Units 1-7 Vocabulary Review

Flashcards for AP Human Geography review.

Cartogram

This type of map distorts land areas to show the change of a value.

Choropleth

This type of map uses different colors/shades to show the change of a value

Dot

This type of map uses the amount of dots to represent the value. So, the more dots in an area the higher that value.

Graduated Symbol

This type of map uses the size of a symbol to represent the value. As the size of the symbol increases so does the value, as the size of the symbol decreases so does the value.

Isoline

This type of map uses lines to connect areas that share a particular value.

Absolute distance

Distance that can be counted using a standard unit of a precise measurement.

Absolute direction

Uses North, South, East, and West (the Cardinal Directions) to understand maps.

Relative Distance

Distance that can not be counted using a standard unit of measurement, it is imprecise.

Relative Direction

Imprecise terms used to describe direction: left/right and up/down are examples.

Clustering

When similar people or items are grouped close.

Dispersal

The spacing of people or items within geographic population barriers.

Elevation

The altitude of a place above sea level or ground.

Map Projections

2D to represent 3D objects or any method used to represent the world in 2D.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

A computer system that scans geographic areas and compiles that data through specific layers depending on the wanted outcome.

Personal Interviews

A person that explains his or hers observations of opinions on a subject.

Field Observations

The observation of a specific person or group in their environment to gain knowledge about behaviors and activities.

Remote Sensing Systems

Detecting and monitoring physical characteristics of an area using remote-controlled technologies such as satellites or aircraft (No physical Contact).

Policy Documents

Official papers that specifies the rules, guidelines, and regulations of a certain place.

Photographic Interpretation

The process of studying photographs to identify certain patterns or characteristics of an area.

Media Reports

The communication of ideas and products from the media source to a consumer or listener.

Travel Narratives

A first hand account that's written in a document. (On the spot documentation)

Satellite Navigation Systems

A system that uses satellites to provide geospatial positioning on the earth's surface by using longitude and latitude lines for easy visualization..

Landscape Analysis

The process of studying the use of the land and interactions with humans and the environment.

Geographic Data

Any data that is associated with a specific location

Geospatial Data

Time-based data related to a specific location on Earth’s surface

Density

The number of things in a given area (of land)

Pattern

The way things (people) are arranged in a place

Location

The position that a point or object occupies on Earth

Absolute location

The exact location of a point/object; normally expressed by coordinates

Relative location

Describing where a place is in relation to other places/physical features

Site

The absolute location/physical characteristics of a place- landforms, climate, resources

Situation

The way that a place is affected by the surrounding area- transportation systems, political relationships, cultural connections

Distance Decay

The farther things are from one another, the less they will interact

Time-Space Compression

The relative distance between places shrinks because of modern transportation and technology

Sustainability

Focused on providing not only for society today, but also for future generations.

Environmental Determinism

The environment determines (decides) characteristics of human society and even the success or failure of the society.

Possibilism

Human societies are influenced by their natural environment, but not controlled by it.

Regions

Places grouped together by characteristics

Formal (Uniform) Region

Grouped by common environmental, social, political and/or economic attribute

Functional (Nodal) Region

Grouped around a central point or NODE

Vernacular (Perceptual) Region

Grouped by feelings or attitudes towards the area of land

RNI (Rate of Natural Increase)

The speed, or rate, at which a population is growing

DT (Doubling Time)

The estimated # of years a growing population will take to double

Anti-natalist policies

When a country's birth rate and TFR is high, so people are discouraged from having children

Pro-natalist policies

When a country has low birth rates and fertility rates, so people are encouraged to have children

Immigration policies

Government policies that determine if people can migrate into their country or not

Dependency Ratio

The # of people in the population age group (under 15 and/or older than 64) divided by # of people between 15 and 64 (typically the working pop.)

Migration

People moving where they reside, voluntary or forced

Refugee

Granted refugee status before they enter their destination country

Asylum Seeker

Enters the destination country and then seeks to establish refugee status.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Also flee their home due to safety, but they flee within their home country.

Transnational migration

Voluntary migrants cross international boundaries

Chain Migration

Transnational migrants are following family and/or friends.

Step Migration

Instead of moving a long distance all at once they will complete a series of moves leading to their final destination.

Guest Workers

Granted permission to work temporarily in another country.

Internal Migration

Voluntary migrants that move within their country.

Rural to urban migration

Most common type of internal migration as the world becomes increasingly urbanized.

Transhumance

Involves seasonal migration often associated with livestock herding.

Culture

The beliefs/values, practices, behaviors, and technology that a society passes down from generation to generation.

Cultural traits

Parts of culture like clothing or values

Cultural Landscape

A natural landscape that has been modified by humans, reflecting their cultural beliefs and values

Gendered Spaces

Public/private spaces accommodating gender roles; often reserved for one gender or another

Ethnic Communities

A cultural landscape within a community of people outside their area of origin

Indigenous Communities

Some areas are getting more autonomy but others are being pushed off their lands

Sense of Place

Personal attachments people have to a specific geographic location

Placemaking

Creating a place where people WANT to work, live, & play in

Global Cultural Landscape

Cultural groups interactions with their environment

Centripetal Forces

Forces that unite a country.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide a country.

Diffusion

The spread of phenomenon through time and space.

Expansion Diffusion

The spread of the phenomenon to an increasing number of people.

Hierarchical Diffusion

The spread of a sensation through rank order (highest to lowest).

Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion

The spread of a sensation from lower ranks to higher ranks.

Contagious Diffusion

The spread of a sensation based on PROXIMITY

Stimulus Diffusion

When a sensation is CHANGED based on the area it is spread to

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of an idea or group of people across space and time

Syncretism

The combining of two or more cultural traits to create something new

Language

Oral/written communication system w/grammar & vocabulary.

Dialect

Regional variation of a STANDARD language distinguished by word choice, spelling, pronunciation, and degree of rapidity in speech.

Language family

LARGEST LANGUAGE GROUPING & share an ancestral language.

Language branch

WITHIN LANGUAGE FAMILY & share an ancestor but are separated from other branches in the family.

Language group

WITHIN LANGUAGE BRANCH & share a RECENT ancestor w/ overlapping vocabularies.

Isolated language

NOT ASSIGNED A LANGUAGE FAMILY; no historic or linguistic relationship with other languages.

Universalizing religions

Have universal (thus the name) appeal and SEEK converts

Ethnic religions

Appeal to a particular group in a specific area

Acculturation

When people within one culture adopt elements of another while still retaining their own distinct/unique culture.

Assimilation

When the interaction of two cultures causes one culture to adopt almost all the traits from another without retaining their own distinct culture

Syncretism

When two or more cultures blend together to form a new culture with new values, customs, ideas, practices, etc.

Multiculturalism

When diverse cultures coexist within the same area. They can share some traits of the cultures around them but retain their original traits.

Sovereignty

Total authority or power.

Self-determinism

Countries’ ability to make their own decisions and choose their own government.

Imperialism

Process of a state trying to gain control (direct or indirect) over another society.

Colonialism

States take possession of a foreign territory, occupy, and govern it.

Nation-state

Political(state) and cultural(nation) boundaries match

Relic boundary

Even after the boundaries are no longer functioning, they still will often maintain an imprint on the cultural landscape.

Antecedent boundary

Created BEFORE heavy development of the cultural landscape

Subsequent boundary

Created AFTER heavy development of the cultural landscape

Geometric boundary

Created based on latitude and longitude lines

Consequent boundary

Created based on cultural differences

Superimposed boundary

Created/forced on an area by outsiders typically with little regard for the cultural landscape of the area