Mr. Daisley
World Geography
Name:____________________________
Test Date:____________________________
Unit 2: Maps
Study Guide
SOL Standards Addressed: WG 1c, d, e
Essential Questions
- How do people use mental maps to organize information?
- How are perceptions reflected in mental maps?
- How can mental maps be developed and refined?
- What are ways that maps show information?
- What are the major types of thematic maps?
- How do maps reflect changes over time?
- How are maps and other visual images used to present a particular bias (positive or negative) about an
area of the Earth’s surface?
Essential Understandings and Knowledge
Geography Concepts
- Absolute location is found using latitude and longitude.
o Latitude – lines are also called parallels
o Longitude – lines are also called meridians
- Relative location describes the spatial relationships between and among places.
- Orientation
- Maps, unlike the globe, distort spatial relationships because it is impossible to flatten a globe onto a piece of
paper.
- Map projections
o Mercator – shows true direction; used for ship navigation
o Robinson – best for general purposes; shapes are flat near the poles; best for data representation.
o Polar – shows either north or south pole; useful for air navigation because it shows great circle
routes.
- Scale
o Areas can be represented using a variety of scales.
o The amount of detail shown on a map is dependent on the scale used.
- A directional indicator (e.g. compass rose) identifies map orientation.
What is a Map?
A map is a visual representation of geographic information. Maps show information using:
- Symbols
- Color
- Lines
- Boundaries
- Contours
Types of thematic maps
- Population (e.g., distribution and density)
- Economic activity
- Resource
- Language
- Ethnicity
- Climate
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Mr. Daisley
World Geography
-
Name:____________________________
Test Date:____________________________
Precipitation
Vegetation
Physical
Political
Mental Maps
- Mental maps are based on objective knowledge and subjective perceptions.
- People develop and refine their mental maps through both personal experience and learning. They do this
in several ways:
o Comparing sketch maps to maps in atlases or other resources
o Describing the location of places in terms of reference points (e.g., the equator, prime meridian)
o Describing the location of places in terms of geographic features and land forms (e.g., west of the
Mississippi River, north of the Gulf of Mexico)
o Describing the location of places in terms of the human characteristics of a place (e.g., languages;
types of housing, dress, recreation, customs, and traditions)
- Mental maps serve as indicators of how well people know the spatial characteristics of certain places.
Uses of Mental Maps
- To carry out daily activities (e.g., route to school, for shopping)
- To give directions to others
- To understand world events
Maps Reflect Change
- Maps and other visual images reflect changes over time.
- The map of the world changed greatly after Columbus made his discovery of the Americas.
- GIS (Geographic Information Systems) includes numerous forms of technology that provide more
accurate maps.
Place Names Change
- Over time, place names can change as other things change.
o Formosa is the name of the island group off the east coast of mainland China. It is also known as
Taiwan. To add to the confusion, Taiwan or Formosa is under the jurisdiction of the Republic of
China, formed in 1949 by the Nationalists who fled mainland China after Mao Zedong’s takeover.
o Palestine was the name of the country that existed in the Middle East on the eastern side of the
Mediterranean Sea. In 1948, the country named Israel was carved out of the land belonging to
Palestine.
 As a result of war in the region, the country Palestine ceased to exist and is today within the
country Israel.
 The West Bank and Gaza (aka Gaza Strip) are known as Palestinian territories – with
changes in names through the years. Disputes (and wars) have been taking place for many
decades as to what land belongs to whom, thus place names do continue to change.
Perspectives of Place Names
- Depending on location and/or the ethnic identity of people, the name of a place can vary. Examples include:
o Arabian Gulf vs. Persian Gulf – Arabs in the Middle East call this body of water the Arabian Gulf
while people from Iran (formerly Persia) call it the Persian Gulf.
o Sea of Japan vs. East Sea – East Asians refer to this body of water as the East Sea, while the
Japanese call it the Sea of Japan.
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Mr. Daisley
World Geography
o
Name:____________________________
Test Date:____________________________
Middle East vs. North Africa and Southwest Asia – Many names have been used for this area,
including the Near East, Middle East, and a Greater Middle East (GME), Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) among others. It depends upon the habits and perspectives of person/s using the name.
Boundaries Change
- Africa – Africa was controlled by European countries (imperialism) through 1914. By the 1990s, almost all
of Africa became independent from European countries.
- Europe – The map of Europe changed as a result of the World Wars (I and II). Since 1990, the map of
Europe has changed.
o West and East Germany reunited.
o Kosovo became independent from Serbia in 2008.
- Russia – The former Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s. The map changed from one communist country
to numerous independent countries. Russia is the largest of the former Soviet republics.
- The Middle East – before 1948, Israel did not exist. After 1948, there were several wars between Israel
and its Arab neighbors. The map of 1967 shows the increased land territory Israel won from some of these
conflicts. These conflicts continue today.
Disputed Areas
- Korea – The Korean War was fought between 1950 and 1953. The two Koreas (North Korea and South
Korea) have never signed a peace treaty.
- Kashmir – conflict continues between Pakistan and India over the land Kashmir.
- Western Sahara – Dispute since 1975 between the country Morocco and the region Western Sahara in
which Morocco claims Western Sahara.
- Former Yugoslavia – conflict between Serbs, Croats, and Muslims in the 1990s.
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