AP Human Geography Unit 1-7 Vocabulary Review

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards for AP Human Geography Units 1 through 7, including geographic basics, population dynamics, cultural concepts, political geography, agricultural types, urban models, and industrial development.

Geography

Study of spatial patterns and relationships on Earth

Human Geography

Study of human populations, culture, and activities

Physical Geography

Study of Earth’s natural features

Spatial Perspective

Analyzing where things are and why they are there

Place

Characteristics of a location (physical + human)

Space

Area between objects

Scale

Level of analysis (local, regional, global)

Reference Map

Shows locations (roads, cities)

Thematic Map

Shows one specific topic

Choropleth Map

Uses shading to show data intensity

Dot Density Map

Uses dots to represent frequency

Proportional Symbol Map

Uses symbols of different sizes

Isoline Map

Uses lines connecting equal values

Cartogram

Distorts size based on data

Map Projection

Method of transferring Earth onto flat surface

Mercator Projection

Preserves direction, distorts size

Peters Projection

Preserves size, distorts shape

Robinson Projection

Balances distortion

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Layers spatial data

GPS (Global Positioning System)

Satellite-based location system

Remote Sensing

Collecting data from satellites

Distribution

Arrangement of features

Density

Number of people in area

Arithmetic Density

$$\text{total people / land}$$

Physiological Density

$$\text{people / arable land}$$

Agricultural Density

$$\text{farmers / arable land}$$

Concentration

How spread out something is

Pattern

Spatial arrangement

Clustered

Grouped together

Dispersed

Spread out

Random

No pattern

Diffusion

Spread of ideas/people

Relocation Diffusion

People move and bring ideas

Expansion Diffusion

Spreads outward but stays strong

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spreads through power nodes

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid person-to-person

Stimulus Diffusion

Adapts and spreads

Barriers to Diffusion

Obstacles slowing spread

Demography

Study of population

CBR (Crude Birth Rate)

$$\text{births per 1,000 people}$$

CDR (Crude Death Rate)

$$\text{deaths per 1,000}$$

TFR (Total Fertility Rate)

Avg children per woman

IMR (Infant Mortality Rate)

$$\text{infant deaths per 1,000}$$

Life Expectancy

Avg years a person lives

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

Shows population change stages

DTM Stage 1

High birth/death

DTM Stage 2

High birth, low death

DTM Stage 3

Declining birth

DTM Stage 4

Low birth/death

DTM Stage 5

Declining population

NIR (Natural Increase Rate)

$$\text{birth rate - death rate}$$

Doubling Time

Time for population to double

Rule of 70

$$70 \div \text{growth rate}$$

Malthusian Theory

Population grows faster than food

Boserup Theory

Technology increases food supply

Neo-Malthusian

Modern concern about resources

Migration

Permanent move

Push Factors

Reasons people leave

Pull Factors

Reasons people move

Forced Migration

No choice

Voluntary Migration

Choice

Internal Migration

Within country

International Migration

Between countries

Step Migration

Move in stages

Chain Migration

Follow others

Counter Migration

Return home

Ravenstein’s Laws

Rules about migration patterns

Gravity Model

Predicts migration based on size/distance

Culture

Beliefs, behaviors, traditions

Cultural Trait

Single behavior

Cultural Complex

Group of traits

Cultural Region

Area with shared culture

Formal Region

Same characteristic

Functional Region

Organized around node

Perceptual Region

Based on opinion

Folk Culture

Small, rural, traditional

Popular Culture

Large, urban, fast-changing

Language Family

Large group of languages

Language Branch

Subdivision of family

Lingua Franca

Common trade language

Pidgin

Simplified mix of languages

Creole

Developed pidgin

Universalizing Religion

Seeks converts

Ethnic Religion

Tied to one group

Secularism

Separation from religion

Cultural Relativism

Judge culture by its standards

Ethnocentrism

Judge others by your culture

Cultural Appropriation

Adopting traits without respect

State

Country with sovereignty

Nation

Group with shared identity

Nation-State

Nation matches state

Political Boundary

Dividing line

Antecedent Boundary

Before settlement

Subsequent Boundary

After settlement

Superimposed Boundary

Forced boundary

Compact State

Circular shape

Fragmented State

Separated pieces

Elongated State

Long shape

Prorupted State

Has extension

Perforated State

Surrounds another