Texas History

Chapter 1.1:

The Six Essential Elements of Geography

How might your life be different if you lived in the

desert?

Sahara Desert

How does the geography of Afghanistan affect our soldiers fighting

the War on Terror?

Why are we studying this?

People have lived in Texas and influenced it’s

environment for thousands of years. The geography of

Texas influences how people live.

Six Essential Elements of Geography

•The world in spatial terms•Places and regions•Physical systems•Human systems•Environment & Society•Uses of Geography

The World in Spatial Terms

•Geography—the study of the special physical and human characteristics of a place or region

•Environment—physical surroundings

The World in Spatial Terms

•Culture—a learned system of shared beliefs, traits, settlement patterns

What are some cultural traits of Pearland/Houston?

The World in Spatial Terms

•Geographers look at where things are located

•Geographers use many tools—Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The World in Spatial Terms

•GIS—computer databases that gather, store, and organize geographic information

Example of a GIS created map

Google Earth

Places & Regions

Physical Characteristics

Human Characteristics

Places & Regions

•Regions

–Formal

–Functional

–Perceptual The Regions of Texas

Physical Systems

•Geographers study the physical processes and interactions among four physical systems–Atmosphere–Land–Water–Life

Physical Systems

•Ecosystem—all of an area’s plants and animals together with their non-living environmentThis flowing East Texas stream is

an important part of a bottomland hardwood ecosystem.

Human Systems

• Involves the study of population distribution, growth, and movement

• Migration—Movement of people

• Urbanization—an increase in people living or working in cities

Environment & Society

• Concerns how people interact with the environment

• Roy Bedichek—Texas naturalist who warned about the dangers of pollution

Roy Bedichek

Geography & Society

•Humans affect the environment for better and worse—pollution, restore deforested areas

•The environment affects humans—where they live

Uses of Geography• Geographers—

locate natural resources

• Historians—use geography to understand history

• Conservation programs

List the six essential elements of Geography. Then describe each element

Element Purpose