Essentials of World Regional Geography (with Access Code Card)

by Hobbs, Joseph J.; Salter, Christopher L.

• ISBN13: 9780534466008
• ISBN10: 0534466001
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-03-25
• Publisher: Brooks Cole

Summary

The new edition of ESSENTIALS OF WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY provides both a cultural and physical geographic understanding of the world's eight regions in an easily customizable format designed to fit different course structures while retaining a true global appreciation. The text's hallmark pedagogical feature, "Profile" chapters, provide a brief, thematic overview of each of the eight regions. This pedagogical organization allows an instructor to cover the entire world in thirteen weeks, spending as little or as much time on each region as they need, or even creating a custom book to fit their course. Subsequent regional chapters provide traditional, finer-scale details on a local level, including geographical factors and in-depth observations found in a number of boxed elements; "Problem Landscapes," "Definitions and Insights," "Regional Perspectives," and "Perspectives from the Field." "Geography of…" a new pedagogical feature, introduces students to cultural and regional specifics, with topics ranging from "Ethnic Geography" to the "Geography of Terrorism" and many more. These boxed elements combine to identify common themes across regional boundaries, clarify terms and concepts, and explore controversial world matters. Furthermore, the Fifth Edition integrates active, online learning with GeographyNow, the first assessment-centered student tutorial system developed for any geography course. GeographyNow icons found throughout the book enhance student learning by providing a personalized learning plan that emphasizes the text's global themes through map interpretation exercises, review of chapter objectives, and testing of chapter and regional concepts.

Table of Contents

Objectives and Tools of World Regional Geography	1	(15)
Welcome to World Regional Geography!	1	(2)
The Language of Maps	3	(6)
More Key Concepts of Geography	9	(2)
Geography, Geographers, and You	11	(5)
Definitions and Insights: Core Location and Peripheral Location	4	(12)
Physical and Human Processes That Shape World Regions	16	(34)
Patterns of Climate and Vegetation	17	(6)
Biodiversity	23	(4)
Global Environmental Change	27	(3)
Two Revolutions That Have Changed the Earth	30	(3)
The Geography of Development	33	(7)
Population Geography	40	(6)
Where to from Here?	46	(4)
The Geography of Energy: The Kyoto Protocol	29	(7)
Definitions and Insights: Globalization: The Process and the Backlash	36	(2)
Definitions and Insights: The Fuelwood Crisis	38	(1)
Definitions and Insights: The Second Law of Thermodynamics	39	(2)
Definitions and Insights: The Language of Human Migration	41	(4)
Definitions and Insights: Lifeboat Ethics	45	(5)
A Geographic Profile of Europe	50	(28)
Area and Population	51	(4)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	55	(8)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	63	(5)
Economic Geography	68	(4)
Geopolitical Issues	72	(6)
Regional Perspective: Europe's Immigration Issues	56	(9)
Definitions and Insights: Devolution	65	(6)
Definitions and Insights: Genetically Modified (GM) Foods and ``Food Fights''	71	(7)
The European Core	78	(26)
The British Isles	80	(9)
France: Vive la Difference!	89	(5)
Great Germany	94	(2)
Benelux: Tolerance and Trade in the Low Countries	96	(3)
Switzerland and Austria: Prosperous Mountain Fastness	99	(5)
Definitions and Insights: Hedgerows	83	(1)
Geographic Spotlight: London Town	84	(2)
