AP Human Geography Review

Vocabulary flashcards for AP Human Geography exam review.

Sequent Occupance

Layers of culture left behind; each group leaves its mark on the landscape.

Cultural Landscape

The visible human imprint on the land.

Arithmetic Density

Total population divided by total land area.

Physiological Density

People per unit of arable land (useful for farming).

Hearth

Place where an idea or cultural trait originates.

Diffusion

The spread of an idea or feature over space.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of an idea by people moving.

Expansion Diffusion

Idea spreads outward, remains strong at the origin.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spreads through authority or influential people.

Contagious Diffusion

Widespread, like a viral trend.

Stimulus Diffusion

Idea spreads but not in its original form.

Absolute Location

Exact coordinates on Earth.

Relative Location

Where a place is in relation to others.

Site

Physical characteristics of a location.

Situation

A location relative to surroundings.

Space-Time Compression

Reduced time to spread due to technology.

Friction of Distance

Greater distance = more effort to overcome.

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases with distance.

Network

Set of interconnected nodes (no center).

Connectivity

Connections between people/places.

Accessibility

Ease of reaching a location.

Formal Region

Area with shared traits (e.g., language).

Functional Region

Area organized around a node (e.g., radio station).

Vernacular Region

Perceived region (e.g., "The South").

Demographic Transition Model

Stages of population change over time.

Dependency Ratio

Ratio of non-working to working people.

Doubling Time

Time needed to double population.

Cohort

Age group in a population.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Baby deaths per 1000 births.

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

Births minus deaths per year.

Population Pyramid

Graph showing age and gender structure.

Push Factor

Reason to leave a place.

Pull Factor

Reason to move to a place.

Chain Migration

One migrant brings others later.

Forced Migration

Involuntary movement (war, disaster).

Voluntary Migration

Chosen movement to a new place.

Acculturation

Adopting some traits from another culture.

Assimilation

Losing one's culture completely.

Cultural Hearth

Where a culture began.

Universalizing Religion

Seeks global followers (e.g., Christianity).

Ethnic Religion

Tied to a specific place/people (e.g., Hinduism).

Monotheism

Belief in one god.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing voting lines for political gain.

Centripetal Force

Unites people in a country.

Centrifugal Force

Divides people in a country.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming for sale and profit.

Subsistence Farming

Farming to feed one's family.

Green Revolution

Boost in agricultural tech and yields.

GDP

Total value of goods/services in a country.

HDI

Human Development Index: education, life expectancy, income.

Gentrification

Wealthy people renovate poor areas.

CBD (Central Business District)

Downtown area with businesses.

Urban Sprawl

City spreads into suburbs/rural areas.

Bid-Rent Theory

Land prices drop as distance from CBD increases.