In an effort to improve understanding and to provide better solutions to the world's political problems, this paper examines national territory or states in terms of their functional processes and their spatial structures. Examples from Third World states are provided. The author first presents a model of political territory. It has a boundary…

Because of conflicting interpretations among the most widely used sources, the question of how many countries there are in the world does not have an easy answer. This paper, however, seeks to produce a justifiable, definitive answer (at least for as long as changing political tides allow). By moving from continent to continent, listing generally…

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES GEOGRAPHY AS A COMPLEMENT TO HISTORY AND VICE VERSA. TOGETHER THEY SERVE TO INTERRELATE ALL HUMAN KNOWLEDGE WHETHER PHYSICAL, BIOTIC, OR SOCIETAL. HISTORY ATTEMPTS TO ASSOCIATE DIVERSE PHENOMENA IN AND THROUGH TIME. GEOGRAPHY, AS A CHOROLOGICAL SCIENCE, ATTEMPTS TO ASSOCIATE DIVERSE SPATIAL AND AREAL PHENOMENA, AND STRIVES FOR…

Arguing that students need to have knowledge about places and regions to understand current and past world affairs, a college-level geography course (University of Wisconsin Eau Claire) which teaches physical and cultural place names is described. Presents course objectives, topics, and activities and states that it serves student needs and…

Designed to supplement undergraduate college geography courses, this paper discusses a particular type of territorial division--the administrative area within a state. The study of administrative patterns allows geographers to formulate and test hypotheses about man's organization of space, and also to assist in a very practical way by applying…

Contends that knowing the right questions to ask is crucial to making an analytical and informative examination of a topic. Presents a question framework for country studies in geography. Includes questions on physical, political, cultural, economic and population geography, transportation, communications, natural resources, and technology. (RW)

Distortions in judgments of relative geographical relations were observed, particularly when the locations were in different geographical or political units. Subjects distorted the judged relation to conform with the relation of the superordinate political unit. A model for the hierachical storage of spatial information is presented. (Author/RD)

Defines Canadian regionalism in terms of geographical features and their political, social, and economic implications, rather than in terms of political and provincial boundaries. The significance of regionalism is mentioned as an important topic for Canadian studies. Increasing awareness and acceptance of regional perspectives is presented as an…

What constitutes a region? In what ways do people define or construct the regions in which they live and work? This paper presents findings of a case study of a regional watershed partnership that examined the social ecological processes of social construction-in-action. The study sought to examine how a major watershed's educators collaborated to…

THE UNIT DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOKLET DEALS WITH THE GEOGRAPHY OF ALASKA. THE UNIT IS PRESENTED IN OUTLINE FORM. THE FIRST SECTION DEALS PRINCIPALLY WITH THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF ALASKA. DISCUSSED ARE (1) THE SIZE, (2) THE MAJOR LAND REGIONS, (3) THE MOUNTAINS, VOLCANOES, GLACIERS, AND RIVERS, (4) THE NATURAL RESOURCES, AND (5) THE CLIMATE. THE…

THE UNIT OF STUDY DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOKLET DEALS WITH THE GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF TIBET. THE UNIT COVERS SOME OF THE GENERAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY AND THEIR EFFECT UPON THE LIVES OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ARE INSERTED TO STIMULATE THOUGHT. THE RELIGION OF TIBET IS DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO ITS INFLUENCE ON THE ART AND CULTURE…

This document is a guide to provide teachers and curriculum consultants with an up to date overview of the histories, cultures, and current issues concerning the region of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. It is not intended as an in depth study of the area or people. The guide is divided into two parts. The first discusses the Soviet…

Presented is a model for teaching elementary students how to associate place names with their referents on a map. The model has six steps: motivate, demonstrate, mnemonic devices, practice, test, and review. Described is a sample lesson for teaching about western states. (RM)

This curriculum unit teaches students about the basic physical and political geography of Europe and introduces or reviews fundamental geographical concepts and vocabulary in a European context. The unit offers a geographic introduction to the changing map of Europe. Each of the unit's five lessons can be integrated into the curriculum where it…

Examines the importance and the various uses of the geographic concept of regions. Discusses the intersection between geography and such social and political phenomenon as the establishment of large nation states and the splintering of states into smaller units. Briefly describes several recent conflicts in geographic terms. (MJP)