GEOGRAPHY I

The course is a basic activity for the Bachelor’s Degree in Lettere and Storia. As such, it aims to offer a reference frame on some approaches and topics of human geography.
Objective of the course: presenting some of the major topics and problems of the contemporary geography and providing some tools to know and interpret the territorial dynamics and the relationship between man and environment.
The different processes of development and adaptation triggered by the environmental prerogatives in the distinct regions of the world will be provided by an interdisciplinary approach to the geo-historical and geographical research.

The module objective is to promote the idea that geography enhances critical and interdisciplinary thinking, helping move towards transformative choices and rebalance the man-nature relationship. In particular, at the end of the course students should be able to 1) critically discuss some patterns of man-nature relationships from a historical and ecological point of view; 2) use geographical concepts as a tool to understand their lived space and the variety of landscapes and spaces of the world, and read the current socio-political and economic phenomena in a relational way with the environment; 3) understand how geography is not a merely descriptive discipline but rather an explanatory and interpretative discipline whose aim is knowledge critique of reality and the study of territorial problems and possible solutions; 4) reinterpret the concepts in a logic, coherent and synthetic style, using specific linguistic and semantic register and terminology, and conduct individual and group work.

General knowledge of the earth geography. Ability to read basic cartography (Atlas).

The course will provide some elements useful to narrow approaches and key concepts of human geography, with special reference to the human-environment relationship in a geo-historical perspective. In particular, the following topics will be analysed: the methodology of geographical research; the physical geographical elements concerning the relationship between man and environment; the fundamental concepts of population geography; human mobility and borders; the cultural elements that characterize the different populations; economic activities, transport and networks; urbanization and urban-rural relation; geography of food, health and inequality.

Erin H. Fouberg, Alexander B. Murphy, Geografia umana, (a cura di Anna Rosa Candura), Bologna, Zanichelli, 2022.
All additional readings are posted on moodle.

Written exam with questions targeted at the measurement of knowledge, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding and the ability to judge.

Lectures, seminar, experiential learning aimed to understand the proposed themes. Group work.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development