions:

Who were the first geographers and their interests?

Major highlights of geography in different historical periods (Greek, Roman, Middle Ages, Renaissance, 17th–20th centuries).

Meaning of "geography".

Unique element of geography = Spatial focus ("where?") and its implications.

Relationship between geography and other disciplines.

1.5.2 Scientific Enquiry, Traditions and Approaches

Geography uses scientific principles to study both the physical environment and human activities.

Scientific thinking involves both inductive and deductive reasoning (deductive = more scientific).

Geography and scientific enquiry share a focus on explaining patterns and interactions.

Four traditions of geography:

1. Spatial tradition (location, distance, arrangement)

2. Area studies tradition (regional focus)

3. Human-environment interaction tradition (relationship between people and environment)

4. Earth science tradition (physical environment)

Environmental Determinism vs Possibilism:

Determinism = environment controls humans.

Possibilism = humans adapt and shape environments.

Four analytical questions in geography:

1. Where is it?

2. Why is it there?

3. What is its significance?

4. How is it connected to other places?

Geography can be subdivided by:

Area (e.g., studying only Africa)

Theme (e.g., migration, climate)

Methodology (e.g., using surveys or GIS technology)

Geographic Triad:
 Area + Theme + Methodology are always combined in proper geographic research.

Important Reminders: you don't need to read/watch everything—focus on understanding enough to answer the guided questions.

Key video topics:

"Geography’s most basic question"

"Conceptualising human knowledge"

"The core of Geography"

"Quick review: 4 traditions"

"Subfields in geography"

"Analytical methods in geography"

1.5.3 Key Concepts in Geography

Purpose: These are foundational for geographical enquiry, enabling effective communication and analysis.

Examples:

Location: Defined absolutely (coordinates) or relatively (in relation to landmarks).

Sense of Direction: Part of interpreting and navigating space.

Scale of Analysis vs. Map Scale

Scale of Analysis: Refers to the spatial extent being studied (e.g., local, regional, global).

Large Scale: More detail, smaller area (e.g., a map of a town).

Small Scale: Less detail, larger area (e.g., a world map).

Map Scale: The ratio between map distance and real-world distance.

Representative Fraction (RF): Unitless ratio (e.g., 1:100 000).

Word Scale: "1 cm represents 5 km".

Graphic (Line) Scale: Visual depiction of distance.

Examples:

Large scale analysis: Studying traffic patterns in one suburb.

Small scale analysis: Global climate zones comparison.

Conversion:

Word to Ratio: 1 cm = 5 km 1:500 000

Line scale: 0.5 cm = 1000 km 1:200

Location and Direction:

Location: a position on the earth’s surface.

Absolute: Latitude and longitude (e.g., 33°54'17"S; 18°26'02"E).

Relative: Described by relation (e.g., 2 km north of CBD).

Direction: Position relative to another object.

Grid North: Based on Earth's coordinate system (latitude/longitude).

Geographic Grid:

Parallels (Latitudes): East-West lines, measure N/S distance.

Meridians (Longitudes): North-South lines, converge at poles.

Key Parallels:

a. Equator (0°)
b. Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N)

c. Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S)

d. Arctic Circle (66.5°N)

e. Antarctic Circle (66.5°S)

f. North Pole (90°N)

g. South Pole (90°S)

Great Circles: Circles that cut the Earth in half (e.g., equator); shortest distance between two points.

Small Circles: Do not divide Earth equally.

Determining Direction:

Relative Direction: Based on personal or local reference (e.g., "left of me").

Absolute Direction: Based on standard bearings (e.g., North, South).

Distance and Time:

Distance: Separation between two locations; measured in:

Absolute terms: Fixed units like kilometers or miles.

Relative terms: Perceived distance (e.g., "far" or "close").

Examples:

Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town: 6,050 km (absolute), 8-hour flight (relative). Standardized formulas (using map scales) ensure objective comparisons.

Space-Time Compression:

Technology (air travel, internet) has reduced the effective distance between places.

Not physical distance but time taken to interact has decreased.

Time and Geography:

Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours 15° per hour.

Time Zones: Created due to need for global standardization of time (late 19th century).

Prime Meridian (0°): Starting point for time zones.

International Date Line (~180°): Where the date changes by one day.

Adjusting Time:

Traveling east: Add 1 hour per 15°.

Traveling west: Subtract 1 hour per 15°.

Distance Decay: Interaction between places decreases as distance increases.

Time-Space Compression reduces this decay by improving connectivity.

Space vs Place:

Key Concepts: Space, Place, and Region

Space: Abstract, measurable framework.Concerned with the distribution of phenomena and the relationships between locations.

Example: Population density differences between rural and urban areas.

Place: A location with meaning, defined by physical and human characteristics.Socially constructed meanings attached by people and

cultures.
Example: Cape Town as a place with history, tourism, and cultural identity.

Space answers "Where?"

Spatial Thinking:

Skill of analyzing the arrangement of phenomena across space.

