Ap exam

Cultural landscape

refers to the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape, encompassing elements like architecture, land use, and the cultural significance of a space.

Distribution

the number of individuals or entities within a specific area, often used in demographic studies to analyze population distribution.

Location

the specific position or site of something on Earth's surface, often defined by coordinates or address.

Pattern

the general arrangement of features or phenomena in a given space, often used in geography to identify trends in data.

Possiblism

A geographic theory that suggests the environment offers various opportunities and constraints, allowing human societies to adapt and shape their own cultural practices.

Region

An area defined by common characteristics, such as culture, economy, or physical geography, used to organize and analyze geographic data.

Scale

The relationship between the distance on a map and the actual distance on the ground, often expressed as a ratio or fraction. It helps in understanding the level of detail and extent of a geographic area.

Spatial

relationships and patterns in geography.

Dependency ratio

The ratio of the number of dependents, young and old, to the working-age population. It provides insights into the economic burden on the productive members of society.

Doubling time

The period of time it takes for a population to double in size, assuming a constant growth rate. This metric is important for understanding population dynamics and future demographic trends.

Ecumene

the inhabited land within a given area, where people establish permanent settlements and engage in economic activities.

Arithmetic population density

The number of people per unit area, typically measured in persons per square kilometer or square mile, used to assess population distribution.

Physiological population density

The number of people per unit area of arable land, providing insight into the relationship between a population and its agricultural capacity.

Epidemiologic transitions

refers to the changes in the patterns of health and disease in a population over time, often transitioning from infectious diseases to chronic diseases as a country develops.

Zero population growth

is a condition where the number of people in a population remains stable, with the birth rate equalling the death rate, leading to no net increase in population size.

Material culture

Refers to the physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture. This includes tools, buildings, and technologies that shape a society's way of life.

Non material culture

Encompasses the non-physical ideas, values, beliefs, and norms that shape a culture, including symbols, language, and customs.

Subculture

A cultural group within a larger culture, often with distinct values, beliefs, and practices.

Modern culture

Refers to contemporary lifestyle and practices shaped by technology, globalization, and social change, reflecting current values and beliefs.

Indigenous culture

Refers to the cultural practices, languages, and beliefs of native peoples in a specific region, often deeply connected to their ancestral lands.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture, often resulting in prejudice against other groups.

Cultural relativism

The principle that a person's beliefs and activities should be understood based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another culture.

Postmodern architecture

an architectural style that emerged in the late 20th century, characterized by a departure from modernist principles and the incorporation of diverse forms, materials, and historical references.

Sequent occupancy

the idea that successive groups of people inhabit and modify a given space over time, influencing its cultural landscape.

Cultural patterns

the result of the interactions between human culture and the natural environment, reflecting human activity and societal values.

placelessness

the loss of distinctiveness in cultural landscapes due to globalization, leading to environments that lack a unique identity.

Place making

the process of creating quality places that people want to live, work, and play in, often by fostering community engagement and enhancing the local environment.

centri fugal forces

forces that push people away from a center or a community, often leading to fragmentation and dispersal of populations.

Reverse hierarchical diffusion

the spread of cultural traits from smaller, less influential places to larger, more influential ones, often reversing traditional patterns of diffusion.

Diaspora

the dispersion of any group of people from their original homeland, often resulting in the formation of communities in various places.

Silk road

an ancient trade route connecting the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas.

Cultural divergence

the process by which different cultures become more distinct and separate from one another, often due to cultural or social influences.

Cultural convergence

the process by which different cultures become more similar or integrate, often through interaction, globalization, or the exchange of ideas.

Pagodas

Buddhist temple structures characterized by tiered towers and ornate features, often found in East Asia.

Universalizing religions

religions that seek to convert individuals from all backgrounds and cultures, promoting a universal message.

Ethnic religions

are faiths closely associated with specific ethnic groups or cultures, often tied to a particular geographic area and not actively seeking converts.

ISO gloss

is a notation system used to provide detailed information about language features, including phonetics, grammar, and semantics.

Assimilation

is the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits of another group, often leading to a blending of cultures.

Acculturation

is the process of cultural change and adaptation that occurs when individuals from one culture come into contact with another, often leading to the adoption of cultural traits from the dominant culture.

Syncretism

is the combining of different beliefs and practices, often resulting in a new cultural system or religious tradition.

Relic boundary

is a type of political boundary that no longer functions or is no longer present, often leaving cultural or physical remnants in the landscape.

Allocational boundary

is a type of political boundary that allocates resources or territory among different groups, which can lead to disputes over resource distribution.

City state

is a sovereign state that consists of a city and its dependent territories, functioning as an independent political entity.

Cultural boundry

is a type of boundary that separates different cultural groups or communities, often based on language, religion, or ethnicity.

Definitional boundary

is a type of political boundary that defines the precise locations of borders between states or territories, often leading to legal disputes and negotiations.

The limited boundary

is a type of boundary that restricts the movement or interaction between areas, often imposed for political or strategic reasons.

Locational boundary

is a type of boundary defined by a specific geographic location, often related to landmarks or physical features of the landscape.

Super imposed boundary

is a political boundary that is imposed on a region or its people, often without regard for existing cultural or ethnic divisions. This type of boundary can lead to conflict and tension among groups.

Open boundary

is a type of boundary that allows unrestricted movement and interaction between areas, often leading to greater integration and collaboration among neighboring regions.

Operational boundary

is a boundary that regulates the interactions and activities between different political entities, often involving specific operational procedures and agreements.

Defined boundary

is a clearly delineated boundary that is agreed upon by the parties involved, usually based on legal or geographical criteria, helping to reduce conflicts and ensuring clarity in territorial claims.

