Crash Course Geography Lecture Notes

Introduction to Geography

• Importance of geography beyond memorizing facts
• Geography helps answer big questions about the Earth and human interactions.

Understanding Geography

• Definition of geography: study of the Earth's history and predictions about the future.
• Example factoid: US imports over 3 billion pounds of bananas from Guatemala.

Guatemala's Geographic Context

• Location: Central America, located between North and South America.
  • Geographic coordinates: 13°45' to 17°48' N latitude, 88°14' to 92°13' W longitude.
• Physical Environment:
  • Mountainous country with active and dormant volcanoes providing fertile soil.
  • Climate: Tropical with temperatures between 20 and 35 °C, annual rainfall of 70 to 200 cm.

Why Bananas in Guatemala?

• Bananas' cultivation requirements:
  • Temperature: 20-35 °C.
  • Rain: Approximately 170 cm annually.
  • Soil: Well-drained and rich in potassium, found in volcanic regions.
• Relation of bananas to human-environment interactions.

Concepts of Space and Place

• Space: Features and relationships occurring in a geographic area.
• Place: Significance and meaning attached to a specific location.
  • Guatemala's rich history and diversity of indigenous cultures.

History of Bananas in Guatemala

• Bananas not native to Guatemala; introduced in the 1500s from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
• Economic importance of bananas in Guatemala:
  • 1/3 of workforce involved in agriculture.
  • Import dynamics: no tariffs, low transportation costs contribute to banana imports from Guatemala to the US.

Impact of Plantations

• Plantations established during European colonization have lasting consequences.
  • Banana popularity in the US began in the late 19th century.
  • Formation of United Fruit Company through mergers in 1899.
  • Political influence: Control over land, tax exemptions, and railroads in Guatemala.

Political and Economic History

• United Fruit's role in shaping Guatemala's economy and politics.
  • Historical events: Banana massacre in Colombia, 1934 Great Banana Strike, 1954 coup.
  • United Fruit Company became Chiquita Brands International in 1984.

Environmental Impact and Global Context

• Discussion of the environmental consequences of large-scale banana plantations.
• Comparison with banana-producing regions: Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic.

Conclusion

• Geography encompasses more than memorizing facts; it’s about understanding the stories behind them.
• The interconnectedness of space, place, and human-environment interactions.
• Upcoming topic: The role of maps in geography.

Engagement and Community

• Encouragement to learn about local geography and indigenous history through resources like nativelands.ca.