Includes bibliographical references (p. [FR1]-FR14) and index.

CONTENTS

PART I. Basic Concepts and Ideas --Chapter 1. What Is Geography and Should We Care? -- Chapter 2. Geography and Development in an Era of Globalization -- Chapter 3. Nature, Society, and Development: How Places Are Classified Environmentally -- PART II. United States and Canada -- Chapter 4. The United States and Canada: The Physical and Human Contexts for Development -- Chapter 5. The United States and Canada: The Geography of Economic Development -- Chapter 6. The United States and Canada: Challenges in a Developed Realm -- PART III. Latin America -- Chapter 7. Latin America: Physical Diversity and Cultural Heritage -- Chapter 8. Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean: Lands of Contrast -- Chapter 9. South America: Regions of Uneven Development -- PART IV. Europe -- Chapter 10. The European Habitat -- Chapter 11. Europe: Culture, Society, Economy -- Chapter 12. Europe: Political Geography -- PART V. Russia and Central Eurasia -- Chapter 13. The In-Between Countries of Eurasia: Physical Geography and Historical Context -- Chapter 14. The In-Between countries of Eurasia: The Geography of their Political Economies -- Chapter 15. Central Asia and Afghanistan: Historical and Geographical Context of Economy and Environment -- PART VI. Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands -- Chapter 16. Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands: Isolation and Space -- PART VII. Asia -- Chapter 17. Asia: A Physical and Human Overview -- Chapter 18. Japan: A Troubled Giant -- Chapter 19. China and Its Pacific Rim Neighbors -- Chapter 20. Southeast Asia: Development Diversity -- Chapter 21. South Asia: India and Its Neighbors -- PART VIII. The Middle East and North Africa -- Chapter 22. The Middle East and North Africa: Physical and Cultural Environments -- Chapter 23. The Mediterranean Crescent: Maximizing Limited Resources -- Chapter 24. The Gulf States: Living on Oil -- PART IX. Africa South of the Sahara -- Chapter 25. Africa South of the Sahara: Legacy of Continuity and Change West, Central, and East Africa -- Chapter 27. Southern Africa: Development in Transition.

"In many cultures circular shapes symbolize perfection, strength, and holism, ideas reflected in these cover images. In the desert of Jordan, center-pivor irrigation measures, out scarce groundwater to agricultural fields whose verdant green contrasts sharply with the dry valley's sandy soils. Near the Boltic Sea outside of Copenhagen, Denmark, weekend homes on pie-shaped lots surround communal packing lots that connect residents to their weekday lives in the city. Both places employ design and technology to make the most effective use of limited resources. In Jordan, water is in short supply and must be used efficiently; in Denmark, land is at a premium and space for people and housing must be allocated sparingly so resources of open space can be accessed by all." "Promoting economic development and an improved quality of life without wasting and damaging basic resources is a pervasive theme in today's world. The transfer of ideas from one region to another is increasingly possible, but equally important are local ways of knowing and doing that develop from intimate familiarity with specific places. Both the local and the global are connected in a complex network of opportunities and constraints. The substantially revised and updated ninth edition of World Regional Geography reflects these connections. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.