Triangular slave trade

was a historical trade system from the 16th to 19th centuries involving the exchange of enslaved Africans, goods, and raw materials among Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Antedescent boundary

is a boundary that existed before the cultural landscape emerged and is often based on physical features such as rivers or mountains, helping to define areas prior to human settlement.

apartheid

is a policy or system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s, aimed at maintaining white supremacy and suppressing the rights of the non-white population.

Irredenta

refers to a political or territorial claim by a nation or group to lands that they consider to be historically or culturally theirs, often leading to tension or conflict.

Enclave

is a territory or part of a territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of another state, often resulting in political or cultural isolation.

Frontier

a border or boundary area between two regions, often characterized by limited or contested governance and interaction.

Heartland theory

a theory that argues that the control of the central Eurasian landmass is key to global dominance, as it provides access to resources and strategic advantages.

share cropper

a tenant farmer who gives a part of each crop as rent to landowners, often leading to a cycle of debt and poverty.

Satellite state

a country that is politically and economically dominated by another, more powerful country, often with limited autonomy.

nationalism

a political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often advocating for sovereignty and self-determination.

Reapportionment

the process of redistributing seats in the legislative body, usually based on population changes as determined by the census.

Annexation

the formal act of acquiring territory by a state, often involving the incorporation of the territory into the state's political framework.

Irredentism

a political principle or policy of reclaiming lost territories, often based on historical or ethnic connections.

Sovereignty

the authority of a state to govern itself and make its own laws without external interference.

ethnic cleansing

the systematic removal or extermination of an ethnic or cultural group from a specific territory, often involving violence and severe human rights violations.

Balkation

the division of a territory into smaller, often hostile units, leading to political fragmentation.

Law of sea

An international treaty that governs the use and conservation of the world's oceans and their resources, establishing guidelines for marine management.

organic theory

A geopolitical theory suggesting that nations behave like living organisms, expanding and consuming resources as they grow, often justifying territorial expansion.

Colony

A territory governed by a foreign power, often established for economic exploitation or settlement.

Federal state

A political entity characterized by a division of powers between a central government and regional governments, allowing for varying degrees of autonomy.

fragmented state

A political geography term describing a state that is not contiguous and consists of multiple separate pieces, which may lead to challenges in governance and cohesion.

perforated state

A state that completely surrounds another state, creating a unique political relationship and potential economic or social dependency.

Porupted state

A state that has a narrow extension of territory leading away from its main body, which may provide access to a resource or coastline.

Unitary state

A state governed as a single entity where central government holds the primary authority, with any administrative divisions having limited power.

Autonus region

A semi-autonomous political unit within a state that has a degree of self-governance, often possessing its own legislative, administrative, or judicial powers.

neocolonism

The practice of using economic, political, or cultural pressures to control or influence other countries, often post-colonial.

decolonization

The process by which colonies gain independence from colonial powers, leading to the establishment of sovereign states.

Charter group

A foundational or dominant group in a society that holds power and privileges over others, often establishing cultural and political norms.

Nation

A community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, or history and often inhabit a specific territory, forming a distinct political entity.

nation state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory, a permanent population, a governing body, and recognition by other states, often aligning with a nation.

Self determination

The process by which a community asserts its right to make decisions regarding its political status and governance, often seeking independence or autonomy.

agri business

A sector involving the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, encompassing various businesses that support farming operations.

Crop rotation

is an agricultural practice that involves alternating the types of crops grown in a particular area in sequential seasons to improve soil health, reduce pests and diseases, and increase agricultural productivity.

Debt for nature swap

is an arrangement in which a portion of a developing nation's foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for local investments in environmental conservation projects.

double cropping

is an agricultural practice where two different crops are grown on the same land in the same year, maximizing productivity and yield.

biodiversity

refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem, encompassing the diversity of species, genetic variations, and ecological processes.

Bio technology

is the use of living organisms or their systems to develop products and technologies for various purposes, including healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

Urban farming

is a practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas, utilizing available land and resources to enhance food security and community health.

Fair trade

is a movement aimed at promoting ethical trade practices that ensure fair wages and working conditions for producers in developing countries, fostering sustainable livelihoods.

CSA

(Community Supported Agriculture) is a food production and distribution system where consumers directly support local farms by purchasing shares of seasonal harvests, fostering a closer connection between producers and consumers.

Intensive substinence agriculture

is a form of farming that aims to maximize crop yield per unit of land through the use of high inputs of labor and capital, often found in densely populated areas.

value addded crops

are agricultural products that have been processed or enhanced to increase their economic value, such as turning fruits into jams or vegetables into pickles.

Terrace farming

is an agricultural practice that involves carving out step-like terraces on sloped land to prevent soil erosion and maximize arable land area, particularly in hilly regions.

Soil sanitation

is the practice of managing soil health and preventing soil degradation by improving its physical, chemical, and biological properties to enhance crop productivity.

Von thunen model

is an economic model that explains agricultural land use patterns by considering transportation costs, the distance from markets, and the type of crops produced, illustrating how land use changes with increasing distance from a central market.

Subsides

are financial support payments provided by the government to encourage production or to protect the income of farmers.

Commodity chain

is a network of processes involved in the production, processing, and distribution of a commodity, detailing the steps from raw material extraction to final consumption.

Large scale commercl agriculture

is a type of farming that involves the intensive production of crops and livestock, often characterized by mechanization and the use of technology to maximize outputs for large markets.

Fertile Crescent

is a crescent-shaped region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and early development of agriculture and civilization.