discovering more about geography, would you? In addition, geography involves elements of math, science, technology, ecology, modeling, and other technical stuff. Some will show up in this book because they are relevant to a well-rounded geographic education even at this introductory level. I do appreciate, however, that some people may find these a bit too complicated, so this icon alerts you to the presence of such technical stuff. You can skip it if you wish.
Beyond the Book
In addition to the abundance of information and guidance related to geography that we provide in this book, you get access to even more help and information online at Dummies.com. Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet. Just go to www.dummies.com and search for “Geography For Dummies Cheat Sheet.”
Where to Go from Here
I recommend you read this book from start to finish as you would a novel. To some extent, geographic knowledge is cumulative. That is, there are basic concepts and information that provide a foundation for understanding other concepts and information.
Accordingly, the parts and chapters of this book follow a certain logical progression. In short, I do believe the content of this book will make more sense to you if you read this volume from start to finish.
However, if you wish, you can dive into chapters at random — each chapter is set up to be self-contained. The choice is yours!
Part 1
Getting Grounded: The Geographic Basics
IN THIS PART …
Each and every academic discipline has its own particular and peculiar subject matter. Geography is no exception, but my, how things have changed!
For the longest period, geography was concerned primarily with mapping the world and acquiring facts about places. It has since become a much more analytical pursuit. Thus, the time-honored imperative to know where things are located is complemented by an equally strong (if not stronger) desire to know why they occur where they do. Geography is an applied discipline, seeking to identify the best, efficient, and fair locations for all sorts of human activities. Importantly, geography also works to understand places of difference and inequity with an eye toward making life better there — for people and the environment.
In this part, you will discover the key concepts and methods of contemporary geography as well as the principal tools and techniques of the trade. Among other things you will see how exciting technologies are giving geographers unprecedented perspectives on where and why.
Chapter 1
Geography: The Why of Where and Why You Should Care
IN THIS CHAPTER
“We should cross here.”
Staring at the broad expanse of the Galana River in southern Kenya, my response to our guide was to tilt my head to the side and say incredulously, “Are you sure?” After all, I could look further upstream and see that the river was narrower and there were some rocks we could use to hop across. Why on Earth should we cross at the widest and deepest part? I don’t mind getting wet, but a chest-deep slog just didn’t make sense to me.
“Well, we could cross up there,” our guide said while pointing toward the rocks, “but that’s also where the crocodiles hang out. We will do better down here to walk in a group, splashing as we go to mimic a large elephant.” And so we did, and no one in our group became a croc’s lunch.
What we discover from this anecdote is that what makes sense in one place — say, something as simple as crossing a river on a set of rocks — is a really bad decision somewhere else. Place matters. In this case, it really was a life-or-death situation.
That short story should also make it quite plain that you live on a very interesting planet. Earth is a world of never-ending variety — mountains and plains, deserts and forests, oceans and croc-infested rivers. If, as Shakespeare once wrote, “All the world’s a stage,” then one could hardly imagine a greater range of sets and scenery than exists on planet Earth.
You are an actor on that stage, and you are not alone. The entire cast numbers nearly 8 billion, and they are as diverse as their Earthly stage. They practice dozens of religions, speak many hundreds of languages, and display thousands of cultures. They live in scattered farmhouses, large cities, and every size settlement in between. They practice every kind of livelihood imaginable and, in innumerable ways great and small, have interacted with and changed the natural environment forever.
So “interesting planet” and “never-ending variety” turn out to be code for “complex.” Truly, this is a complex world in which no two areas are exactly alike. On the one hand, this complexity makes for a very fascinating planet. But on the other hand, the prospect of learning all about this complexity can be overwhelming, or at least sometimes seems to be. Fortunately, one subject seeks to make sense of it all and, usually, does a pretty good job: Geography.
Geography: Making Sense of it All
People are fascinated by the world in which they live. They want to know what it’s like and why it is the way it is. Most importantly, they want to understand their place in it. Geography satisfies this curiosity and provides practical knowledge and skills that people find useful in their personal and professional lives. This is nothing new.
From ancient roots …
