Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1-5:
The
effect of this hur-
ricane on human
habitation rather
powerfully
demon-strates
the relationship
between environ-
ment and society.
Human beings and the natural environment interact in many ways. For example, people play a very
important role in shaping and modifying the natural world. Some results of this interaction may be
visually pleasing, such as the skyline of Paris, or the terraced rice paddies of Southeast Asia, or the
English countryside. But other results may be troubling, such as pollution and global deforestation.
References to human impact on the environment will appear in several chapters, particularly the ones
dealing with water (see Chapter 8), natural resources (see Chapter 16), and urbanization (see Chapter
17). Most importantly, an entire chapter will be devoted to matters of environmental quality (see
Chapter 18).
And while people impact the environment, environmental phenomena impact people. Climate affects
agriculture and other human activity (see Chapters 9 and 10). Landforms and related processes and
hazards affect life and property (see Chapters 6 and 7). The geography of water impacts settlement
and commerce (see Chapter 8). In a nutshell, relationships between environment and society are per-
vasive and profound — and for those reasons will manifest themselves in several chapters.
Putting geography to use: Uses of geography
Have you ever used a road map to plan a trip? Have you ever visited a historical site and looked at
maps and exhibits that help you understand the past? Have you ever attended a meeting or read an
article concerning a proposal that would change the physical character of your neighborhood? If so,
then you are already familiar with the uses of geography.
You can use geography to understand the past, interpret the present, or plan for the future. That is,
you can use geography to understand the extent of former empires, to understand why your city looks
the way it does, or to choose the location of a new factory. Geography is, therefore, a very useful and
powerful tool. To help reinforce this point, every one of the content chapters (see Chapters 2 through
