AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Geography

Study of where things are and why they are there.

Spatial Perspective

Analyzing patterns based on location.

Scale

Level of study from local to global.

Pattern

How something is arranged in space.

Process

How something changes over time.

Absolute Location

Exact location using latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

Location compared to other places.

Place

Physical and human characteristics of a location.

Site

Physical features of a place (climate, terrain).

Situation

Location relative to surroundings.

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases with distance.

Friction of Distance

Obstacles like cost and time that reduce interaction.

Time-Space Compression

Faster travel/communication reduces distance effects.

Diffusion

Spread of ideas or things across space.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread through movement of people.

Expansion Diffusion

Spreads outward while remaining strong at origin.

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid spread through contact.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread through influential nodes.

Stimulus Diffusion

Idea adapts as it spreads.

Reference Map

Shows general geographic features.

Thematic Map

Shows specific data.

Choropleth Map

Shading shows data values.

Dot Map

Dots represent quantity/location.

Graduated Symbol Map

Symbol size shows value.

Isoline Map

Lines connect equal values.

Projection

Flat representation of Earth.

Mercator Projection

Preserves direction, distorts size.

Robinson Projection

Balances distortion.

Goode Projection

Preserves shape, interrupts oceans.

Region

Area with shared traits.

Formal Region

Same characteristic throughout.

Functional Region

Organized around a central node.

Perceptual Region

Based on human opinion.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Layered spatial data analysis.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

Satellite-based location system.

Remote Sensing

Collecting data from satellites.

Geospatial Data

Data tied to location.

Arithmetic Density

Total people per land area.

Physiological Density

People per farmland (pressure on food).

Agricultural Density

Farmers per farmland (tech level indicator).

Population Distribution

Where people live.

Carrying Capacity

Max population land can support.

Malthusian Theory

Population grows faster than food supply.

Neo-Malthusian

Resources will run out.

Anti-Malthusian

Technology increases food supply.

DTM (Demographic Transition Model)

Shows how population changes as a country develops.

CBR (Crude Birth Rate)

Births per 1000 people.

CDR (Crude Death Rate)

Deaths per 1000 people.

TFR (Total Fertility Rate)

Average children per woman.

IMR (Infant Mortality Rate)

Infant deaths per 1000.

Life Expectancy

Average lifespan.

Population Pyramid

Age and sex structure diagram.

Migration

Permanent relocation.

Immigration

Moving into a country.

Emigration

Leaving a country.

Push Factors

Conditions forcing people to leave.

Pull Factors

Conditions attracting people.

Voluntary Migration

Choice-based move.

Forced Migration

No choice (slavery, war).

Chain Migration

Following previous migrants.

Step Migration

Moving in stages.

Refugee

Person fleeing danger.

Internally Displaced Person (IDP)

Displaced within country.

Net Migration

Difference between in and out migration.

Culture

Beliefs, behaviors, and traditions of a group.

Cultural Trait

Single behavior or belief.

Cultural Complex

Group of related traits.

Cultural Hearth

Origin area of a culture.

Cultural Landscape

Visible human impact on environment.

Language

System of communication.

Dialect

Regional variation of a language.

Lingua Franca

Common language between groups.

Pidgin

Simplified mix of languages.

Creole

Fully developed pidgin.

Religion

Organized beliefs and practices.

Universalizing Religion

Seeks converts (Christianity, Islam).

Ethnic Religion

Tied to one group/place.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural identity.

Ethnic Enclave

Cluster of same ethnic group.

Acculturation

Adopting some traits of another culture.

Assimilation

Losing original culture completely.

Multiculturalism

Multiple cultures coexist.

State

Politically organized territory with government.

Nation

Group with shared identity.

Nation-State

Nation and state align.

Sovereignty

Ability to govern itself.

Federal State

Power shared between national and local.

Unitary State

Power centralized.

Devolution

Transfer of power to regional governments.

Boundary

Border between states.

Defined Boundary

Written description.

Delimited Boundary

Drawn on map.

Demarcated Boundary

Physically marked.

Natural Boundary

Physical features.

Geometric Boundary

Straight lines.

Cultural Boundary

Based on cultural differences.

Gerrymandering

Redraw districts