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AP Human Geography Unit 5 Flashcard- Mr. Nehila
1st Agricultural Revolution
Definition: The transition from hunting and gathering to settled agricultural practices.
Description: Also known as the Neolithic Revolution, it occurred around 10,000 years ago and involved the domestication of plants and animals.
Example: Early farming communities in Mesopotamia began cultivating wheat and barley and domesticating animals like sheep and goats.
2nd Agricultural Revolution
Definition: A period of agricultural development during the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe.
Description: It involved technological advancements such as the plow, crop rotation, and selective breeding, coinciding with the Industrial Revolution.
Example: The introduction of mechanized farming equipment like the seed drill by Jethro Tull increased crop yields.
3rd Agricultural Revolution
Definition: A period characterized by the introduction of advanced technologies and techniques in farming, also called the Green Revolution.
Description: It began in the mid-20th century and included genetically modified organisms (GMOs), chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanization.
Example: The development of high-yield rice varieties like IR8 in Asia.
Agribusiness
Definition: Large-scale farming integrated with the processing, distribution, and retail of agricultural products.
Description: It includes every step from farm to table, emphasizing efficiency and profit.
Example: Companies like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland manage crops, processing plants, and global distribution.
Aquaculture
Definition: The farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and algae.
Description: Often called fish farming, it’s a sustainable way to produce seafood without depleting natural stocks.
Example: Raising salmon in controlled ocean pens in Norway.
Aquifer
Definition: An underground layer of water-bearing rock or sediment.
Description: Aquifers provide groundwater for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use.
Example: The Ogallala Aquifer in the United States supports agriculture in the Midwest.
Climate
Definition: The average weather conditions in a region over a long period.
Description: Climate influences agricultural practices, determining what crops can be grown.
Example: Mediterranean climates are ideal for growing olives and grapes.
Columbian Exchange
Definition: The transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, and Africa after 1492.
Description: It dramatically altered diets, populations, and economies across continents.
Example: Maize and potatoes were brought to Europe, while horses and wheat were introduced to the Americas.
Deforestation
Definition: The removal of forests for agriculture or urban development.
Description: Often leads to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.
Example: The clearing of the Amazon rainforest for cattle ranching and soy farming.
Desertification
Definition: The process by which fertile land becomes desert due to drought, deforestation, or overgrazing.
Description: It reduces agricultural productivity and contributes to food insecurity.
Example: The Sahel region in Africa suffers from desertification due to overuse of land.
Domesticate
Definition: The process of taming wild plants and animals for human use.
Description: This was a key aspect of the 1st Agricultural Revolution.
Example: Wheat and barley were among the first plants domesticated in the Fertile Crescent.
Extensive Agriculture
Definition: Farming that uses large areas of land with minimal labor input per unit area.
Description: Typically associated with low population densities and involves crops or livestock.
Example: Sheep grazing in the Australian Outback.
Fertile Crescent
Definition: A region in the Middle East with fertile soils and an early site of agriculture.
Description: It spans modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and surrounding areas.
Example: It is called the "Cradle of Civilization" for its role in the rise of early human settlements.
GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
Definition: Organisms whose genetic material has been altered for specific purposes.
Description: GMOs increase crop yields, improve resistance to pests, and enhance nutritional content.
Example: Bt corn is genetically modified to resist insect pests.
Green Revolution
Definition: A period of agricultural transformation in the mid-20th century that introduced high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and advanced irrigation techniques.
Description: It significantly increased food production in developing countries and reduced global hunger but also had environmental and social impacts.
Example: The adoption of high-yield wheat in India during the 1960s increased agricultural productivity.
High-yield Seeds
Definition: Seeds that have been genetically or selectively bred to produce more food per plant.
Description: These seeds often require more water, fertilizers, and pesticides but can boost food production.
Example: IR8, a high-yield rice variety developed during the Green Revolution.
Intensive Agriculture
Definition: Farming practices that require high inputs of labor, capital, or resources to maximize yield per unit of land.
Description: Often practiced in densely populated areas.
Example: Rice cultivation in Southeast Asia using terraced fields.
Local-Food Movements
Definition: Efforts to support locally grown and produced food, often to reduce environmental impacts and support local economies.
Description: Promotes sustainable agriculture and reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food.
Example: Farmer's markets in urban areas selling seasonal produce.
Market Gardening (Truck Farming)
Definition: The small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers for sale directly to local markets.
Description: Relies on manual labor and often serves nearby urban areas.
Example: Lettuce and tomatoes grown in California for sale in urban supermarkets.
20.Mediterranean Agriculture
Definition: Specialized farming that occurs in regions with Mediterranean climates (hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters).
Description: Focuses on crops like olives, grapes, and citrus fruits.
Example: Olive oil production in southern Spain.
Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming
Definition: A farming system that combines growing crops and raising livestock on the same farm.
Description: The crops feed the livestock, and manure from livestock fertilizes the fields.
Example: Corn and soybean farming paired with cattle rearing in the U.S. Midwest.
Nomadic Herding
Definition: A subsistence farming practice where herders move with their animals in search of pasture and water.
