Unit 1: Thinking Geographically

A set of flashcards covering Unit 1: Thinking Geographically, including key concepts, terms, and map-related knowledge.

What are the two main branches of geography?

Human geography and physical geography.

Environmental Determinism: The __ determines human behavior and society.

environment

Possibilism: The ability of people to overcome their environment to __.

survive

Ethnocentrism: Looking at other cultures through your own cultural __.

lens

The Prime Meridian is the reference for __ and is where time is set.

zero longitude (0°) / longitude 0°

The International Date Line is located at the __ meridian.

180th (180°)

Latitudinal lines/Parallels are called __.

parallels

The Equator separates the Northern and Southern __.

hemispheres

Compass Rose directions include __ and intermediate directions.

cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) and intermediate (NE, SE, SW, NW)

Scale in maps is: The ratio of map units to real units; large-scale shows more detail in a smaller area; small-scale shows less detail in a larger area.

Scale

Mercator projection is good with __ but bad with sizes and shapes.

direction

Robinson projection: a compromise that provides a more accurate overall representation; widely used. This projection is often called the __ map for geographers.

golden

Azimuthal/Polar projection shows true direction and shape but distorts __.

size

Gall-Peter (Equal Area) projection preserves __ but distorts direction and distance.

size

The shortest distance between two points on the Earth is the __.

great circle route

Isoline map uses colors and boundaries to display data.

Isoline map

Dot density map represents a statistic with dots; more dots indicate a higher __ of the statistic.

degree/count

Cartograms reshape the map areas based on the __ being shown.

phenomenon

Remote sensing involves pictures taken from above Earth’s crust (usually via __).

satellites

GPS stands for __; its primary purpose is precise location and navigation.

Global Positioning System

GIS stands for __; it uses maps with different __ to study relationships.

Geographic Information System; layers

Census Data: Taken every 10 years in the U.S.; used for reallocating House seats and federal funding; problems include corruption and undercounting.

Census data

Absolute location is given by __.

Latitude/longitude

Relative location is determined by what is __ around you.

closest

Site vs. Situation: Site refers to physical characteristics; Situation refers to __ surrounding location.

relative location / context

Cultural landscape is a combo of physical environment and human influences on Earth (built environment); associated with __.

Carl Sauer

Formal (uniform) regions vs Functional (nodal) regions: the former is uniform; the latter is defined by connections.

Formal vs Functional regions

Vernacular region, also called a __ region, is a cognitive/perceptual region.

cognitive / perceptual

Globalization is the process by which ideas, values, beliefs, and cultural traits become increasingly shared as interconnectedness grows; another term is __.

glocalization

Culture is the way a group lives, what they practice, what they believe, what they value, and how they dress.

Culture

Cultural hierarchy runs from cultural trait (most specific) to cultural realm (least specific). What is the next term after trait?

culture complex

Cultural hearth is the origin of a particular cultural __.

trait

Acculturation: Cultural change from contact between cultures; can involve exchange of traits.

Acculturation

Assimilation: Distinct cultures become indistinct; minority group adopts traits of the dominant culture.

Assimilation

Sequent occupance: Several different cultural groups occupy a territory, leaving layered cultural __.

landscapes

Expansion diffusion describes the spread of an idea through a population, with the number of those influenced growing __.

continuously larger

Hierarchical diffusion: Spread of an idea through an established structure usually from power down to others; often from urban to urban areas.

Hierarchical diffusion

Contagious diffusion: Spread of an idea/trait/concept through a group of people equally without regard to social class.

Contagious diffusion

Stimulus diffusion: Spread of underlying principle even if the new groups remix or adapt the idea.

Stimulus diffusion

Relocation diffusion: The diffusion that occurs when people migrate and carry their cultural attributes with them.

Relocation diffusion

Barriers to diffusion include cultural barriers (taboos), physical barriers, and time–distance decay.

Barriers to diffusion

Megacities: Large cities with populations over 10 million.

Megacity

Primate cities: Leading city in a country or region in politics, population, or finances.

Primate city

World-systems theory components: Core, Semi-Periphery, Periphery; Core countries are the most developed and diversified.

World-systems theory components