Geography of Energy: Europe's Energy Alternatives	86	(1)
Medical Geography: Mad Cow Disease	87	(4)
Definitions and Insights: The Primate City	91	(7)
Definitions and Insights: The Polder	98	(6)
The European Periphery	104	(34)
Northern Europe: Prosperous, Wild, and Wired	105	(8)
Eastern Europe: Out from Behind the Curtain	113	(12)
Southern Europe: The Mediterranean World	125	(13)
Problem Landscape: Save the Whales . . . For Dinner	108	(7)
The World's Great Rivers: The Danube	115	(2)
Ethnic Geography: The Roma	117	(12)
Ethnic Geography: The Basque Country	129	(9)
A Geographic Profile of Russia and the Near Abroad	138	(36)
Area and Population	140	(1)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	141	(8)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	149	(7)
Economic Geography	156	(4)
Geopolitical Issues	160	(14)
Definitions and Insights: Regional Names of Russia and the Near Abroad	141	(3)
Definitions and Insights: The Russian Cross	144	(4)
The World's Great Rivers: The Volga	148	(4)
Definitions and Insights: Russia and Other Land Empires	152	(2)
Geography of the Sacred: Stalingrad	154	(10)
Problem Landscape: Chechnya	164	(2)
Geography of Terrorism: Georgia's Pankisi Gorge	166	(2)
Geography of Energy: Oil in the Caspian Basin	168	(6)
Fragmentation and Redevelopment in Russia and the Near Abroad	174	(24)
Peoples and Nations of the Fertile Triangle	176	(4)
Agriculture and Industry in the Russian Coreland	180	(3)
The Russian Far East	183	(1)
The Northern Lands of Russia	184	(5)
The Caucasus	189	(2)
The Central Asian Countries	191	(7)
Geographic Spotlight: The Sex Trade	179	(7)
Problem Landscape: Nuclear Waste Simmers in Russia's High Arctic	186	(12)
A Geographic Profile of the Middle East and North Africa	198	(34)
Area and Population	199	(4)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	203	(8)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	211	(7)
Economic Geography	218	(1)
Geopolitical Issues	219	(13)
Perspectives from the Field: Way-Finding in the Desert	209	(5)
Geography of the Sacred: Jerusalem	214	(3)
Definitions and Insights: Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims	217	(3)
Geography of Energy: Middle Eastern Oil Pipelines	220	(6)
Geography of Terrorism: What Does al-Qa'ida Want?	226	(6)
The Middle East and North Africa: Modern Struggles in an Ancient Land	232	(38)
The Arab--Israeli Conflict and Its Setting	233	(11)
Egypt: The Gift of the Nile	244	(2)
Sudan: Bridge between the Middle East and Africa	246	(1)
Libya: Deserts, Oil, and a Reformed Survivor	247	(1)
Northwestern Africa: The Maghreb	248	(2)
The Gulf Oil Region	250	(11)
Turkey: Where East Meets West	261	(2)
Rugged, Strategic, Devastated Afghanistan	263	(7)
Problem Landscape: Land for Peace	238	(19)
Ethnic Geography: The Kurds	257	(9)
Definitions and Insights: Land Mines	266	(4)
A Geographic Profile of Monsoon Asia	270	(30)
Area and Population	271	(4)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	275	(8)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	283	(7)
Economic Geography	290	(3)
Geopolitical Issues	293	(7)
Geographic Spotlight: China's One Child Policy	276	(5)
Definitions and Insights: Shifting Cultivation	281	(1)
Geography of the Sacred: The Korean Village	282	(5)
Geography of the Sacred: The Sacred Cow	287	(5)
Definitions and Insights: Outsourcing	292	(1)
Geography of Energy: The Spratly Islands	293	(7)
Complex and Populous South Asia	300	(24)
The Cultural Foundation	301	(3)
Geographic Consequences of Colonialism and Partition	304	(2)
Natural Regions and Resources	306	(5)
India: Power, Courage, Confidence	311	(5)
Pakistan: Faith, Unity, and Discipline	316	(1)