Important for understanding patterns and connections in geography.

Site vs. Situation:

Site: The physical characteristics of a location (e.g., altitude, climate).

Situation: The location's relationship to surrounding places.

Important for understanding patterns and connections in geography.

Example: Nairobi

Site: Located on a plateau, moderate climate.

Situation: Central location in East Africa with good transport links.

Region: An area with common features.

Types:

1) Formal Region: Uniform characteristics (e.g., Sahara Desert).

2) Functional Region: Organized around a focal point (e.g., Nairobi metro area).

3) Perceptual Region: Based on perceptions (e.g., "The Middle East").

Example Regions in Africa/Global South:

The Sahel (formal)

Lagos Metropolitan Area (functional)

"Southern Africa" (perceptual)

Modern Debates:

Some scholars argue the world is becoming "placeless" due to globalization and technology (Agnew, 2011).

Space may be "conquering" place (Friedman, 2005) due to global flows erasing uniqueness.

Key Concepts:

1. Spatial Thinking: The skill used to understand and analyze the arrangement of phenomena (people, activities, features, and environment) across space on Earth.

2.Spatial Distribution: Refers to the arrangement of phenomena across space, characterized by terms such as density, concentration, and pattern.

3. Place: A unique location on Earth defined by its physical and human characteristics.

Includes toponymy (place names), site (characteristics of a place), and situation (its location relative to other places).

Example: Antarctica (cold, void of people) vs. Sahara Desert (hot, inhabited by nomads).

4. Spatial Variation: The differences in the distribution of phenomena (like climate or population) across space.

5. Spatial Association: The relationship between the spatial patterns of different phenomena (e.g., climate and population density).
Example: Areas with extreme climates tend to have lower population density.

6. Global Spatial Patterns: Geographers study the patterns and connections between different places and regions using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), such as the

StatWorld software.

Patterns can be linear, random, clustered, dense, etc., and are identified and analyzed on a global scale.

6. Connection and Interaction between Places and Regions: Patterns form regions, which then connect to form larger regions. These connections are affected by globalization,

through the expansion of economic, political, and cultural activities.

7.Diffusion: The spread of people, ideas, or phenomena between places through processes like relocation or expansion.

Terms to know:

Spatial Thinking: Essential skill for geographers.

Spatial Distribution: The arrangement of phenomena.

Place: Unique location with distinct physical and human characteristics.

Spatial Variation: Differences in phenomena across space (e.g., climate).

Spatial Association: The relationship between different phenomena's distributions.

Globalization: The growing interconnectedness of the world.

Diffusion: The spread of phenomena between locations.

Spatial Interaction Between Places and Regions

Spatial interaction refers to the flow of goods, people, services, and information between places due to supply-demand relationships.

Key forms of spatial interaction: movement of people (travel, migration), goods (freight), services, and information.

Principles of spatial interaction:

a. Complementarity interaction occurs when there is a demand in one place and a surplus in another.

b. Intervening opportunities - closer places may offer similar goods or services, reducing the need to travel further.

c. Transferability involves the cost and time it takes to transport goods.

d. Distance decay interaction decreases with increasing distance between places.

Diffusion

Diffusion: is the spread of ideas, cultures, or phenomena across space.

Relocation diffusion: Spread of cultural traits through the migration of people (e.g., African diaspora influencing global cultures).

Expansion diffusion: Spread of ideas from a central source (e.g., spread of urbanization in Africa).

Historical causes of diffusion: trade, exploration, colonization.

Contemporary causes of diffusion: technology, media, transportation, globalization.

Globalization

Globalization: refers to the increasing interconnectedness of the world.

Application of Geography in Real-World Contexts

Geography in everyday life: travel, shopping,

migration, use of maps for navigation, etc.

Naïve (incidental) vs. intentional geographic knowledge:

Naïve knowledge is based on personal experience, while intentional knowledge is learned and applied for specific purposes.

Intentional geographic knowledge is important for addressing global challenges and decision-making.

Relevance of Geography for 21st Century Challenges

Geography as a science: Essential for understanding the interaction between humans and environments, solving global issues like climate change and resource

management.

Spatial perspective: Crucial for addressing challenges like climate change, food security, and urbanization.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Vital for managing data and supporting decision-making in tackling global issues.

1.8 Conclusion

Geography is more than maps: While maps are a part of geography, the field is fundamentally about studying both natural and human phenomena in their spatial

context.

Contemporary Geography: It's a dynamic science that helps us understand how the world works and provides tools for addressing global challenges like climate

change, resource management, and urbanization.

Key Geographic Concepts: The learning unit has introduced essential geographic tools and relationships, which will be applied throughout the module. These concepts

are integral for viewing phenomena in the world from a geographic perspective.

Geographic Perspectives: As you continue your studies, you'll engage with various ways of thinking, gaining insights that will help you better understand the world.

This conclusion emphasizes that geography is a versatile field that involves analyzing the world using spatial concepts and tools, and it prepares you for tackling real-world

challenges.