human geo 1

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to geography, including definitions and descriptions necessary for understanding the subject.

Domestication

To train or adapt animals and plants for human use.

Holocene Epoch

The current epoch on the geologic time scale, extending from 10,000 years ago to the present.

Fertile Crescent

A crescent-shaped zone of fertile lands where animal and plant domestication occurred earliest, located near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Southwest Asia.

Culture Hearth

The source of civilization: where a civilization began, and their ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas.

Infrastructure

The basic facilities and services needed for the functioning of a community or society.

More Developed Country (MDC)

A country with a highly developed economy, a high level of industrialization, urbanization, and a high standard of living.

Less Developed Country (LDC)

A country that is predominantly focused on agriculture with low levels of industrialization and urbanization.

Newly Industrialized Country (NIC)

A country that has transitioned from being primarily agricultural to one based on manufacturing.

Social Stratification

The classification of people into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions.

Quantitative Data

Data that is expressed in numerical terms.

Qualitative Data

Data that is expressed in non-numerical terms, often descriptive.

Reference Maps

Maps used to show landforms and/or places.

Physical Map

A reference map that shows identifiable natural landmarks.

Political Map

A reference map that shows political boundaries.

Thematic Map

Maps used to display specific types of information pertaining to an area.

Cartogram

A thematic map that shows statistical data by transforming space.

Choropleth Map

A thematic map that uses shading or coloring to show statistical data.

Dot Density Map

A thematic map that uses dots to indicate a feature or occurrence.

Graduated Symbols Map

A thematic map where the symbol varies in proportion to the data it represents.

Spatial Pattern

The way things are laid out and organized on the surface of the Earth.

Map Projection

A way to transfer the 3-dimensional earth onto a 2-dimensional map, which inevitably distorts some spatial relationships.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A map created by a computer that can combine layers of spatial data to analyze geographical patterns.

Remote Sensing

Collecting data with instruments that are distant from the area of study.