World Regional Geography: The Essentials
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2023
Choose Your Format
Website
$105.00
New Fourth Edition Coming Soon!
Geography connects the social and physical sciences, revealing a beautiful, organized order in the world at large that most Americans have yet to examine because the subject, as a whole, was removed from the classroom years ago.
Designed for students in their first geography class, World Regional Geography: The Essentials broadly covers the physical, social, and political concepts that have immediate impact on the varied, interconnected regions of the world from pole to pole, the oceans, and everywhere in between.
Immediate exercises allow learners to map key places and features they have studied, reinforcing the material presented and offering a hands-on, succinct geographic experience. Acquired knowledge allows them to:
- identify political states, islands, and major cities
- place topographic features, such as mountain peaks and ranges, bodies of water, and deserts
- locate points of interest and make a bucket list of must-visit destinations
By the end of the course, budding geographers will have created a personal atlas of the world. This foundation is critical for learners who wish to build on their knowledge of all the sciences.
Part 1 Geography Overview
Introduction
Chapter 1 Foundations Of Geography
What is Geography?
Geography vs. Geology
More Than Memorization
Spatial Diffusion
Spatial Diffusion
Accessibility and Connectivity
Maps, Projections, and Scale
Maps and Projections
Types of Maps
Latitude and Longitude
Relative and Absolute Location
Latitude
Longitude
Time Zones
Modern Geographic Technology
Global Positioning System
Remote Sensing
Geographic Information Systems
The Four Spheres
Atmosphere
The Four Seasons
Weather and Climate
Climate Factors
Climate Regions
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Cultural Geography
Landforms
Language
World Religions
Demographics
Population change
Demographic Transition Model
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
Economic Geography
Economic Indicators
Economic Systems
Political Geography
Continents or Regions
Geographic Regions
The World in Regions
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 1A-1E
Geographic Activities A-E
Part 2 Western Hemisphere
Chapter 2 North America
Where Is North America?
Physical Landscape
Physiographic Regions
Key Physical Features
Weather and Climate
Precipitation and Wind
Tornadoes
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Precarious Weather and Forest Fires
100th Meridian
Climate
History
Who Discovered the New World?
Indigenous Peoples
Immigrants
Explorers, Diplomats, Pioneers
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Settlement
Population
Migration
Economics
Trade
Energy
Politics
North American Political States
Greenland
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Canada
United States of America
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 2A-2H
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Bermuda
Review Terms
Research Topics
Chapter 3 Middle America
Where Is Middle America?
Physical Landscape
Mexico
Central America
West Indies
Cloud Forests and Deforestation
Earthquakes, Landslides, Volcanoes
Weather and Climate
Altitudinal Zonation
Cold Waves and Droughts
Hurricanes
History
Maya and Aztec Civilizations
Post-European History
Haciendas and Plantations
Culture
People Groups
Language
Religion
Demography
Population
Migration
Economics and Politics
Economic Overview
NAFTA
Drug Cartels
Mosquito Coast and Autonomous Regions
Panama Canal
Middle American Subregions
Mexico
Central America
West Indies
Lucayan Archipelago
Greater Antilles
Puerto Rico
United States Minor Territories
Virgin Islands Archipelago.
Leeward Islands
Windward Islands7
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 3A-3H
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Clipperton Island
Chapter 4 South America
Where Is South America?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Inca Civilization
Treaty of Tordesillas
Culture
Language
Religion
Demographics
Economics and Politics
Coca Crop
Pan-American and Interoceanic Highways
Latin American City Models
The South American Subregions
Caribbean North
Andean West
Southern Cone
Brazil
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 4A-4F
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Saint Helena, Ascension, And Tristan Da Cunha
Part 3 Eastern Hemisphere
Chapter 5 Europe
Where Is Europe?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
Forests
History
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics and Politics
NATO
Schengen Area
Supranationalism
Four Motors of Europe
European Subregions
British Isles
Northern Europe
Baltics
Western Europe
Mediterranean Europe
Balkans
Central Europe
Eastern Europe
Review Terms
Research Terms
Mapping Checklists 5A-5H
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 6 Russia, Transcaucasia, And Central Asia
Where Are Russia, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia?
