Globalization and Global Regions

Mr. Broughman

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

What is globalization?• What is globalization?

– Globalization is the increasing “connectedness” (or “closeness”) between places on Earth either through the spread of technology, cultures, communication, or knowledge.

• We’re all becoming so much closer!

How do you recognize globalization when you see it?

• Just look around! It’s all around you!• Some examples of how the world is becoming

“smaller” or more “connected” are through:– 1. Technology/Communication (Ex. Facebook,

IMs, texting)– 2. Cultural Influences (Ex. Food, Clothing, TV,

stores)– 3. Language (Ex. Learning Spanish in the United

States, learning English in China)– 4. Economics (Ex. World Markets, trade among

countries)

McDonald’s Around the World

Global Regions

• What is a global region?– A global region is an area of the Earth that

shares unifying characteristics.

• How are regions defined? Either by:– 1. Physical characteristics– 2. Cultural characteristics

• Regional labels are used to help people simplify their understandings of certain places on Earth.

Physical Regions

• Physical regions are characterized by the environment or climate of that area.

• Many of the following regions share characteristics based on their physical features:

Physical Regions

• 1. Sahara Desert in Northern Africa; dry and barren throughout

• 2. Taiga shares a common environment theme of coniferous trees, cold temperatures, and little precipitation

• 3. The Great Plains in the Central United States; flat grasslands ideal for farming

• 4. The Low Countries in Western Europe; low elevation countries that are near the sea

• Describe Bath County’s physical region.

Cultural Regions

• Regions are also labeled based on their cultures, or the ways in which people live.– 1. Language

• A. Latin America (Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico, Central America, most of South America, and the Caribbean)

• B. Middle East (Arabic-speaking countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and most of Northern Africa)

Cultural Regions

• 2. Ethnic– A. Chinatowns in big cities like New York or

Chicago– B. Kurdistan in southern Turkey, northern

Iraq, and western Iran

• 3. Religion– Islam in the Middle East– Buddhism in Asia

Cultural Regions

• 4. Economic– A. “Belts” such as the Wheat Belt, the Sun

Belt, the Rust Belt, the Cotton Belt, etc.– B. The European Union (EU) in Europe

• 5. Political– A. North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO), the alliance between many North American countries and countries in Western Europe

– B. African Union (AU), the political body for the entire continent