4.4 Defining Political Boundaries

Antecedent

Borders that are established before there have been major settlement by people in a territory . Ex:49th parallel that separates U.S and Canada

Subsequent

Borders that are drawn in areas that have been settled by people, typically due to changes that have occured over time. Ex:Boundaries in Europe have changed frequently throughout history usually in response to a new empire, war or political agreement

Consequent

Type of subsequent boundary-takes into account the existing cultural distribution of the people living in the territory and redevelops boundary lines to more closely align with cultural boundaries. Ex:The boundary between Nunavut and the rest of Canada- drawn in 1999, established a province that coincided with indigenous groups.

Superimposed

Border that’s drawn over existing and accepting borders by an outside force. Ex:The Berlin Conference imposed arbitrary boundaries throughout the continent of Africa

Geometric

Borders that are established on straight lines of longitude/latitude rather than cultural/physical boundaries. Ex:The Sykes-Picot agreement , Europeans split up the Arab provinces of the Ottoman empire after WWI( Also a superimposed boundary)

Relic(t)

Border that no longer exists but it has left some imprint on the local cultural/environmental geography.Ex:Boundary between East/West Germany during the Cold War