Course Mechanics

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• Previews of course content (slide presentation)
• Syllabus and Requirements
  

So what is geography?

• Geography is not:
• The same as geology
• Countries and products to be memorized
• Locating everything on a map
• What's in National Geographic magazine
• Far away places and smiling faces

Geography is:

• Parts of the above
• The study of the earth as the home of humankind
• The study of Earth - human relationships

Geographers are able to:

• Meet the basic geography standards for schools
• Study most topics using the Five Fundamental Themes of Geography
  

Topic One: Why study historical geography?

The U.S. as a laboratory for historical study because:

1. recent origin;
2. relative simplicity of development through time;
3. broad physical regions with few minor subregional irregularities (rather than micro landscapes of Europe);
4. incredible archival record from the very beginning of development of nation (many literate, alert, fascinated individuals available to comment on things);
5. US has emerged as a unique and powerful nation relatively quickly.
   

Basic Questions Guiding the Course This Semester:

1. Who are Americans --what are the specific sources of our identity as a distinct nation of people?(ethnic and religious background, political ideals, etc)
2. What processes have molded our cultural patterns? (how, when, where) See Zelinsky below
3. What spatial patterns have emerged from these processes?
4. What evidence is there in today's landscape of past geographic decision making?
5. What may be predicted for the future of this place based on its historical-geographic experience?
   

Zelinsky's Ideas from: The Cultural Geography of the United States

Five processes that shaped who we are and who we are becoming are:

1) Importance of selected individuals and selected culture traits:

Immigrants who first shaped American culture not random individuals --usually young, restless idealists. Many were male. Attitude of exploration and adventure.

2) Long distance transfer of people and their cultural baggage:

Cultural innovations probably happened simply because people moved their goods and ideas so far...some changes happened en route to new place. Different kinds of people forced to be together for long periods of time (wagon trains, ships).Traumatic voyage and sudden arrival in a totally new place probably altered their thinking (and culture!).

3) Stability of aboriginal culture already here:

Immigrants didn't enter a cultural vacuum. Economic and social systems already in place and had been for thousands of years. Taught earliest arrivals many new ways to adjust to new land.

4) Local evolution of culture:

Selection of traits brought in from outside. Some flourished (hunting, fishing, ship building, house construction), other died away (small land holdings, heavy industrial skills). Continuous merging of cultures of many diverse ethnic groups.

5) Continuing interchange with outside world:

At first it was on the East Coast --continuing ties with Europe. Umbilical cord never entirely severed with homeland. Contacts with Asia along the Pacific Rim of North America. More than just the number of small cars we drive --subtle attitudinal difference between east and west coasts that may be partly due to Asian influence.

Setting the Stage: Regions of North America

Words like NORTH,SOUTH, EAST, WEST deeply imprinted on our minds (everyday conversation as well as in media). The term "American West," for example, is a powerful symbol in people's minds, both those living here and those living "Back east."

Most texts divide US into: NORTHEAST, SOUTH, MIDWEST, GREAT PLAINS, WESTERN INTERIOR,

FAR WEST, ALASKA/HAWAII (TRANSPARENCIES)

Nine Nations of North America sees it in another way. Redrawing the state boundaries exercise.

Topic #2 Nature of Historical Geography

Dualism in Geography

Physical-Human

Systematic-Regional

Academic-Applied

Geography as a noun or an adjective?

Approaches to Historical Geography

Recreation of Past Landscapes, physical and human (horizontal)

Genetic Process through time, (vertical)

Dynamic Cultural History, eg. domestication

Historical Regional Geography .

"Influences" of the environment on humans

Sequent Occupance

"Man's" Role in landscape change

Theory and Models

Pragmatic Preservation

World Systems Theory

What is not historical geography?

History of Geography

Environmental Determinism

Individual persons, places or events

This class is topical or thematic others are regional

Sample Themes

The frontier as an explanation of the American experience.

Observation of landscape change through time.

Role of technology in landscape change.

Role of resources in landscape change.

Recreation of Past Landscapes

Landscape as a result of human decision, cultural, economic, physical,political.

Causes of American Culture and character.

Regionalism and sectionalism.

Regional and National Integration

Historical explanation for location and function; towns, transportation etc. Spatial organization of society

Understanding the context of historical events.

Environmental perceptions then and now; ie. humid east vs arid west.

Land as the unit of study.

Human caused changes of the environment.

Resource Exploitation

Applicability of urban, economic and demographic models in past settings.

Cartographic history as a tool for explanation.

Acquisition of Geographic Knowledge

Cultural transfer and acculturation

Quiz Question

Which of the above approaches would you use in a study of your home area? What major themes or concepts would you stress?

Concepts are generalizations about the information we collect. They are useful in organizing our thoughts about a topic.

Acculturation

Boundaries, Bridges and Barriers

Diffusion

Environmental Determinism

Environmental Perception

Exploration and Discovery

Frontier

Historic Preservation

Imperialism

Landscape

Land Speculation

Migration

Mobility

Origin-Dispersal

Regional Identity

Resource Use

Sequent Occupance

Site-Situation

Time-Space

Urbanization

Note: see Hardwick, S. and D. Holtgrieve GEOGRAPHY FOR EDUCATORS: STANDARDS,CONCEPTS AND THEMES, (in bookstore and library) for more explanation of themes and concepts.

METHODS

Analysis and interpretation of documentary sources; primary and secondary.

Analysis of: maps, census, election results, tax rolls, plats, meeting minutes, newspapers, city directories, Sanborn atlases, correspondence, diaries,

Air photo interpretation

Landscape Photos

Reading the landscape

Interviews

Statistical analysis

Simulations

Geographic Information Systems

Historiography ie. nature of Historical evidence

others?

Applied Historical Geography

Political/legal experts

Community Planning

Land claims

SHIPOs

Architectural history

Company histories

NEPA

Parks and recreation interpretation

Resource management

Problem solving