Overview

From climate change and population growth to the global economy and geopolitical strife, tackle the world’s biggest questions in this one-of-a-kind course. Is our current population growth sustainable? How will we adapt to the changing climate? Why are some nations rich and others poor? What does globalization mean for local cultures? What is the relationship between geography and the nation-state? Tackle these questions and more in 24 eye-opening lectures that survey the geographical context for human activity. You’ll see how our environment influences human life, and you’ll consider the way human life, in turn, influences the environment. These lectures reveal the underlying structures that explain why the world is the way it is.

You’ll see that geography is truly interdisciplinary, covering such a broad range of fields as ecology, anthropology, sociology, history, cultural studies, economics, and geopolitics. Professor Robbins introduces you to each of these discrete fields and the connections between them, so you come away with a comprehensive understanding of human activity on earth. From India to Istanbul to the American Midwest, Professor Robbins takes you on an exciting journey to show you the effects of the rapid pace of globalization and cultural change. You’ll look at the structure of our economic system; see how the Columbian Exchange changed the world economy after 1492; review the geography of wealth and poverty, including indices for measuring standard of living; consider how our modern transportation system nullified the barriers of distance; unpack the trend toward urbanization; and much more.

Course Video Lessons

01: Writing the World – The Mapmaker’s Craft

• Duration: 31 min

• Explore the stories told by maps and the cultural and political choices made by cartographers.

02: The Problem with Geographical Determinism

• Duration: 30 min

• Learn arguments for and against geographic determinism and how geography influences human behavior.

03: Anthropocene – The Age of Human Impact

• Duration: 29 min

• Investigate the profound ecological impact humans have had on the planet and our responsibilities.

04: Climate Change and Civilization

• Duration: 29 min

• Survey the history of Earth’s climate and the challenges posed by recent human activity.

05: Global Land Change

• Duration: 34 min

• Delve into land change science and the factors leading to global deforestation.

06: The End of Global Population Growth

• Duration: 29 min

• Examine demographic trends and local conditions that suggest a potential stabilization of population growth.

07: The Agricultural Puzzle

• Duration: 33 min

• Shift focus to food production and the transition from local subsistence to global agricultural models.

08: Disease Geography

• Duration: 29 min

• Chart the spatial outbreak of diseases and the implications for global health in an interconnected world.

09: Political Ecology

• Duration: 30 min

• Understand the relationship between humans and the environment through the lens of political ecology.

10: Economic Geography – Globalization Origins

• Duration: 30 min

• Explore the early days of global trade and the critical role of “place” in capitalism.

11: The Columbian Exchange

• Duration: 30 min

• Experience the economic transition initiated by the Columbian Exchange and its lasting impacts.

12: Uneven Development and Global Poverty

• Duration: 29 min

• Map the distribution of global wealth and analyze the persistence of economic inequality.

13: The New Global Economy

• Duration: 30 min

• Discover how transportation and information technology have reshaped the global economy.

14: Restless Humanity – The Migration Conundrum

• Duration: 30 min

• Explore the reasons behind human migration and the structural conditions influencing it.

15: Urbanization – The Rise of New World Cities

• Duration: 30 min

• Investigate the history and ecological implications of rapid urbanization.

16: Geography of Language

• Duration: 32 min

• Tour the global distribution of languages and the cultural implications of language loss.

17: Understanding Cultural Geography

• Duration: 30 min

• Examine the origins of culture and its relationship with place, including cultural interactions.

18: The Importance of Place

• Duration: 30 min

• Reassess the concept of place in the context of globalization and local cultural resilience.

19: Cultural Commodification

• Duration: 32 min

• Reflect on the challenges and opportunities of culture as a commodity in the global economy.

20: Culture, Power, and the Politics of Meaning

• Duration: 30 min

• Explore the intersection of culture and politics through case studies, including women’s veils.

21: The Geopolitical Imagination

• Duration: 31 min

• Analyze geopolitical theories and their application to contemporary global conflicts.

22: Regionalism and the Rise of New States

• Duration: 31 min

• Investigate the emergence of new political geographies and the challenges of national identity.

23: Supranationalism – Taking on Big Problems

• Duration: 31 min

• Learn about supranational organizations and their role in addressing international challenges.

24: Future Geographies

• Duration: 34 min

• Visit five distinct locations to explore possible futures for humanity and geographic diversity.