Vulnerable Bangladesh	317	(1)
Nepal and Bhutan: Mountain Kingdoms	318	(1)
Sri Lanka: Resplendent and Troubled	319	(1)
Laid Back, Low-Lying Maldives	320	(4)
Problem Landscape: Kashmir	305	(1)
The World's Great Rivers: Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra	306	(4)
Regional Perspective: Keeping Malthus at Bay	310	(5)
Definitions and Insights: The Caste System	315	(9)
Southeast Asia: From Slash-and-Burn to Semiconductors	324	(30)
Area, Population, and Environment	327	(1)
The Economic Pattern	328	(5)
Myanmar (Burma)	333	(3)
Thailand	336	(1)
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos	337	(6)
Malaysia and Singapore	343	(2)
Indonesia and East Timor	345	(2)
The Philippines	347	(7)
Definitions and Insights: Rubber	331	(2)
Regional Perspective: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)	333	(1)
Regional Perspective: Sex, Drugs, and Health in Southeast Asia	334	(6)
Ethnic Geography: The Boat People	340	(1)
The World's Greatest Rivers: The Mekong	341	(7)
Problem Landscape: The Balkanization of Indonesia?	348	(3)
Natural Hazards: The Great Tsunami of 2004	351	(3)
China: The Giant	354	(26)
Accomplishment, Subjugation, and Revolution	355	(1)
The Setting	356	(10)
Issues in Chinese Agriculture	366	(3)
China's Industrial Geography	369	(3)
China's Urban and Transportation Geography	372	(3)
Taiwan	375	(1)
Mongolia	376	(4)
Regional Perspective: The Silk Road	360	(2)
Ethnic Geography: Han Colonization of China's ``Wild West''	362	(2)
Problem Landscape: The Three Gorges Dam	364	(4)
Medical Geography: The Birth and Diffusion of SARS	368	(3)
Definitions and Insights: Mao's Cultural Revolution	371	(9)
Japan and the Koreas: Adversity and Prosperity in the Western Pacific	380	(22)
The Japanese Homeland	381	(7)
Historical Background	388	(2)
Japan's Postwar Miracle	390	(2)
Japanese Industry	392	(1)
The Industrious People behind Japanese Industry	392	(2)
Unfortunately Located Korea	394	(2)
Contrasts between the Two Koreas	396	(3)
Sunshine for Korea?	399	(3)
Natural Hazards: Living on the Ring of Fire	384	(12)
Definitions and Insights: The Law of the Sea	396	(6)
A Geographic Profile of the Pacific World	402	(22)
Area and Population	403	(3)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	406	(5)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	411	(6)
Economic Geography	417	(2)
Geopolitical Issues	419	(5)
Definitions and Insights: Deforestation and the Decline of Easter Island	411	(3)
Perspectives from the Field: With Aborigines and Missionaries in Northwestern Australia	414	(6)
Regional Perspective: Foreign Militaries in the Pacific: A Mixed Blessing	420	(4)
Prosperous, Remote Australia and New Zealand	424	(18)
Peoples and Populations	425	(1)
The Australian Environment	426	(6)
Australia's Natural Resource-Based Economy	432	(6)
New Zealand: Pastoral and Urban	438	(4)
Ethnic Geography: Australia's Indigenous People Reclaim Rights to the Land	428	(3)
Biogeography: Exotic Species on the Island Continent	431	(5)
Regional Perspective: Australia and New Zealand: Less British, More Asian-Pacific	436	(6)
A Geographic Profile of Africa South of the Sahara	442	(38)
Area and Population	443	(9)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	452	(8)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	460	(8)
Economic Geography	468	(8)
Geopolitical Issues	476	(4)
Medical Geography: HIV and AIDS in Africa	449	(4)
Regional Perspective: The Great Rift Valley	453	(4)
Definitions and Insights: Africa's Greatest Conservationist	457	(1)
Regional Perspective: Managing the Great Herbivores	458	(6)
Perspectives from the Field: Under Madagascar	464	(6)
Biogeography: Crop and Livestock Introductions as ``The Curse of Africa''	470	(2)
