GEOG101: World Regional Geography

In this video, a geographer discusses maps that depict earth. He notes that border controls are a recent construct – there was a time when people were free to immigrate wherever they wanted without passports.

This section introduces the foundational principles of the major branches of geography, such as physical, population, cultural, and economic geography. After you read, you should be able to explain how globalization can positively and negatively affect communities.

Geospatial science is a field of study that is focused on understanding people, places, and activities on earth through information technology. Watch this video to understand the importance of geospatial analysis in geographic inquiry.

Latitude and longitude is the imaginary grid geographers created to divide the globe into sections to make it easy to locate every place on earth. Watch this video to learn about these circular reference methods.

Watch this video to learn more about geographic coordinates and the concept of time meridians (time zones).

Watch this video to understand how the tilt of the earth’s affects weather patterns and daylight hours. Note that some countries do not use daylight savings time.

Watch this video for a brief explanation of the rainshadow effect, adiabatic processes, and relative humidity.

Watch this video, which explains why skyrocketing demands for food has propelled agriculture to become the largest driver of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental destruction.

This section introduces the major concepts and variables of population geography, including urbanization, culture, ethnicity, language, and religion.

Watch this video, which describes the ancestry, history, and distribution of human populations across the globe.

This exercise will ask you to explore and analyze patterns in world population. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

Watch this video, where an evolutionary biologist discusses how language has transformed humanity.

In this exercise, you will explore the spatial distribution of the major languages and religions of the world. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the how globalization can provide opportunities for certain regions of the world by increasing national income or through other value-added profit activities. However, globalization can also be detrimental to cultural independence. Globalization will be a major theme in later units of this course.

Watch this video on globalization.

This exercise gives perspectives on how globalization is affecting the world. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

Watch this video on the past, present, and future of country borders.

Watch this video about some of the theories on what can cause societies to collapse.

In this exercise, you will explore the HDI, what it is, and how it is used. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces Europe's major physical characteristics, including its climate, landforms, and natural resources. It also explores how Europe's physical geography has supported its cultural and economic development.

In this exercise, you will explore the first industrial revolution and how it affected Europe. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the history of Europe and discusses how various cultures like the Roman Empire contributed to European development. It also explores how European colonialism influenced other countries, and how cultural forces can positively and negatively influence politics.

In this exercise, you will take a look at early European exploration. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

In this exercise, you will explore the effects of the Reformation on the countries and people of Europe. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

In this video, the former prime minister of Greece discusses the Greek economic crisis and the need for Europeans to re-engage in a new democratic bargain.

Watch this video, which examines why the citizens of the United Kingdom voted for Brexit in 2016 to leave the European Union and discusses post-Brexit steps toward a more inclusive world.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the regions in Eastern Europe, including the former Soviet republics.

Watch this video, which discusses Bulgaria's economy, education, and society.

This section introduces the physical and cultural characteristics of Russia and explores its history, including the creation of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union and how issues of ethnic diversity were handled under both regimes. It also explores some of the environmental problems that Russia experiences today.

In this exercise, you will explore Russia's expansion from 1553 to 1914. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the major cultural and economic tenets of a socialist economy. It also explores why the USSR eventually collapsed.

Watch this video, which examines the Russian Revolution of 1917 from a digital and social media perspective.

Watch this video, which gives a glimpse into Russian youth culture.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the major cities in Russia's regions, including its core and its eastern frontier. It also explores the reasons behind the Chechen-Russian conflict and why Russia invaded Georgia in 2008.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of North America and discusses how three European countries significantly influenced its development. It also explores the population distribution of the United States and Canada.

Watch this explanation of the Santa Ana winds, when they occur, and why they are so fast and dry.

Watch this video on the origin of sea and land breezes.

In this exercise, you will explore various landforms in North America. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the United States. It also takes a look at the origin of the geographic boundaries of the United States, its historical migration patterns, urbanization, the development of its transportation infrastructure, the concept of the "American Dream", and globalization.

Watch this video, which explains how and why partisanship exists in the U.S. government.

In this exercise, you will examine the westward emigration of the American population during the 1800s. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

Watch this video, which explores how the United States could lead by example rather than by force.

In this exercise, you will explore the growth of steel in the United States. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section gives an in-depth analysis of the current demographic profile of the United States, including the reasons behind the regional distribution of religious affiliations in the country. It also explores the concepts of a "cultural melting pot" and the "American Dream".

