Syllabus Information

1.1. Introduction

Fundamentals of Geography aims to provide a knowledge of the territory, in which historical events have developed over time. Areas of geographical analysis and methods used by this discipline will be presented. The territorial diversity of the planet and the development of economic and territorial systems will be also analyzed. Theoretical approaches will be complemented with practical cases. 

1.2. Recommendations to take this course

Fundamentals of Geography has a special interest in the Grade History as it brings the territoriality factor, necessary to locate and to explain the facts, processes and historical events. A good knowledge of basic concepts of Geography and Social Sciences is required, as well as skills to work with the new information technologies (Internet, Excel, Word, etc.).  It will be encouraged to work in teams due to the increasingly multidisciplinary approaches. Most of the scientific information is disseminated in English, so that a good knowledge of this language is necessary.  

1.4. Activities and key dates

Explanation of theoretical concepts and the practical exercises in class (20 days) and supervised work to solve problems and cases planned for the days when students have no classes. 

2.1. Learning goals

1.Know the objectives of Geography, its fields of action and analysis systems to complement and support the historical study. Spatialize historical and social events.
2.Critical ability to analyze facts and processes developed in the territory, differentiating the peculiarities of several areas and how they can influence History.

3.Analyze statistical information, conduct field work, use statistical tools, analyze maps, use geographic information technologies, and integrate the results.

4.Understand the complexity of natural factors, resources, and political and administrative elements involved in a territorial system.

5.Understand the need to work in multidisciplinary teams, using methodologies of other social sciences, mainly of Geography.

5.1. Methodological overview

See "Learning activities " and "Syllabus".

More information will be provided on the first day of class.

5.2. Learning tasks

• Theoretical lectures.
• Practical lectures.
• Individual work.
• Personal study.
• Assessment activities.

5.3. Syllabus

Topics

-        Concept, content and application fields of Geography.

-        Analytical instruments in Geography.

-        Presentation of large geographical units and its suitability for human life.

-        Methodologies to analyze the processes of human occupation in the territory.

-        Characteristics of the low population density areas: rural areas.

-        Analysis of the most populated territories: the urban environment.

-        Territorial dynamics, borders and globalization.

-        New trends and scope of Geography: spatial planning, urban planning and environment.

Practical activities

-        Interpretation and analysis of cartography.

-        Analysis of natural resources.

-        Analysis of resources and economic systems.

-        Analysis of the demographic structure and its dynamic.

-        Analysis of low population density areas: rural areas.

-        Analysis of high population density areas: urban and city system.

-        Field trip to observe the contents of the above practices.

-        Specific readings based on the subject contents.

5.4. Course planning and calendar

See the academic calendar of the University of Zaragoza (http://academico.unizar.es/calendario-academico/calendario) and the website of the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts (Schedule of classes: https://fyl.unizar.es/horario-de-clases#overlay-context=horario-de-clases; Examination schedule: https://fyl.unizar.es/calendario-de-examenes#overlay-context=)

More information will be provided on the first day of class.

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

• Geografía general. I, Geografía física / autores, Ma José Aguilera Arilla... [et al.] . - [2a ed.] Madrid : Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, 1991
• Geografía humana : procesos, riesgos e incertidumbres en un mundo globalizado / Juan Romero (coord.) ; José Ortega ... [et al.] . - 1ª ed. Barcelona : Ariel, 2004
• Puyol Antolín, Rafael. Geografía humana / Rafael Puyol, José Estébanez, Ricardo Méndez . - 3a. ed. Madrid : Cátedra, D.L. 1995
• Braudel, Fernand. El Mediterráneo y el mundo mediterráneo en la época de Felipe II / Fernand Braudel . - 2a. ed. en español, 2a. reimp. México [etc.] : Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1987
• Atlas de la globalización : comprender el espacio mundial contemporaneo / Marie-Françoise Durand ... [et al.] ; traducción de Joan Romero Valencia : Universidad de Valencia, 2008
• Méndez, Ricardo. Geografía económica : la lógica espacial del capitalismo global / Ricardo Méndez . - [1a. ed.] Barcelona : Ariel, 1997
• Grataloup, Christian. Géohistoire de la mondialisation / Christian Grataloup . - 2ème édition Paris : Armand Colin, 2010
• McNeill, John Robert. Algo nuevo bajo el sol : historia medioambiental del mundo en el siglo XX / John R. McNeill ; versión castellana de José Luis Gil Aristu Madrid : Alianza, D.L. 2003
• Tratado de geografía humana / Alicia Lindón, Daniel Hiernaux (dirs.) Barcelona : Anthropos, 2006
• Cuadrat, José María. Climatología / José Ma. Cuadrat, Ma. Fernanda Pita Madrid : Cátedra, D.L. 1997
• Diccionario de geografía / [Rafael Puyol Antolín...(et al.) ; prólogo, J. Vilà  Valentí] . - [1a. ed.] Madrid : Anaya, 1986
• Encyclopédie de Géographie / A. Bailly, R. Ferras, D. Pumain (Dir.). París : Económica, 1995
• Estébanez Álvarez, José. Análisis e interpretación del mapa topográfico / J. Estébanez, R. Puyol . - 2a. ed. Madrid : Tebar Flores, D.L. 1978
• Zárate Martín, Manuel Antonio. Glosario y prácticas de geografía humana / Manuel Antonio Zárate, María Teresa Rubio Benito Madrid : Centro de Estudios Ramón Areces, D.L. 2006
• Arnold, David. La naturaleza como problema histórico : el medio, la cultura y la expansión de Europa / David Arnold ; [traducción de Roberto Elier] México : Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2000
• Higueras Arnal, Antonio. Teoría y método de la geografía : Introducción al análisis geográfico regional / Antonio M. Higueras Arnal . - [1ª ed.] Zaragoza : Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, 2003
• El atlas de Le Monde diplomatique / [bajo la dirección de Gilbert Achcar .. [et al.] ; prólogo de Ignacio Ramonet] . - Ed. española Valencia : Cybermonde, 2003
• Solimano, Andrés. International migration in the age of crisis and globalization : historical and recent experiencies / Andrés Solimano Cambridge [etc.] : Cambridge University Press, 2010
• Introducción a la geografía / Antonio Fernández Fernández... [et al.] Madrid : Centro de estudios Ramón Are4ces, 2003
• Hagget, Peter. Geografía : una síntesis moderna / Peter Haggett ; edición española revisada por Maravillas Nájar, Graziana Romazzini ; [traducido por Rosa Ma. Ferrer] Barcelona : Omega, D.L. 1988
• Geografía general. II, Geografía humana / Ma. José Aguilera Arilla, Mª Pilar Borderías Uribeondo, Mª Pilar González Yanci, José Miguel Santos Preciado Madrid : Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, D.L.2010
• Orientaciones para la realización de ejercicios prácticos : Geografía humana / José Aguilera Arilla, Pilar Borderías Uribeondo, Mª Pilar González Yanci, José Miguel Santos Preciado Madrid : Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, 2011
• Orientaciones para la realización de ejercicios prácticos : Geografía física I / José Aguilera Arilla, Pilar Borderías Uribeondo, Mª Pilar González Yanci, José Miguel Santos Preciado . - 4ª reimp. Madrid : Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, 2013