Problem Landscape: The Trade in Dirty Diamonds	472	(3)
Definitions and Insights: Microcredit	475	(5)
The Assets and Afflictions of Countries South of the Sahara	480	(38)
The Sahel: Desertified and Regreened	481	(3)
West Africa: Populous, Strife-Torn, with Oil	484	(6)
West Central Africa: Colonial ``Heart of Darkness''	490	(4)
East Africa: Mauled but Healing	494	(4)
The Horn of Africa: Refuge for Judaism, Christianity, Islamist Militancy	498	(4)
Southern Africa: Resource Rich, Finally Free	502	(9)
The Indian Ocean Islands: Former Edens	511	(7)
Regional Perspective: Drought and Desertification in the Sahel	482	(4)
Problem Landscape: The Poor, Oil-Rich Delta of Nigeria	486	(5)
Natural Hazards: Deadly Lakes	491	(22)
Biogeography: Madagascar and the Theory of Island Biogeography	513	(5)
A Geographic Profile of Latin America	518	(32)
Area and Population	519	(5)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	524	(6)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	530	(5)
Economic Geography	535	(7)
Geopolitical Issues	542	(8)
Natural Hazards: El Nino	529	(9)
Definitions and Insights: Fair Trade Fruits	538	(1)
Problem Landscape: The Troubled Fields of Land Reform	539	(5)
Geography of Drug Trafficking: The War on Drugs	544	(6)
Middle America: Land of the Shaking Earth	550	(20)
Mexico: Higher and Further	551	(7)
Central America: Beyond Banana Republics	558	(4)
The Caribbean Islands: From Bob Marley to Baseball and Communism	562	(8)
Regional Perspective: The Panama Canal	560	(10)
South America: Stirring Giant	570	(28)
The Andean Countries: Lofty and Troubled	571	(9)
Brazil: Populous Rain-Forested Giant	580	(9)
The Southern Midlatitude Countries: South America's ``Down Under''	589	(5)
Antarctica: The White Continent	594	(4)
Geography of Energy: Venezuela's Petroleum Politics	573	(11)
The World's Great Rivers: The Amazon, Its Forest, and Its People	584	(4)
Definitions and Insights: The Versatile Soybean	588	(10)
A Geographic Profile of the United States and Canada	598	(30)
Area and Population	599	(3)
Physical Geography and Human Adaptations	602	(6)
Cultural and Historical Geographies	608	(9)
Economic Geography	617	(7)
Geopolitical Issues	624	(4)
Geographic Spotlight: The Modern-Day Slave Trade	602	(4)
Natural Hazards: Nature's Wrath in the United States	606	(15)
Geography of Energy: Nuclear Power and Other Energy Alternatives in the United States	621	(1)
Definitions and Insights: Trade Barriers and Subsidies	622	(6)
Canada: From Sea to Sea	628	(18)
Canada's General Traits	629	(2)
Atlantic Canada: Hardscrabble Living	631	(2)
Canada's Core Region: Ontario and Quebec	633	(4)
The Prairie Region: Oil, Wheat, and Wilderness	637	(1)
The Vancouver Region and British Columbia	638	(2)
The North: Lots of Land, Few People	640	(2)
Greenland: A White Land	642	(4)
Problem Landscape: Overfished Waters	632	(4)
Problem Landscape: The Quebec Separatist Movement	636	(1)
Definitions and Insights: Long Lots	636	(10)
The United States: Out of Many, One	646	(1)
The Northeast: Center of Power	647	(10)
The South: Dixieland	657	(6)
The Midwest: Big River Country	663	(7)
The West: Booming and Thirsty	670	(10)
Alaska and Hawaii: Final Frontiers	680
Definitions and Insights: Fall Line and Break of Bulk	651	(5)
Definitions and Insights: Adaptive Reuse and Gentrification	656	(4)
Geographic Spotlight: Illegal Immigration	660	(8)
Geographic Spotlight: The Changing Geography of American Settlement	668	(7)
Geographic Spotlight: Theme Park Landscapes	675	(7)
The Geography of Energy: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge	682
Glossary
Place/Name Pronunciation Guide	1
Index