AP Human Geography Summary (pages 11-14)

Political Boundaries

Defined as boundaries established through written agreements, treaties, or legal documents.

Delimited

Refers to boundaries that are drawn on maps to show the boundary.

Demarcation

The process of physically marking political boundaries with walls or fences.

Satellite State

An independent state heavily influenced or controlled by a more powerful country.

Buffer State

A weaker independent state situated between two powerful countries to prevent conflict.

Regional Bloc

A group of countries sharing a common identity or purpose, often for economic or political reasons.

Territorial Sea

A maritime zone up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, where a state has sovereignty.

Contiguous Zone

A maritime zone extending up to 24 nautical miles, where a state can enforce laws related to customs, immigration, and pollution.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

A maritime zone up to 200 nautical miles where a state has rights to marine resources.

High Seas

Areas beyond national jurisdiction that are open to all states.

Unitary System

A political system where the central government holds primary power, delegating authority to local governments.

Confederation

A political system where states or regions hold primary power, delegating limited authority to a central government.

Federal System

A political system where power is shared between central and state governments.

Devolution

The transfer of power from central to regional governments to prevent conflict or civil war.

Subsistence Agriculture

Agriculture focused on sustaining the family, common in less developed regions.

Commercial Agriculture

Agriculture aimed at making a profit, prevalent in more developed regions.

Intensive Farming

High labor and capital input on small plots for high yield.

Extensive Farming

Low labor and capital input on large plots for lower yield per acre.

Transhumance

Seasonal movement of livestock between higher elevations in summer and lower elevations in winter.

Metes and Bounds

A land survey system that uses natural landmarks to define land boundaries.

Long Lot System

A land survey system featuring narrow parcels stretching back from rivers or roads.

Gentrification

A process of urban renewal that can lead to improvements and displacement of original residents.

Infilling

Redevelopment of vacant land to improve surrounding areas.

Redlining

The refusal to grant home loans to areas based on racial or ethnic biases.

Blockbusting

Discriminatory practices in real estate leading to housing issues and environmental injustice.

Industrialization

Rapid transformation of the economy through the introduction of machines and new technologies.

Weber’s Least Cost Theory

A theory that describes the factors influencing manufacturing locations based on cost minimization.

Gross National Income (GNI)

The amount of all goods and services produced by a country’s citizens.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total amount of final goods and services produced within a country in one year.

Gini Coefficient

A measure of the distribution of wealth within a population.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

An economic theory that adjusts for variations in prices of goods across countries.

Human Development Index (HDI)

An indicator measuring a country's average achievements in health, education, and income.

Traditional Society (Stage of Economic Growth)

Characterized by subsistence farming and barter, with economies primarily agricultural.

Take-off (Stage of Economic Growth)

A stage marked by industrialization and political change leading to rapid growth.

Dependency Theory

The theory that the periphery remains poor due to dependence on core countries.

Commodity Dependence

The phenomenon where raw materials are exported from peripheral countries to core countries.