1. Introduction: become a geographer!

1.1 What is geography?

​​Geography is a science that studies various regional phenomena connected to natural and human activity. In addition, geographers focus on examining the relationship between nature and humanity. For example, a geographer can study things like earthquakes, the effects of volcanic activity on the environment, the process of city growth and the spread of epidemics. 

Geographers are interested in answering the question "why?":
  • Why does the climate of our planet become warmer?
  • Why do cities grow?
  • Why are earthquakes concentrated to specific areas on the planet?
Usually, geographers also answer the questions "where?" and "what?" by describing the vegetation, terrain, and human population of specific areas. For example, a geographer can describe the climate, topography, vegetation, animal species, and human population of the Peruvian Andes, and follow how these things change and develop over time. 

Geographic information can be applied to many important projects. For example, geographic data helps us to plan cities, traffic systems, neighborhoods and waste management systems.

Geographers use various tools to study the planet's natural and human phenomena. The most important of these tools are the various kinds of maps that are used to present the regional variation and development of phenomena. For example, a population density map illustrates the variation in population density in a certain area. In addition to maps, geographers also use a variety of different photographs, diagrams, and illustrations to present and study various phenomena.

1.2 From cave paintings to Pokémon Go

Maps are the geographer's most important tools. The history of maps stretches back tens of thousands of years, to a time when humans lived in damp caves. During this time, humans began to draw things that were important to their way of life on the walls of the caves they lived in.

Usually, these drawings focused on portraying animals, people, and hunting activities. These ancient drawings can be considered to be the first maps. As a result, the practice of cartography can be said to be older than the practice of writing.

The oldest world map dates back 6 000 years. This map, which is now visible in the British Museum in London, originates from ancient Babylonia. The map is a clay tablet that portrays the world as it was understood by the Babylonian civilization. 

Several thousand years later, Greek philosophers and scientists figured out how to calculate the shape and circumference of planet Earth.


The Greek polymath Eratosthenes was the first person to devise a map that made use of latitudes and longitudes. In addition, he is credited with coming up with the word "geography", which is still used to singify the study of the planet Earth and its phenomena.

Over a thousand years after the ancient Greeks, the European understanding of the planet was once again revolutionized, this time as a result of exploration. You may be familiar with the names Marco Polo, Cristopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferninand Magellan.

These explorers stretched out the boundaries of the known world on their journeys across the globe. During their long expeditions, they gathered information about the geography, nature and cultures of the places they visited. In addition, these explorers created maps and illustrations in order to help them present what they saw to others.

Nowadays, maps are everyday objects. We use map applications on our phones or computers almost every single day, when looking up directions and routes to different places in our daily lives.

Likewise, many interactive experiences, such as the mobile game Pokemon Go, use geographic data to bring together the real world and a virtual game world.
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1.3 Geomedia skills



​When you look at the above photograph from Budapest, Hungary, you can make various observations and conclusions about the place it depicts. There seems to be a lot of traffic. Large bridges are shown to stretch over the river Danube. The city expands way out into the distance. Boats drudge through the river. Hills can be seen in the distance. The river water looks clayish and brown.

Geography has traditionally been a subject where different geomedia skills are practiced. Geomedia skills include knowing how to read maps, make diagrams and interpret photographs or illustrations. As the world becomes even more technologically dependent, new devices and technological applications replace the old tools and methods. Nowadays, maps are mostly accessed via different internet-based sites and applications, and vast amounts of aerial and satellite imagery give us a wealth of geographic information, as do the GPS trackers in our phones, which can precisely pinpoint our location on the planet.

Summary

  • Geography makes use of maps, photographs, diagrams, and databases.
  • Key words: geography, geomedia.