Description: Common in arid and semi-arid regions.
Example: The Maasai people of East Africa herding cattle, goats, and sheep
Organic Farming
Definition: Agricultural practices that avoid synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms, and intensive irrigation.
Description: Focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.
Example: Farms certified by the USDA as organic that grow crops without synthetic pesticides.
Pastoral Nomadism
Definition: A form of subsistence agriculture based on herding domesticated animals.
Description: Often practiced in arid regions where crop farming is difficult.
Example: The Bedouins in the Middle East who herd camels.
Plantation Agriculture
Definition: Large-scale farming that focuses on one or two cash crops for export.
Description: Typically located in tropical or subtropical regions.
Example: Coffee plantations in Brazil or sugarcane farms in the Caribbean
Ranching
Definition: Commercial agriculture involving the raising of livestock over large areas of land.
Description: Common in arid or semi-arid regions where crops are less viable.
Example: Cattle ranching in Texas for beef production.
Shifting Agriculture
Definition: A farming system where land is cleared, used for a few years, and then abandoned as fertility declines.
Description: Associated with slash-and-burn techniques in tropical regions.
Example: Farmers in the Amazon clearing forested areas for short-term farming.
Sustainability
Definition: Practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Description: In agriculture, this includes soil conservation, water management, and reducing chemical inputs.
Example: Using crop rotation and cover crops to maintain soil fertility
Von Thünen’s Model
Definition: A theoretical model that explains agricultural land use patterns based on distance from the market.
Description: It suggests that perishable goods like dairy are produced near the city, while less perishable items like grains are farther away.
Example: In a hypothetical city, vegetables are grown closer to urban areas, and wheat is grown in outer zones.
Wetland
Definition: Land areas that are saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally.
Description: Wetlands provide habitats for wildlife, flood control, and water purification.
Example: The Everglades in Florida are an important wetland ecosystem.
Agricultural Density
Definition: The number of farmers per unit of arable land.
Description: Agricultural density helps compare the efficiency of agriculture between regions. A high agricultural density often indicates more labor-intensive practices.
Example/Explanation: In countries like Bangladesh, there are many farmers working on small plots of land, leading to a high agricultural density. This contrasts with the United States, where advanced technology allows fewer farmers to manage large areas of land, resulting in a lower agricultural density
Arable Land
Definition: Land suitable for growing crops.
Description: Arable land is essential for agricultural production and depends on factors such as soil quality, climate, and water availability.
Example/Explanation: The Great Plains in the United States have vast amounts of arable land, which is why the region is known for producing wheat and corn.
Bid-Rent Theory
Definition: A theory that explains how land value decreases as distance from the market increases.
Description: Farmers closer to markets tend to grow perishable and high-value crops because transportation costs are lower. Farther from the market, land is cheaper, and farmers can grow less perishable crops.
Example/Explanation: Dairy farms are located near cities like New York due to the perishability of milk, while wheat farming occurs farther away in areas like Kansas.
Carrying Capacity
Definition: The maximum population an area can sustainably support.
Description: Carrying capacity depends on resource availability, agricultural practices, and technological advancements.
Example/Explanation: Overpopulation and overgrazing in regions like the Sahel in Africa have led to decreased carrying capacity and food shortages
Cash Crops
Definition: Crops grown primarily for sale rather than consumption by the farmer.
Description: Cash crops are often exported to generate income for countries, especially in the Global South.
Example/Explanation: Coffee in Ethiopia and tea in Sri Lanka are grown as cash crops and sold on international markets
Cereal Grains
Definition: Grains like wheat, rice, and maize used as food staples.
Description: Cereal grains are a major source of calories and form the basis of diets worldwide.
Example/Explanation: Rice is a staple cereal grain in Asia, providing a significant portion of daily calories for billions of people.
Commercial Agriculture
Definition: Farming primarily for sale, often involving large-scale operations.
Description: This type of agriculture focuses on profit and is typically mechanized and capital-intensive.
Example/Explanation: In California’s Central Valley, large-scale farms grow almonds and export them globally.
Commodification
Definition: The process of turning goods, services, or ideas into marketable items.
Description: Commodification involves assigning monetary value to items that were previously non-commercial.
Example/Explanation: Organic produce has been commodified, allowing farmers to sell it at a higher price to health-conscious consumers.
Contour Plowing
Definition: A method of plowing along the natural contours of the land to reduce soil erosion.
Description: This sustainable practice helps prevent water runoff and soil degradation, especially on hilly terrain.
Example/Explanation: Farmers in Appalachia use contour plowing to grow crops on sloped fields
Crop Rotation
Definition: Alternating crops in a field to maintain soil fertility.
Description: This method helps prevent nutrient depletion and reduces the risk of pests and diseases.
Example/Explanation: A farmer might plant corn one year, followed by soybeans the next, as soybeans fix nitrogen in the soil
Dairy Farming
Definition: A type of commercial agriculture focused on milk production and other dairy products.
Description: Dairy farming typically occurs near urban centers to supply fresh milk and products like cheese, yogurt, and butter due to their perishability.
