Cooperation and conflict, resource abundance and scarcity, poverty and prosperity, floods and droughts--all play roles in transforming the Earth’s surface. This insightful text presents world regional geography as a way to comprehend the world’s connections and continuous interplay between features of place, populations, resources, cultures, and political systems. Retaining its balanced cultural and physical geographic perspectives on the world’s eight regions, the sixth edition includes new illustrations, examples, and cross-references to show students how human activities and natural processes reshape places and landscapes. From current information on the geographies of energy and terrorism to the repercussions of China’s booming economy, WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY, 6e International Edition, presents a meaningful context to help students grasp the geographic issues underlying today’s headlines. The result? Students develop their own deeper understanding of how the world works--and what can happen when natural events or human decisions make things go wrong.
New to this edition
A new modular organization makes the text more flexible than ever, ideal for both one and two-term courses and for customization.
More than 30 new maps and 100 revised maps facilitate cultural and regional comparisons. Cartographer Andrew Dolan collaborated with the author to ensure that the maps work with text discussions to present information cartographically and to convey spatial relationships effectively. Maps are also available electronically in an animated, interactive format through the Earth Science Resource Center.
New content includes more geopolitical and economic material, for instance: China’s growing appetite for raw materials and its increasing political clout, and how these factors play out in every world region; Russia’s new confidence at home and abroad, built in part on surging oil wealth; and critical treatment of the Middle East, providing students with an understanding of the issues and implications of conflict there (related to hydropolitics as well as hydrocarbons).
Expanded discussion of the importance of physical geography in world affairs includes more coverage on marine and fresh water, tectonic processes, and human-environment interaction.
Features
An extensive, easy-to-use system of cross-references helps students see how the diverse strands of human experience fit together. Appearing in the margins, page references to related material integrate the physical and human geographies of the world around common themes and issues. For instance, where subsidies to U.S. cotton farmers are described, there are cross-references to the effects on farmers in Africa and elsewhere. The cross-references illustrate how globalization works, and save professors and students time using the index or their own memory to make connections.
A "Perspectives from the Field" essay in several of the regional profile chapters, written by the author, offers students a chance to share the experiences of field geographers as they work in different cultural environments. Topics include "Wayfinding in the Middle Eastern Desert" and "Aborigines and Missionaries in Northwestern Australia."
"Regional Perspectives" after many chapters illustrate the relevance of geographic issues that influence all or part of a region. Topics include "Race for the Arctic," "Europe’s Immigration Issues," and "Foreign Militaries in the Pacific."
"Problem Landscapes" incorporate case studies on such conflicts as land use, water rights, and boundary disputes to help students understand how geographic issues underlie many of the world’s contentious problems. Topics include overfished oceans of the world, resources contested between Israelis and Palestinians, and the politics of the disputed Kashmir region.
Clearly outlined chapter objectives emphasize more thematic discussions in the subregional modules as well as highlighted textual discussions. The author ties in relevant historical geography to provide a context for current events and geopolitical issues.
Clearly outlined chapter objectives emphasize more thematic discussions in the subregional modules as well as highlighted textual discussions. The author ties in relevant historical geography to provide a context for current events and geopolitical issues.