AP Human Unit 5

Mediterranean Climate

Very warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters

tropical climate

Uniformly warm throughout the year, very humid rainforest climate, heavy precipitation

intensive agriculture

Agriculture that requires large quantities of inputs (e.g., labor, capital, agricultural products) per unit of land

market gardening

small scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops sold directly to local consumers

plantation agriculture

production of cash crops on a large piece of land, common in tropical climates

mixed crop/livestock system

Both animal and crops are farmed in the same area

extensive agriculture

yields a large amount of output per acre through less intensive farming (uses a large amount of land)

shifting cultivation

burning a portion of forest so that the soil there can be used for agricultural purposes

nomadic herding

continual movement of livestock in search of forage for animals

Ranching

type of commercial farming in which the livestock is allowed to roam over an area

rural settlement pattern

Sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities

clustered settlement pattern

homes and other structures are concentrated in a specific area

dispersed settlement pattern

characterized by isolated farms rather than clustered villages

linear settlement pattern

"long-lot" settlements that divides land into narrow parcels stretching back from river, roads or canals

rural survey method

people live and build communities in rural areas, or areas outside of urban centers

metes and bounds

uses physical features of local geography along with directions and distances to define and describe boundaries of land parcels

township and range

rectangular land division scheme designed by Thomas Jefferson to disperse settlers evenly across farmlands of the U.S. interior.

long lot

houses on narrow lots perpendicular to a long river, so that each original settler had equal river access

domestication

a plant or animal being tamed by human society so that it can be reliably utilized to provide for human sustenance

Fertile Crescent

egion of the Middle East that was particularly fertile several thousand years ago

Indus River Valley

Region in South Asia where the first urban revolution occurred

Columbian Exchange

exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world

First Agricultural Revolution

transition from hunting and gathering to planting and sustaining

Second Agricultural Revolution

introduction of new crop rotation techniques and selective breeding of livestock, increase in agricultural production

Green Revolution

Agricultural revolution that increased production through improved seeds and fertilizers.

high-yield seed

Seeds that are selectively bred or modified to grow larger yields of produce or desirable size/shape/effectiveness

mechanized farming

farming techniques that rely on machines to more efficiently produce crops, more common in MDCs

subsistence agriculture

agriculture in which farmers only grow crops to sustain themselves and their family

commercial agriculture

agriculture meant to be sold

monocropping/monoculture

cultivation of a single crop

bid-rent theory

rice and demand for real estate change as the distance from the central business district (CBD) increases; competition for land next to the city center

commodity chain

series of links connecting the many places of production and distribution and resulting in a commodity that is then exchanged on the world market

economies of scale

reduction in the per unit cost of production as the volume of production increases

Von Thünen’s model

economic model developed in the 19th century that aims to explain the spatial organization of agriculture and how it is influenced by transportation costs.

global supply chain

system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer

export commodity

good or service produced in the home country and sold in another country

pollution

when humans contaminate the air, water, or land

land cover change

process by which agricultural areas are lost to development

desertification

when deserts expand or arise

soil salinization

soil in an arid climate has been made available for agricultural production using irrigation

conservation

sustainable use and management of Earth’s natural resources to meet human needs

slash and burn agriculture

vegetation is removed by hand ("slashed") and then burned in place to prepare a field for planting

terrace farming

Building a series of steps or flat land for farming on the sides of hills or mountains

irrigation

man-made system whereby water is spread from its natural source over a much larger geographic range to aid in agricultural production

deforestation

destruction of forest or forested areas by human or natural means

pastoral nomadism

form of nomadism that revolves around moving with large herds of domesticated livestock

biotechnology

technological innovation that is designed to improve the usefulness of plant and animals species for human use

genetically modified organisms

crop whose genetic structure has been altered to make it more useful and efficient for human purposes

aquaculture

farming and rearing of fish and marine plants that does not fall under the category of fishing

sustainability

use of Earth's resources in ways that ensure their availability in the future

biodiversity

variety of organisms found in a particular habitat

fertilizer

substance added to soil or water to increase its productivity

pesticide

hemicals that are used to treat agricultural crops so as to kill any insects or animals that might try to damage the crop

urban farming

ultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a village, town, or city

community-supported agriculture

network of individuals who have pledged to support local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production

value-added specialty crops

some other product in them or item attached to them to make them unique and able to sell at higher price

fair trade

tells the consumer that by purchasing that product producers get a fair price for their goods.

local-food movement

push to eat food that is grown and harvested nearby to where it is purchased

food insecurity

ondition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one's basic needs

food desert

limited access to affordable and nutritious food