Title overview
For courses in human geography.
Global issues, local impacts
The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography uses a structured learning path to explore the patterns and processes of Earth’s human landscapes. Rubenstein weaves themes such as globalization throughout the text, with a clear organization and presentation that engages students and appeals to instructors.
The 13th Edition incorporates the latest data and applied examples of human geography. It helps students connect global concepts and phenomena to their local geographies, while engaging them in active debate around essential topics of human geography.
Hallmark features of this title
- Doing Geography and What’s Your Geography discuss geographic tools, techniques and skills used to address real-world problems and ask students to apply geographic skills and techniques to real-world experiences and environments.
- Debate It presents two sides of a complex topic to engage students in active debate around essential topics of human geography today.
- Structured learning path guides students through visually engaging content with Chapter Openers, Four Key issues, Pause and Reflect questions, Learning Outcomes, Summary & Review and End-of-Chapter material.
New and updated features of this title
- Writing Geographically is a multi-part essay question based on chapter material that includes reference to maps or other illustrations.
- Data Visualization powered by Social Explorer appears for every key issue and enables students to connect to concepts by engaging with various story maps, predictive graphs, interactive charts, and other interactive media. These will also be accessible via Mastering Geography and the Pearson eText.
- Geospatial Data Analysis activities leverage GIS-inspired MapMaster 2.0 in Mastering Geography, allowing students to create maps and analyze spatial patterns and data at regional and global scales.
- UPDATED: The latest science, statistics and associated imagery throughout reflect the latest data and applied examples of human geography. Examples include recent US elections, gerrymandering decisions pending in the US Supreme Court, the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar and more.
- UPDATED: GIS and spatial analysis examples, interwoven throughout the text, spotlight the currency and professional relevance of geographic applications.
- UPDATED: Cartography provides thoroughly updated maps, optimized for maximum accuracy and clear presentation of current data. New projections are used with fewer distortions. New cartograms and other graphic devices have also been added.
Key features
Features of Pearson eText for the 13th Edition
- Place-based Learning empowers students to explore the real world with links to online Google Maps™ that connect students to dynamic web maps supported by community-contributed photos and introduce them to Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI).
Table of contents
1. This Is Geography
- 1.1 Why Is Geography a Science?
- 1.2 Why Is Every Place Unique?
- 1.3 Why Are Different Places Similar?
- 1.4 Why Are Some Actions Not Sustainable?
2. Population & Health
- 2.1 Where Are People Distributed?
- 2.2 Why is Population Increasing?
- 2.3 Why Does Health Vary by Region?
- 2.4 Why Might Population Change in the Future?
3. Migration
- 3.1 Where Are Migrants Distributed?
- 3.2 Where Do People Migrate Within Countries?
- 3.3 Why Do People Migrate?
- 3.4 Why Do Migrants Face Challenges?
4. Culture & Social Media
- 4.1 Where Are Culture Groups Distributed?
- 4.2 Where Are Leisure & Material Culture Distributed?
- 4.3 Why Is Access to Culture Unequal?
- 4.4 Why Do Cultures Face Sustainability Challenges?
5. Languages
- 5.1 Where Are Languages Distributed?
- 5.2 Why Do Languages Diffuse?
- 5.3 Why Do Languages Vary Among Places?
- 5.4 Why Do Languages Survive or Perish?
6. Religions
- 6.1 Where Are Religions Distributed?
- 6.2 Why Do Religions Have Distinctive Distributions?
- 6.3 Why Do Religions Organize Space in Specific Patterns?
- 6.4 Why Do Territorial Conflicts Arise Among Religious Groups?
7. Ethnicities
- 7.1 Where Are Ethnicities Distributed?
- 7.2 Why Do Ethnicities Have Distinctive Distributions?
- 7.3 Why Might Ethnicities Face Conflicts?
- 7.4 Why Do Ethnic Cleansing & Genocide Occur?
8. Political Geography
- 8.1 Where Are States Distributed?
- 8.2 Why Are States Challenging to Create?
- 8.3 Why Do States Face Threats?
- 8.4 Why Do States Have Distinctive Geographic Structure?
9. Food & Agriculture
- 9.1 Why Do People Consume Different Foods?
- 9.2 Where Did Agriculture Originate?
- 9.3 Where Is Agriculture Distributed?
- 9.4 Why Do Farmers Face Sustainability Challenges?
10. Development
- 10.1 Why Does Development Vary Among Countries?
- 10.2 Where Are Inequalities in Development Distributed?
- 10.3 Why Do Countries Face Development Challenges?
- 10.4 Why Are Countries Able to Make Progress in Development?
11. Industry & Energy
- 11.1 Where Is Industry Distributed?
- 11.2 Why Do Industries Face Energy Challenges?
- 11.3 Why Do Industries Face Pollution Challenges?
- 11.4 Why Are Industries Changing Locations?
12. Services & Settlements
- 12.1 Where Are Services Distributed?
- 12.2 Where Are Consumer Services Distributed?
- 12.3 Where Are Business Services Distributed?
- 12.4 Why Do Services Cluster in Settlements?
13. Urban Patterns
- 13.1 Why Are Cities Challenging to Define?
- 13.2 Where Are People Distributed in Urban Areas?
- 13.3 Why Do Urban Areas Expand?
- 13.4 Why Might Cities Be More Sustainable?
- Summary & Review
- Afterword: Careers in Geography
- Appendix: Map Scale and Projections
- Glossary
- Credits
- Map Index
Author bios
About our author
Dr. James M. Rubenstein received his B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1970, M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1971, and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1975. He is Professor of Geography at Miami University, where he teaches urban and human geography. Dr. Rubenstein also conducts research in the automotive industry and has published three books on the subject: The Changing U.S. Auto Industry: A Geographical Analysis (Routledge); Making and Selling Cars: Innovation and Change in the U.S. Auto Industry (The Johns Hopkins University Press); and Who Really Made Your Car? Restructuring and Geographic Change in the Auto Industry (W.E. Upjohn Institute, with Thomas Klier). Dr. Rubenstein is also the author of Contemporary Human Geography, as well as Introduction to Contemporary Geography. He also writes a weekly column about local food for the Oxford Press. Winston, a lab-husky mix with one brown eye and one blue eye, takes Dr. Rubenstein for long walks in the woods every day. Thanks to Ursula Roma for the photo.