GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY
TO KNOW
In Focus
"See more clearly when you are informed"
Geography is the study of physical places, human relationships, and the environment. Knowing Global Geography helps you understand the world around you, including different cultures, historic events, and foreign policies. Below you will find key terms, statistics, and other useful tools to understand and talk about Global Geography. If you would like to know more, consider coming to an IYC event. Our next one can be found below in the section labeled Our Events. We host them virtually, on a wide range of topics, discussing policy, civics, and current events.
Key Terms You Should Know
Geography:
is the study of physical places, human relationships, and the environment.
Globe:
is a spherical shape that depicts the relative relationship between different landmasses and includes landforms, topography, latitude & longitude, and the poles. Fun facts: the earth is actually an oblate spheroid and there are multiple poles.
Cultural adaptation:
describes people adjusting to changes in or a new natural or social environment such as w/ food, housing, tools, & medicine.
Continent:
is a large area of adjoining land on the surface of the earth typically surrounded by water. There are 7 continents that were once connected in a supercontinent called Pangea.
Diaspora :
is when people are dispersed from their homeland, often forced. Examples include the Irish diaspora after the Great Famine, ‘Five Tribes’ during the Trail of Tears, the African diaspora due to enslavement, and Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition.
Moments In History
6th c. BCE - First world map was created called Imago Mundi in Babylonia; over 2,000 years later, in 1507, America appears on a map.
1916 - Sykes-Picot Agreement divides the Arab world into nation-states.
2021 - Most recent update to Google Earth Timelapse of geographic areas from 1984, created in 2013.
1888 - National Geographic Society founded eventually expanding to a magazine and television network.
1984 - ‘Five Themes of Geography’ created to facilitate K-12 geography education.
Statistics
According to National Geographic, the average survey score of American participants for questions on geography, foreign policy & world demographics was 53%
According to National Geographic,
32 Member Countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) an intergovernmental military alliance
138 Countries ratified the 2022 Nagoya Protocol that regulates bioprospecting and works to prevent biopiracy
According to the United States Geological Survey, 71% of the earth is covered in water
According to the Office for National Statistics,
67.6 Million
United Kingdom (UK) population comprised of: England: 57.1 M
Scotland: 5.4 M
Wales: 3.1 M
Northern Ireland: 1.9 M
Values
Culture
Global Citizenship
Travel
Solidarity
It’s a Small World
Notable Names
Amerigo Vespucci
Amelia Earhart
Carmen Sandiego
Henry Kissinger
Ptolemy
Symbols
Our Events
Past
Future
Further Resources
Geography To Know Infographic
Share what you have learned about Global Geography. Our Infographic has been designed to be shared easily by printing, emailing, or posting on social media. Click on the image to view or download the PDF File. (Not for commercial use.)
Celebrate & Create Event Video
Our crafting event for kids was lots of fun! Use your own materials to participate in our craft project. This event was co-facilitated by Ed Shockley, a historian and research lead for AAR in Tallahassee, Florida. Watch the video to learn how to make your own Paper Mache Global Decoration! You can also make an event out of it by hosting your own Celebrate & Create: Global Geography to Know crafting party. Feel free to share this video with others! (Not for commercial use.)
Take Action
Learn about disasters that impact/are impacted by geography (e.g., volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, pandemics, extreme climate effects.
Familiarize yourself w/ the meaning of terms like race, ethnicity, and nationality. Which are/are not geographic related? Don’t let misunderstandings about geography cause you to label people incorrectly. Indian/Asian, Caribbean/African, Puerto Rican/American, for example, are often used incorrectly. When you don’t know, do an online search (but don’t rely on AI results).
Visit (virtually or in person) unique geographic locations & wonders of the world. Can’t visit NY for example, check out the One World Trade Center Timelapse of its 11 year build out online.
Play games that help educate about geography such as the Oregon Trail II and GeoGuessr Online Games
Share our Global Geography To Know Infographic with friends, family, and anyone and everyone you think would appreciate becoming more informed!