Physical Landscape
Russia
Transcaucasia
Central Asia
Major Bodies of Water
Pollution and the Environment
Weather and Climate
History
Rus’ People
Romanov Dynasty
Bolshevik Revolution
Soviet State
Post-Stalin
Russian Federation
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics and Politics
Russia
Transcaucasia
Central Asia
Russian, Transcaucasian, and Central Asian Subregions
Russia
Transcaucasia
Central Asia
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 6A-6H
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 7 East Asia
Where Is East Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Chinese Dynastic Rule
Ming and Qing Dynasties
Republic of China
People’s Republic of China
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics
Politics
East Asian Political States
China
North Korea and South Korea
Mongolia
Taiwan
Japan
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 7A-7G
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 8 South Asia
Where Is South Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
East India Company and the British Raj
Partition of 1947
Culture
Language
Hinduism
Buddhism
Other Religions
Demography
Economics and Politics
South Asian Political States
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 8A-8F
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 9 Southeast Asia
Where Is Southeast Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics
Politics
Southeast Asian Subregions
Mainland
Thailand
Insular
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 9A-9E
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 10 North Africa And Southwest Asia
Where Are North Africa and Southwest Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics
Politics
North African and Southwest Asian Subregions
Maghreb
Sahel States
Nile River Valley
Middle East
Empire States
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 10A-10K
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 11 Sub-saharan Africa
Where Is sub-Saharan Africa?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Slavery
Berlin Conference
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Population
Disease
Economics
Politics
Sub-Saharan African Subregions
West Africa
East Africa
Equatorial Africa
Southeast African Islands
Southern Africa
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 11A-11G
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region British Indian Ocean Territory
Non-Region French Southern Territories
Chapter 12 Austral Region
Where Is the Austral Region?
Physical Landscape
Australia
New Zealand
Flora and Fauna
Weather and Climate
History
Culture
Demography
Economics
Politics
Outlying Islands and External Territories
Cities
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 12A-12E
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 13 Oceania
Where Is Oceania?
Physical Landscape
History
Culture
Demography
Economics and Politics
Oceanic Subregions
Melanesia
Micronesia
Polynesia
Review Terms
Research Terms
Mapping Checklists 13A-13F
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Bouvet Island
Part 4 Poles And Oceans
Chapter 14 The Poles And Oceans
Where Are the Poles?
Where Are the Oceans?
Physical Landscape
North Pole and the Arctic
South Pole and Antarctica
Flora and Fauna
Economics and Politics
World Ocean
Types of Water Bodies
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Southern Ocean
Climate Change and Ocean Threats
Gyres and Ocean Garbage Patches
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 14A-14F
Part 5 Auxiliary Resources
Further Readings and References
Glossary
Index
Appendix A 2022 Estimated Population by Geographic Region
Appendix B 2022 Estimated Population by Political State or Territory
Appendix C 2022 Estimated Population (High to Low)
Appendix D Ten Largest Political States by Population
New Fourth Edition Coming Soon!
Geography connects the social and physical sciences, revealing a beautiful, organized order in the world at large that most Americans have yet to examine because the subject, as a whole, was removed from the classroom years ago.
Designed for students in their first geography class, World Regional Geography: The Essentials broadly covers the physical, social, and political concepts that have immediate impact on the varied, interconnected regions of the world from pole to pole, the oceans, and everywhere in between.
Immediate exercises allow learners to map key places and features they have studied, reinforcing the material presented and offering a hands-on, succinct geographic experience. Acquired knowledge allows them to:
- identify political states, islands, and major cities
- place topographic features, such as mountain peaks and ranges, bodies of water, and deserts
- locate points of interest and make a bucket list of must-visit destinations
By the end of the course, budding geographers will have created a personal atlas of the world. This foundation is critical for learners who wish to build on their knowledge of all the sciences.
Part 1 Geography Overview
Introduction
Chapter 1 Foundations Of Geography
What is Geography?
Geography vs. Geology
More Than Memorization
Spatial Diffusion
Spatial Diffusion
Accessibility and Connectivity
Maps, Projections, and Scale
Maps and Projections
Types of Maps
Latitude and Longitude
Relative and Absolute Location
Latitude
Longitude
Time Zones
Modern Geographic Technology
Global Positioning System
Remote Sensing
Geographic Information Systems
The Four Spheres
Atmosphere
The Four Seasons
Weather and Climate
Climate Factors
Climate Regions
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Cultural Geography
Landforms
Language
World Religions
Demographics
Population change
Demographic Transition Model
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
Economic Geography
Economic Indicators
Economic Systems
Political Geography
Continents or Regions
Geographic Regions
The World in Regions
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 1A-1E
Geographic Activities A-E
Part 2 Western Hemisphere
Chapter 2 North America
Where Is North America?
Physical Landscape
Physiographic Regions
Key Physical Features
Weather and Climate
Precipitation and Wind
Tornadoes
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Precarious Weather and Forest Fires
100th Meridian
Climate
History
Who Discovered the New World?
Indigenous Peoples
Immigrants
Explorers, Diplomats, Pioneers
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Settlement
Population
Migration
Economics
Trade
Energy
Politics
North American Political States
Greenland
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Canada
United States of America
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 2A-2H
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Bermuda
Review Terms
Research Topics
Chapter 3 Middle America
Where Is Middle America?