In this exercise, you will examine the population distribution across the United States. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Canada and analyzes why it has both English- and French-speaking regions. It also exploree how the Canadian and American economies are interrelated.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the regions of the United States and Canada and discusses their significant populations of minority groups. It also explores how North America's physical geography contributes to its economic activity.

Watch this video where Eric Sanderson explores the origins of New York City.

This reading introduces the physical and cultural characteristics of Middle America and explores how European colonialism impacted and influenced this region, including Spanish influence in urban developments.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Mexico and explores how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and maquiladoras have influenced economic and employment situations in Mexico. It also explores how drug cartels are integrated into the Mexican economy.

The "dead zone" is an area where there isn't enough oxygen in the water to support life. Watch this video, which explores the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and what we can do to reverse it.

Watch this video, which describes and explains the violence of the drug cartels in Mexico.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Central America, and explores how the United States has influenced Central America both economically and culturally.

In this exercise, you will explore the factors that led to the independence movement in Latin American colonies. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the countries in the Caribbean, including Cuba. It also explores how colonialism shaped culture and politics in the region.

Watch this video, which explains how to offer world-class healthcare in the developing world.

This section discusses the origin, development, and physical characteristics of hurricanes.

Watch this video to witness the power and danger of hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones.

In this exercise, you will explore the growth and path of hurricanes through the Atlantic. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

Watch this video, which describes how a team of chefs helped in the aftermath of the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of South America and explores how colonial domination influenced cultural differences and similarities across the region.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the Urban North and Andean West regions of South America, including Colombia and Paraguay. It also reviews the three main export products of Colombia and the role the United States plays in their export.

In this exercise, you will follow the the journey of Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle, which eventually took him to the Galapagos Islands, where he formed his theory of evolution and natural selection. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Brazil and analyzes its ethnically diverse composition. It also explores the development and exploitation of the Amazon Basin.

Conservation efforts and great wonders are yet to be discovered in Brazil. Watch this video, which describes the Amazon, a river that boils as if a fire burns below it.

The tapir is one of the world's largest land animals. Watch this video, which discusses their survival.

In this exercise, you will look at deforestation trends and patterns. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the region known as the Southern Cone, which includes Argentina and Chile. It also explores the pattern of immigration that created the region's heritage.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa, including the African Transition Zone. It also explores how early kingdoms flourished in Sub-Saharan Africa before to the colonial era, analyzes the effects of European colonialism in Africa, and discusses the significance of the Berlin Conference.

Watch this video, which gives a sweeping history of Africa and explores an ancient city whose origins and advanced architecture continue to confound archeologists. It also discusses Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire whose vast wealth built the legendary libraries of Timbuktu.

In this exercise, you will study the reasons for European colonization in Africa. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

In this exercise, you will explore the chronology of African independence. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section analyzes the human geography of Sub-Saharan Africa and explores the relationship among family size, urbanization rates, and income levels. It also covers the diversity of languages and religions in the region, identifies areas that have experienced recent civil war and political conflict, studies the geographical pattern of HIV infection, and discusses why it is difficult to contain and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Measuring job growth in the Africa has geographic significance. Watch this video, which discusses Africa's sharing economy.

Watch this video, which discusses how opportunities in agriculture could employ Africa's young workforce and help build peace.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of West Africa. It also explores how family size and economic activities in the region relate to its population growth.

Watch this video, which describes Nigeria's film industry.

Watch this video, which discusses lessons about democracy learned from filming the 2008 elections in Ghana.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of Central Africa, discusses the role of women in the region, and outlines some of the region's major conflicts.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of East Africa, including Somalia. It also explores the region's vibrant ecosystem.

This section  introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa. It also explores the role that ethnicity plays in the region's politics, and analyzes apartheid's cultural and economic effect on South Africa.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of North Africa and Southwest Asia. It also explores the effects of the Arab Spring in 2011.

Watch this video, which discusses the attitudes and hopes of the people of Egypt before the Arab Spring, and the role that women have played in initiating change.

In this exercise, you will explore the early river valley civilizations. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the life of Muhammad and the origins of Islam. It also identifies, compares, and contrasts the three major monotheistic religions in North Africa and Southwest Asia, and discusses how fundamentalism has influenced the debate around religious and secular states.

Watch this video, which describes cultural practices and the Islamic faith.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of North Africa and the African Transition Zone. It also explores the unique geographic qualities of the Maghreb and its connection to Europe.

Watch this video, which explains what makes the climate of the Sahel a transition zone.

