Maricopa Community Colleges  GCU253   19956-20086 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
GCU253 19956-20086 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Introduction to Cultural and Historical Geography
Cultural patterns, including such phenomena as language, religion and various aspects of material culture. Origins and diffusion and division of the world into cultural areas.
Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
GCU253   19956-20086 Introduction to Cultural and Historical Geography
1. Trace the historic development of geography from the Ancient World to the present. (I)
2. Explain the importance of maps and map reading in the study of geography. (II)
3. Identify cultural hearths in the world, and describe cultural variables. (III)
4. Explain concepts associated with population, including the demographic transition model, population pyramids, and migration. (IV)
5. Describe current population concerns in the world. (IV)
6. Explain the origins of agriculture, and identify major agricultural types. (V)
7. Define the concept of carrying capacity. (V)
8. Identify major settlement types, and explain their distribution in the world. (VI)
9. Describe the characteristics associated with urban settlements, and relate them to the Central Place Theory. (VI)
10. Explain causes, routes, and magnitude of migration. (VII)
11. Trace the historical development of transportation technology in the world. (VIII)
12. Describe various forms of political territories in the world and the diffusion of political ideas. (IX)
13. Describe characteristics of language types and distributions in the world. (X)
14. Explain the importance of language to social identification. (X)
15. Describe characteristics of religious practices in the world. (XI)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
GCU253   19956-20086 Introduction to Cultural and Historical Geography
    I. Historic Development of Geography
        A. Ancient World
        B. Greeks
        C. Romans
        D. Dark Ages
        E. Age of Exploration
        F. 19th and 20th Centuries
          1. Environmental determinism
          2. Cultural determinism
      II. Maps and Map Reading
          A. History of maps
          B. Map projections
          C. Map elements
          D. Topographic maps
        III. Origins and Development of Culture
            A. Culture hearths
            B. Culture variables (components)
          IV. Demography
              A. Factors for understanding population change
              B. Demographic transition model
              C. Population pyramids
              D. Migration
              E. Population concerns
            V. Agriculture
                A. Hunting and gathering
                B. Origins of agriculture
                C. Types
                D. Carrying capacity
              VI. Settlement
                  A. Distribution
                  B. Density
                  C. Types
                  D. Urban settlement
                  E. Central Place Theory
                VII. Migration
                    A. Causes
                      1. Physical
                      2. Cultural
                    B. routes
                    C. Magnitude
                  VIII. Transportation
                      A. Historical development
                      B. Technology
                      C. Water
                      D. Rail
                      E. Truck/auto
                      F. Pipeline
                    IX. Political Geography
                        A. The concept of territory
                        B. Tribal regions
                        C. Feudal states
                        D. Nation states
                        E. Political diffusion
                        F. Governance
                        G. Supranationalism
                      X. Language
                          A. Origins
                          B. Classification
                          C. Distribution
                          D. Diffusion
                          E. Modification
                          F. Dialects
                          G. Social identification
                        XI. Religion
                            A. Universal practices
                            B. Definition
                            C. Classification
                            D. Components
                            E. Distribution
                            F. Diffusion
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