APHG Unit I Overview
Thinking Geographically
I. The Geographic Perspective
Geographers study the spatial organization of people, places, and environments. Human geography focuses on human activity and how it affects (and is affected by) the earth’s surface. Geographers ask:
- Where is it? (location)
- Why is it there? (factors/patterns)
- Why does it matter? (impacts/connections)
Understanding these spatial patterns helps interpret global issues, from urban growth to climate change.
II. Types of Data & Tools
Geographers use both:
- Quantitative data (e.g., census numbers, statistics)
- Qualitative data (e.g., interviews, field observations)
Technological tools:
- GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Layer spatial data to analyze patterns
- GPS (Global Positioning System): Provides absolute location
- Remote Sensing: Gathers satellite imagery for mapping land cover, urban expansion, etc.
- Online mapping & visualization platforms (e.g., Google Earth)
III. Spatial Concepts
- Location
- Absolute: Exact coordinates (latitude/longitude)
- Relative: Location described in terms of other places
- Place: Unique human and physical features that give a location identity
- Space: Arrangement of people and objects across Earth
- Flows: Movement of people, goods, ideas
- Distance Decay: The further apart, the less interaction
- Time-Space Compression: Technology reduces perceived distance and increases interaction speed
IV. Types of Diffusion
- Relocation diffusion: Trait spreads through physical movement
- Contagious diffusion: Rapid and widespread (e.g., viral content)
- Hierarchical diffusion: Spreads via systems of power (e.g., fashion, religion)
- Stimulus diffusion: Core idea spreads, but adapted (e.g., McDonald’s menus abroad)
Understanding diffusion helps explain how culture, disease, and tech move across space.
V. Scales of Analysis
Geographers analyze patterns at different scales:
- Global: Broad patterns (e.g., climate zones, global trade)
- Regional: Subsections of the world (e.g., South Asia)
- National: Country-level data and trends
- Local: Cities, neighborhoods, or small areas
Scale of inquiry changes what patterns we see—something true locally may not hold globally.
VI. Regionalization & Types of Regions
Regions are mental or mapped spaces that help us organize the world. Types include:
- Formal (Uniform) Region: One or more shared traits (e.g., language, climate zone)
- Functional (Nodal) Region: Centered around a node or hub (e.g., pizza delivery areas, airport networks)
- Perceptual (Vernacular) Region: Based on people’s feelings or identity (e.g., “the Midwest”)
Recognizing regions allows geographers to make spatial generalizations.
VII. Why This Unit Is Crucial
Unit 1 sets the foundation for everything else in AP Human Geography. It equips students with the language and tools of geographers—maps, data, scale, and region. Thinking geographically helps us interpret global trends and local issues, from housing inequality to digital connectivity.