Watch this video, which gives a stirring account of one person's escape from genocide in Darfur.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Israel and its neighbors, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. It explores the region's history, how Palestine became the Jewish state of Israel, and the complications of the one-state and two-state proposals.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. It also explores the status of women’s rights in each country.

Watch this video, which describes how a country's art and culture promote cultural identity and allow the country to express its unique identity to the world.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. It also explores the reasons behind the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq War in 2003, and why the European Union has not accepted Turkey's application to become a full member of the EU.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Afghanistan and the nations of Central Asia. It explores how the region has transitioned from being in the sphere of the USSR to independence, and how it has adapted to the new economic environment. It also studies Afghanistan's geopolitical history, the challenges of creating a centralized government, and the continuing conflict between Western military forces and the Taliban.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of South Asia, the dynamics of the monsoon, and how it affects human activities. It also explores how European colonialism has affected the region culturally and politically.

Watch this video, which describes the experience of swimming in a lake on Mount Everest that was formed by glacial ice melt.

Watch this video for a brief explanation of what creates the Indian monsoon.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the peripheral regions and states of South Asia, including Kashmir, Bhutan, and Nepal, and explores the environmental challenges that afflict the region.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and explores why East Pakistan became the country of Bangladesh.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of India, and explores how British colonialism has affected India.

Watch this video, which explores different beliefs about gods, death, and heaven in India.

Watch this video, where one of cricket's premier commentators describes the emergence of fast-paced 20-20 cricket, a global phenomenon that parallels the rise of modern India.

Watch this video on Buddhism and compassion.

This section introduces the major religions of India and South Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of East Asia. It explores China's objectives for building the Three Gorges Dam spanning the Yangtze River, and the effect of colonialism on Chinese culture.

In this exercise, you will explore the silk trade routes across Asia. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the cultural and economic characteristics of China. It also explores the One Child Only Policy and its effect on Chinese culture.

Watch this video, which examines why Western leaders and policymakers often puzzle over the growing power of the Chinese economy.

Watch this video, where a Chinese investor and political scientist considers more than one way to run a successful modern nation.

Watch this video, which describes how a new generation of Chinese citizens are transforming China.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of China's peripheral regions, including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taiwan, Mongolia, and Tibet. It explore the challenges Tibet has experienced becoming an autonomous region of China, and why the Chinese government values these peripheral regions.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Japan, North Korea, and South Korea.

Watch this video on the Ring of Fire, where it is, and why it exists.

Watch this video, which discusses the value in learning to think differently.

Watch this video, where someone who defected from North Korea describes living in China and South Korea.

Watch this video to learn about one documentarian's experience living in a North Korean detention center.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the nations of Southeast Asia and explores China's influence on the region.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the mainland countries of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. It also explores the effect of civil war and division on Vietnam.

Watch this video, which recounts an immigrant's journey to begin a new life away from her home in Vietnam.

Watch this video, which describes one person's escape from Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Watch this video, where an architect based Southeast Asia discusses why architects should design buildings as collective and collaborative spaces that promote stories designed for the people who live and work there.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the islands of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Watch this video, which describes how large, raucous funerals are at the center of social life in Indonesia.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Australia and New Zealand, and discusses how colonialism affected the indigenous Maori and Aboriginal populations. It also explores how isolation fostered their high levels of biodiversity.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of Australia.

Western Australia continues to have a problem with shark attacks, as incidents of shark engagements on humans escalate worldwide. Watch this video where Hamish Jolly, an Australian ocean swimmer, discusses an innovative wetsuit he designed to prevent sharks from mistaking him for food.

This reading introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of New Zealand.

In this exercise, you will explore ocean features and where they came from. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.

This section introduces the physical, cultural, and economic characteristics of the Pacific islands, including Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. It also discusses which islands are still influenced by France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States.

Kiribati is a low-lying Pacific island nation that is experiencing rising sea levels. Watch this video, where the former president of Kiribati discusses climate change and his country's fate.

This section introduces the physical characteristics of the Antarctic and discusses the political struggles surrounding Antarctica and the international community. It also discusses the effect climate change has had on Antarctica.

Watch this video, where a polar explorer recounts an expedition in Antarctica, which is the coldest, windiest, and highest-altitude continent on the planet.

Watch this video, which describes how ancient corals and sediments affect the changing Antarctic ecosystem.

Watch this video, where a radio glaciologist describes what ice-penetrating radar from a flight high above Antarctica can teach us about sea levels.

In this exercise, you will explore climate change around the world. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in this document.