World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Human Geography
Preview
Section 1: Population Geography
Section 2: Cultural Geography
Section 3: World Languages and Religions
Chapter Wrap-Up
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 1: Population Geography
Read to Discover
• How do geographers study population?
• What are some important trends in world
population?
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 1: Population Geography
Studying Population
• To study relationships between populations and
environments, geographers use statistics:
• Maps
• Graphs
• Population pyramids
• Spatial perspective
• Key statistics:
• Population density
• Population change
• Population distribution • Natural increase
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 1: Population Geography
World Population Trends
• World population is increasing rapidly.
• Economic development results in lower
population growth rates.
• Many less-developed nations are gradually
reducing population growth.
• Population projections vary, but future
population-related challenges are inevitable.
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 1: Population Geography
Question
What technological improvements have led
to the world’s population growth?
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 1: Population Geography
Reasons for
Population Increases
Medical
advances lead
to better health
care, which
allows people
to live longer.
Agricultural
advances lead to
increased food
production,
which allows
more people to
live in an area.
Sanitation
advances lead
to cleaner living
conditions,
which help
people stay
healthy.
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 2: Cultural Geography
Read to Discover
• How do geographers study culture?
• How do cultures change over time?
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 2: Cultural Geography
Studying Culture
• Culture Traits—Activities and behaviors
common to groups of people, such as reading,
doing math, and methods of eating; many culture
traits are linked
• Culture Regions—Areas in which people share
culture traits
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 2: Cultural Geography
Question
How would you describe the following traits
of your own culture?
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 2: Cultural Geography
Religion
Government
Education
Language
Culture Traits
Economy
Food
Housing
Clothing
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 2: Cultural Geography
How Cultures Change
• Cultures change over time through general
processes such as communication, migration,
war, and trade.
• Key concepts:
• Innovation—Adoption of new and useful
ideas
• Diffusion—Spread of ideas
• Globalization—Worldwide adoption of traits
• Traditionalism—Maintenance of traditions
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 3: World
Languages and Religions
Read to Discover
• What is the geography of the world’s
languages?
• What are the three main types of religions
that geographers identify?
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 3: World
Languages and Religions
Geography of Languages
• Languages have spatial characteristics; they are
linked to specific regions and people.
• Languages are divided into families and
branches.
• Geographers study the origins and spread of
languages.
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 3: World
Languages and Religions
Types of Religions
• Ethnic—Focus on one ethnic group; examples:
Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Taoism
• Animist—Focus on spirits and forces of nature;
often have ethnic basis; common in traditional
societies
• Universalizing—Seek worldwide following;
examples: Islam, Christianity
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 3: World
Languages and Religions
Question
What are examples of each of the
three main types of religions
identified by geographers?
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Section 3: World
Languages and Religions
Ethnic Religions Animist Religions
• Confucianism
• Hinduism
• Judaism
• Shintoism
• Taoism
• Traditional religions
Universalizing
Religions
• Christianity
• Islam
World Geography Today
Chapter 5
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1. What do population geographers use to study
population patterns and trends?
2. What factors influence migration?
3. What are culture traits? What is one example of
how culture traits vary from place to place?
4. Why is language fundamental to culture?
5. Why is religion fundamental to culture?