The L anguage of Geography

1. The Language of Geography Objectives: • Why are maps so important to the study of history? • Mapmaking history-contributions of early mapmakers. • Why is difficult to show the earth correctly on the map? • The specific language of geography. • Many ways to represent Time.

2. Types of Maps There are several types of maps. Each show different information. Climate maps give general information about the climate and precipitation (rain and snow) of a region. Cartographers, or mapmakers, use colors to show different climate or precipitation zones. Economic or resource maps feature the type of natural resources or economic activity that dominates an area. Cartographers use symbols to show the locations of natural resources or economic activities. Physical maps illustrate the physical features of an area, such as the mountains, rivers and lakes. The water is usually shown in blue. Colors are used to show relief—differences in land elevations. Green is typically used at lower elevations, and orange or brown indicate higher elevations. Political maps do not show physical features. Instead, they indicate state and national boundaries and capital and major cities. A capital city is usually marked with a star within a circle. Road maps show major—some minor highways—and roads, airports, railroad tracks, cities and other points of interest in an area.

3. Political Map

4. Physical Map

5. Mapmaking history-contributions of early mapmakers • The oldest specimen of maps found as far have been dated about 2300 B.C. when the Babylonians drew maps on clay tablets. • However the early Greek philosophers were the first who studied the world - 350 B.C. • Eratosthenes-(mathematician and geographer from Ancient Greece) presented the Earth as a sphere. He estimated the earth’s circumference to be 24,662 miles.

6. Sumer 3200 B.C.

7. Hipparachus- He developed a system of grids:  very similar of today’s lines of latitude and longitude to locate on the earth. • Ptolemy - (the most famous geographer of ancient time) He helped develop one of the first map of the world and also started the practice of putting N. at the top S. at the bottom E. at the right W. at the left of the map. • Modern maps- Today we take photos of the earth from satellites, confirming the earlier knowledge.

8. Why is difficult to show the earth correctly on the map? • The problem is making an accurate map of a 3-dimensional sphere on a flat 2-dimensional surface without causing distortions of shape, distance, size, and direction. • Mapmakers have designed a number of projections to help overcome these distortions. • However, no single projection can eliminate all distortions. • The most accurate way to represent the earth is with a globe

9. Many ways to represent Time Historians work within the dimensions of time and place. Time tells “when” and place tells “where” people have lived and certain events have occurred. Together, time and place provide a picture for the human story that is history. 1. Calendar Historians use dates to determine when events occurred and to place events into a correct sequence. All calendars need some fixed point from which to count the passage of time. That’s why we know different calendars. Different calendars? Why? -Different groups of people follow different customs: Christian calendar - 2013 A.D. -Birth of Jesus Jewish calendar - 5774 -begins when God created the world Muslim calendar - 1435 -Mohammad founds religion 2. A.D. vs. B.C. and other terms for time. In this book the years are labeled B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (“anno domini”-in the year of our Lord) a) A.D. (“anno domini”-in the year of our Lord) B.C. (Before Christ) b) Decade, Century, Millennium-(pictures for 2000) c) Periods of time = Ages, Era ex. Bronze Age, Middle Ages, Stone Age 3. Time line: show a certain period of time. To represent a span of time, historians often use a time line. A time line is like a graph, with each unit representing an equal amount of time. Time lines are based on particular dates that mark the start and the end of the line. By visually representing “when”, time lines are useful tool for studying history.