Ap human geography - unit 3

Population Density

The number of people living in a given area, usually measured per square kilometer or mile.

Population Distribution

The spatial arrangement of people across Earth's surface.

Refugees

People forced to flee their country due to conflict, persecution, or disasters, unable to return safely.

Remittance

Money sent by migrants to family members in their home country, often supporting the local economy.

Step Migration

Migration that occurs in stages, such as moving from a village to a town and then to a city.

Transhumance

The seasonal movement of livestock and people between highland and lowland pastures.

Transnational Migration

When people move across international borders while maintaining connections to their home country.

Voluntary Migration

When people choose to move, often for economic opportunities or better living conditions.

Acculturation

The process of cultural change that occurs when one group adopts some traits of another while maintaining its own identity.

Assimilation

The process by which a minority group adopts the dominant culture, often losing its original traits.

Built Environment

The human-made surroundings, including buildings, roads, and infrastructure, that shape the landscape.

Centripetal Force

A factor that unifies people and strengthens a state, such as a common language or religion.

Centrifugal Force

A factor that divides people and weakens a state, such as ethnic conflict or political instability.

Colonialism

The practice of one country establishing settlements and exerting control over another territory.

Imperialism

The broader policy of extending a country's power through diplomacy or military force, often without settlement.

Creolization

The blending of different languages and cultures, often seen in colonial regions where indigenous, European, and African influences mix.

Cultural Convergence

The process by which different cultures become more alike due to globalization and the spread of ideas.

Cultural Divergence

When cultures become more distinct due to resistance to outside influences or geographic separation.

Cultural Landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the environment, including buildings, roads, and agricultural patterns.

Dialects

Regional variations of a language with distinct pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

Ethnic Religions

Religions that are closely tied to a specific ethnic group and do not actively seek converts, such as Hinduism or Judaism.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior and using it as the standard to judge others.

Global/Modern Culture

A culture influenced by mass media, technology, and international interaction, often spreading Western norms.

Hearth

The place where a cultural trait, idea, or innovation originates and begins to spread.

Indigenous Culture

The traditions and practices of native groups who have maintained their heritage despite external influences.

Isogloss

A geographic boundary that separates different linguistic features, such as word usage or pronunciation.

Land-Use Patterns

The ways people use land for activities like agriculture, industry, and urban development.

Language Families

Groups of related languages that share a common ancestral language, such as Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan.

Lingua Franca

A common language used for communication between speakers of different native languages, such as English in global business.

Multiculturalism

The coexistence of diverse cultures in a society, promoting respect and recognition of different traditions.

Postmodern Architecture

A style that emerged as a reaction against modernist simplicity, incorporating diverse designs and historical elements.

Sense of Place

The emotional connection people have to a location based on their experiences and cultural identity.

Sequent Occupancy

The concept that different cultural groups leave layers of influence on a place over time.

Syncretism

The blending of different cultural or religious traditions into a new, unique practice.

Time-Space Convergence

The idea that technology and transportation reduce the time needed to travel and communicate over distances.

Toponyms

The names given to places, which often reflect cultural history, geography, or significant events.

Types of Diffusion

The ways cultural traits spread, including relocation (through migration) and expansion (through interaction, hierarchical, contagious, or stimulus diffusion).

Universalizing Religion

A religion that seeks to convert people worldwide, such as Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism.