Chapter 1 Notecards (Human Geography)

Diffusion

spread of ideas, objects, inventions, and other practices from place to place

Environmental determinism

the idea that the natural or physical environment shapes and creates cultures; in other words, the environment essentially dictates culture

Expansion diffusion

the type of diffusion involves the spread outward from a core area that contains the idea, cultural practice, etc. and can occur from person-toperson contact (as with a contagious disease) or through a hierarchy

Formal region

a region defined by homogeneity in one or a number of different characteristics

Functional region

a region that is define by a central node or focal point to which other places in the region are connected

Geographic information systems

combines computer hardware and software in a system that stores, analyzes and displays geographic data with a “computer mapping” capability in a system of data layers

Geography

literally, writing about the Earth; the study of the physical and environmental aspects of the world, from a spatial perspective

International Date Line

roughly follows 180 degrees longitude.

Latitude

the numbering system for parallels.

Longitude

the numbering system for meridians

Meridian

half circles that connect the North and South poles

Parallel

circles that encompass the Earth and are parallel to the equator

Possibilism

the theory people can adapt to their environmental conditions and choose from many alternatives (possibilities), despite the limitations that the environment pose

Prime Meridian

0 degrees longitude, passes through Greenwich, England

Projection

the process of transferring locations from the Earth’s curved surface to a flat map

Region

an area that shares some sort of common characteristic that binds the area into a whole

Relocation diffusion

the diffusion process in which people migrate or move to a new area, and bring their ideas, objects, and the like with them

Remote sensing

acquisition of data about the Earth’s surface from aerial platforms such as satellites, airplanes, or drones

Scale

ratio of the length or distance on the map versus the length or distance on the Earth or ground (actual); can also refer to the spatial extent of some phenomenon

Site

a way to describe a location; refers to the physical characteristics, such as the topography, vegetative cover, climatic conditions, etc

Situation

a way to describe a location by referring to the area surrounding the place, and is sometimes referred to as relative location

Identity

your sense of self based on your everyday experiences and social relations

Mental Maps/Cognitive Maps

psychological representation of locations from one’s own knowledge, experiences, and impressions

Reference Map

maps that show where something is in space. Their purpose is to display geographical data (landforms, coastlines, waterways, etc.) and political data (political boundaries, settlements, transportation networks, etc.) for their own sake

Thematic Map

maps that tell a story about a place

Absolute Direction

the exact direction you are heading

Relative Direction

direction depends on surronding area (not presice)

Absolute Distance

Exact distance between 2 places

Relative Distance

approximate measurement between 2 places

Absolute Location

the exact spot where something is located

Relative Location

description of a location using surronding geographic figures

Absolute Location

Position on Earth's surface using the coordinate system of longitude (that runs from North to South Pole) and latitude (that runs parallel to the equator)

Topological Space

a set whose elements are called points, along with an additional structure

Socioeconomic Space

consists of sites, situations, routes, regions, patterns. The experiential or cultural space consists of a space where groups live and interact

Cultural Space

cultural values, practices, discursive and material expressions and artefacts of people, the cultural diversity and plurality of society, and how cultures are distributed over space

Cognitive Space

defined and measured in terms of the nature and degree of people's values, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions about locations, distances,and regions

Accesesibility

The degree of ease with which it is possible to reach certain location from other locations

Spatial Interaction

the flow of information, products, and human beings from one location to another

Time-Space Convergence

the process of travel time diminishing as technological advancements in transportation and communication bring places closer together

Intervening Opportunity

a feature (usually economic) that causes a migrant to choose a destination other than his original one

Formal Region

An area defined by one predominant or universal characteristic throughout its entire area

Fuctional region

An area organized around a central focal point or node

Perceptual Region

An area that people believe exist as part of their cultural identity

Sectionalism

an exaggerated devotion to the interests of a region over those of a country as a whole

Irredentism

the belief that territory outside a given state should be made part of the state due to a large amount of people living there of the same ethnicity as live in the state in question or due to the state having historically been in possession of the territory

Qualitative

the collection of information about human behaviour and perception

Quantitative

measures using numerical facts