Example/Explanation: Wisconsin, known as “America’s Dairyland,” has numerous dairy farms that supply milk and cheese nationwide
Double Cropping
Definition: Growing two crops on the same land in a single year.
Description: This practice is used to maximize productivity and ensure continuous use of arable land, often in regions with long growing seasons.
Example/Explanation: In southern China, farmers grow rice during the wet season and wheat during the dry season.
Enclosure Movement
Definition: The process of consolidating small landholdings into larger, privately owned farms in England during the 18th century.
Description: This movement led to increased agricultural efficiency but also displaced many small farmers.
Example/Explanation: The Enclosure Acts in England contributed to the Agricultural Revolution and the rise of commercial farming
Ester Boserup's Theory
Definition: A theory suggesting that agricultural innovation occurs in response to population pressure.
Description: Boserup argued that as populations grow, people find ways to increase food production, countering Malthusian predictions of famine.
Example/Explanation: In densely populated areas of Southeast Asia, terrace farming was developed to grow rice on steep hillsides.
Fallow
Definition: Farmland left uncultivated to restore fertility.
Description: Allowing fields to rest helps replenish nutrients and prevents overexploitation of the soil.
Example/Explanation: Farmers practicing shifting cultivation often leave a plot fallow for several years after harvesting crops.
Feedlot
Definition: Farmland left uncultivated to restore fertility.
Description: Allowing fields to rest helps replenish nutrients and prevents overexploitation of the soil.
Example/Explanation: Farmers practicing shifting cultivation often leave a plot fallow for several years after harvesting crops.
Food Desert
Definition: An area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.
Description: Food deserts are common in low-income urban or rural areas where fresh produce is scarce.
Example/Explanation: Many neighborhoods in Detroit are classified as food deserts due to a lack of grocery stores
Food Security
Definition: Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for a healthy life.
Description: Food security depends on stable agricultural production, efficient distribution, and affordability.
Example/Explanation: The United Nations works to improve food security in sub-Saharan Africa through programs like sustainable agriculture initiatives.
Genetic Engineering
Definition: The modification of an organism's DNA to enhance certain traits.
Description: Genetic engineering in agriculture aims to produce crops with higher yields, resistance to pests, or improved nutrition.
Example/Explanation: Genetically modified (GM) crops like Bt corn are engineered to resist insect pests
Hearths of Agriculture
Definition: Regions where agriculture first originated.
Description: The earliest agricultural hearths include areas such as the Fertile Crescent, Mesoamerica, and East Asia, where humans first domesticated plants and animals.
Example/Explanation: Wheat and barley were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around 10,000 years ago
Horticulture
Definition: The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Description: Horticulture is often practiced in regions with Mediterranean climates or in suburban areas.
Example/Explanation: Mediterranean agriculture, such as growing olives and grapes in Italy, is an example of horticulture.
Intercropping
Definition: Growing two or more crops in proximity on the same land.
Description: Intercropping increases biodiversity, reduces soil erosion, and can optimize resource use.
Example/Explanation: In Central America, farmers plant corn and beans together because the beans replenish nitrogen used by the corn
Irrigation
Definition: The artificial application of water to land for agriculture.
Description: Irrigation allows farming in arid or semi-arid regions and is critical for large-scale agriculture.
Example/Explanation: The Green Revolution in India relied heavily on irrigation to increase crop production.
Land Degradation
Definition: The decline in land quality caused by overuse, deforestation, or poor agricultural practices.
Description: Land degradation reduces the productivity of agricultural land and contributes to desertification.
Example/Explanation: Overgrazing and deforestation in the Amazon contribute to land degradation.
Luxury Crops
Definition: Crops grown for sale that are not essential for survival but have high economic value.
Description: These crops are often exported from developing countries to wealthy nations.
Example/Explanation: Cacao (for chocolate) and coffee are examples of luxury crops grown in tropical regions.
Monoculture
Definition: The cultivation of a single crop over a large area.
Description: While efficient, monoculture depletes soil nutrients and increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.
Example/Explanation: Cornfields in the U.S. Midwest are a classic example of monoculture farming.
Neolithic Revolution
Definition: The transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture.
Description: This revolution allowed for the development of permanent settlements and complex societies.
Example/Explanation: Early farming in Mesopotamia marked the start of the Neolithic Revolution.
Primogeniture
Definition: A system where the eldest son inherits all of the family land.
Description: Primogeniture concentrates land ownership and prevents fragmentation but can lead to inequality.
Example/Explanation: This system was common in feudal Europe and still influences land inheritance patterns in some regions.
Salinization
Definition: The buildup of salts in soil due to excessive irrigation.
Description: Salinization reduces soil fertility and is a major challenge in arid regions.
Example/Explanation: Over-irrigation in the Indus River Valley has caused significant salinization, reducing agricultural productivity.
Slash-and-Burn Agriculture
Definition: A method of clearing land by burning vegetation to fertilize the soil.
Description: While effective short-term, this practice can lead to deforestation and soil depletion over time.
Example/Explanation: Farmers in the Amazon rainforest often use slash-and-burn techniques for subsistence farming.
