This book takes a different approach. Rather than present students with a broad,
novice-level introduction to geography, emphasizing places and vocabulary terms, this
text approaches geography as experts understand the discipline, focusing on connec-
tions and an in-depth understanding of core themes. This thematic approach, informed
by pedagogical research, provides students with an introduction to thinking geograph-
ically. Instead of repeating the same several themes each chapter, this text emphasizes
depth over breadth by arranging each chapter around a central theme and then ex-
ploring that theme in detail as it applies to the particular region. In addition, while
chapters are designed to stand alone and be rearranged or eliminated at the instructor’s
discretion, the theme of globalization and inequality unites all of the regions discussed.
This core focus enables students to draw connections between regions and to better
understand the interconnectedness of our world. Furthermore, the focus on both glob-
alization and inequality helps demonstrate the real-world application of the concepts
discussed. Colonialism, for instance, rather than a historical relict, becomes a force
that has shaped geography and informs social justice. This thematic approach is also
intended to facilitate active learning and would be suitable for a flipped or team-based
learning-style course since it more easily integrates case studies and higher-order think-
ing than the traditional model