Contemporary Human Geography

by Rubenstein, James M.

• ISBN13: 9780321590039
• ISBN10: 0321590031
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-16
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For courses in Human Geography. This innovative new textbook explores current human geography in the bold visual style that distinguishes Dorling Kindersley (DK) publications. Thinking Geographically; Population; Migration; Culture; Language; Religion; Ethnicity; Political Geography; Development; Agriculture; Industry; Settlements and Services; Urban Patterns; Resource Issues.

Essential topics within each chapter are organized into self-contained two-page spreads; eliminating all excess verbiage, the narrative has been constructed around the illustrative material. Together with the graphics, Rubenstein’s clear and efficient writing engages students, presenting complex information without sacrificing the high-quality geography essential to students and instructors.

An interesting reference for anyone interested in learning more about human geography.

Author Biography

Dr. James M. Rubenstein received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1975. His dissertation on French urban planning was later developed into a book entitled The French New Towns (Johns Hopkins University Press). In 1976 he joined the faculty at Miami University, where he is currently Professor of Geography. Besides teaching courses on Urban and Human Geography and writing textbooks, Dr. Rubenstein also conducts research in the automotive industry and has published two books on the subject entitled The Changing U.S. Auto Industry: A Geographical Analysis (Routledge) and Making and Selling Cars: Innovation and Change in the U.S. Auto Industry (The Johns Hopkins University Press). 

Table of Contents

Thinking Geographically

The history of geography

The science of geography

Reading maps

Contemporary mapping tools

Places: Unique locations

Regions: Unique areas

Scale: Global patterns

Space: Distribution of features

Connections between places

Population

Population concentrations

Population density

Components of growth

Fertility and morality

The demographic transition

Malthus

Declining birth rates

The epidemiological transition

Global health threats

Migration

Reasons to migrate

Characteristics of migrants

Global migration patterns

Guest workers

US immigration patterns

Immigrants to US

Immigration issues

Migration between regions

Migration within region

Culture

Origin and diffusion of folk culture

Origin and diffusion of popular culture

Sports

Housing

Food

Clothing

Popular media

Uniform landscape

Environmental damage

Language

Classifying languages

Distribution of languages

Indo-european languages

Origin and diffusion of English

English dialects

Global dominance of english

Multilingual states

Preserving endangered languages

French and Spanish in North America

Religion

Classifying religions

Distribution of religions

Distribution of US religions

Geographic origin of religions

Diffusion of religions

Religious structures

The calendar

Ireland

The middle east

Ethnicity

US ethnic distribution

African-American migration

Ethnicity and race

Transforming ethnicities into nationalities

Nation-states and multinational states

Combining and dividing ethnicities

Iraq

Ethnic cleansing

The Balkans

Political Geography

Defining states

Development of states

Colonies

Shapes of states

Boundaries between states

Boundaries inside states

Electoral geography

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.