Element # 4: Human Systems

Human Systems # 4

• Human systems is one of the six essential elements of geography. Geographers study how people shape the earth’s surface. They examine how people move from place to place, how they settle the earth, and how they form societies. Some people travel from place to place. Others talk to people around the world by telephone, mail, and e-mail. The Internet, radio, television, and books spread different ideas and ways of life.

• Goods and services are also exchanged around the world. Some of the clothes we wear comes from other countries. In turn, we send other countries things they need that we produce. In short, we need other countries, and they need us. No country in the world today can survive strictly on its own. The word we use to describe this relationship is interdependence.

• This is also known as globalization!

Globalization

Continent Countries Product

North America At least 9 different places

South America BoliviaChile

Europe FranceItalyIreland

Africa Sri LankaLiberiaZambia

Asia JapanSaudi ArabiaMalaysia

Australia Australia

Continent Countries Product

North America At least 6 other different placesMichiganCaliforniaCanada

South America BoliviaChile

Europe FranceItalyIreland

Africa Sri LankaLiberiaZambia

Asia JapanSaudi ArabiaMalaysia

Australia Australia

Continent Countries Product

North America OregonTexasMexicoAlaskaPennsylvaniaMississippiMichiganCaliforniaCanada

Wood Crude oil and GasFactoriesClayWaxTrucksZincSaw MillsCarbon Black

South America BoliviaChile

CopperCastor Bean

Europe FranceItalyIreland

Ship OwnersPumiceZinc

Africa Sri LankaLiberiaZambia

CopperGraphite and MinersShip Company

Asia JapanSaudi ArabiaMalaysia

Chain SawShipsGas and Crude OilRubber

Australia Australia Zinc