Physical Landscape
Mexico
Central America
West Indies
Cloud Forests and Deforestation
Earthquakes, Landslides, Volcanoes
Weather and Climate
Altitudinal Zonation
Cold Waves and Droughts
Hurricanes
History
Maya and Aztec Civilizations
Post-European History
Haciendas and Plantations
Culture
People Groups
Language
Religion
Demography
Population
Migration
Economics and Politics
Economic Overview
NAFTA
Drug Cartels
Mosquito Coast and Autonomous Regions
Panama Canal
Middle American Subregions
Mexico
Central America
West Indies
Lucayan Archipelago
Greater Antilles
Puerto Rico
United States Minor Territories
Virgin Islands Archipelago.
Leeward Islands
Windward Islands7
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 3A-3H
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Clipperton Island
Chapter 4 South America
Where Is South America?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Inca Civilization
Treaty of Tordesillas
Culture
Language
Religion
Demographics
Economics and Politics
Coca Crop
Pan-American and Interoceanic Highways
Latin American City Models
The South American Subregions
Caribbean North
Andean West
Southern Cone
Brazil
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 4A-4F
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Saint Helena, Ascension, And Tristan Da Cunha
Part 3 Eastern Hemisphere
Chapter 5 Europe
Where Is Europe?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
Forests
History
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics and Politics
NATO
Schengen Area
Supranationalism
Four Motors of Europe
European Subregions
British Isles
Northern Europe
Baltics
Western Europe
Mediterranean Europe
Balkans
Central Europe
Eastern Europe
Review Terms
Research Terms
Mapping Checklists 5A-5H
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 6 Russia, Transcaucasia, And Central Asia
Where Are Russia, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia?
Physical Landscape
Russia
Transcaucasia
Central Asia
Major Bodies of Water
Pollution and the Environment
Weather and Climate
History
Rus’ People
Romanov Dynasty
Bolshevik Revolution
Soviet State
Post-Stalin
Russian Federation
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics and Politics
Russia
Transcaucasia
Central Asia
Russian, Transcaucasian, and Central Asian Subregions
Russia
Transcaucasia
Central Asia
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 6A-6H
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 7 East Asia
Where Is East Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Chinese Dynastic Rule
Ming and Qing Dynasties
Republic of China
People’s Republic of China
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics
Politics
East Asian Political States
China
North Korea and South Korea
Mongolia
Taiwan
Japan
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 7A-7G
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 8 South Asia
Where Is South Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
East India Company and the British Raj
Partition of 1947
Culture
Language
Hinduism
Buddhism
Other Religions
Demography
Economics and Politics
South Asian Political States
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 8A-8F
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 9 Southeast Asia
Where Is Southeast Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics
Politics
Southeast Asian Subregions
Mainland
Thailand
Insular
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 9A-9E
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 10 North Africa And Southwest Asia
Where Are North Africa and Southwest Asia?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Economics
Politics
North African and Southwest Asian Subregions
Maghreb
Sahel States
Nile River Valley
Middle East
Empire States
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 10A-10K
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 11 Sub-saharan Africa
Where Is sub-Saharan Africa?
Physical Landscape
Weather and Climate
History
Slavery
Berlin Conference
Culture
Language
Religion
Demography
Population
Disease
Economics
Politics
Sub-Saharan African Subregions
West Africa
East Africa
Equatorial Africa
Southeast African Islands
Southern Africa
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 11A-11G
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region British Indian Ocean Territory
Non-Region French Southern Territories
Chapter 12 Austral Region
Where Is the Austral Region?
Physical Landscape
Australia
New Zealand
Flora and Fauna
Weather and Climate
History
Culture
Demography
Economics
Politics
Outlying Islands and External Territories
Cities
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 12A-12E
Geographic Bucket List
Chapter 13 Oceania
Where Is Oceania?
Physical Landscape
History
Culture
Demography
Economics and Politics
Oceanic Subregions
Melanesia
Micronesia
Polynesia
Review Terms
Research Terms
Mapping Checklists 13A-13F
Geographic Bucket List
Non-Region Bouvet Island
Part 4 Poles And Oceans
Chapter 14 The Poles And Oceans
Where Are the Poles?
Where Are the Oceans?
Physical Landscape
North Pole and the Arctic
South Pole and Antarctica
Flora and Fauna
Economics and Politics
World Ocean
Types of Water Bodies
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Southern Ocean
Climate Change and Ocean Threats
Gyres and Ocean Garbage Patches
Review Terms
Research Topics
Mapping Checklists 14A-14F
Part 5 Auxiliary Resources
Further Readings and References
Glossary
Index
Appendix A 2022 Estimated Population by Geographic Region
Appendix B 2022 Estimated Population by Political State or Territory
Appendix C 2022 Estimated Population (High to Low)
Appendix D Ten Largest Political States by Population