Space
The geometric surface of the Earth.
Activity Space
The area where daily activities occur.
Place
A bounded area of human importance.
Toponym
A place-name assigned to a location.
Scale
Relationship of an object or place to the Earth.
Sequent Occupancy
Succession of cultural influences in a place.
Formal Regions
Areas with homogeneous characteristics.
Functional Regions
Areas with a central point serving a purpose.
Vernacular Regions
Regions based on residents' perception.
Absolute Location
Defines a point using coordinates.
Relative Location
Location compared to a known place.
Distance Decay
Interaction decreases with distance.
Friction of Distance
Inhibits interaction between points.
Space-Time Compression
Decreased time and distance between places.
Central Place Theory
Analysis of city locations and economic exchange.
Core and Periphery
Relationships in regional phenomena.
Diffusion Patterns
Ways in which phenomena spread.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Computer-based spatial analysis.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Network of satellites for location.
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
Theory of population changes.
Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs)
Countries that have experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth, transitioning from primarily agricultural to manufacturing-based economies.
Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)
A model that explains the changing population patterns in societies as they develop, focusing on the shifts in birth and death rates due to medical advancements.
Stage-By-Stage Development
The sequential progression of societies through different stages characterized by specific demographic and economic features.
S-Curve of Population
A graphical representation showing rapid population growth followed by stabilization or decline due to reaching the carrying capacity of the environment.
Zero Population Growth (ZPG)
A state where birth rates equal death rates, resulting in no net increase in the population size.
Malthusian Theory
A theory proposing that population growth will outpace food production, leading to resource scarcity and potential catastrophic consequences.
Population Pyramids
Visual representations of a population's age and gender distribution, providing insights into demographic trends and characteristics.
Cultural Synthesis (Syncretism)
The blending of different cultural influences to create new cultural expressions or practices.
Postmodern Architecture
Architectural design characterized by unconventional shapes and materials, departing from traditional rectilinear forms.
Major Language Families
Broad groupings of languages sharing common origins, such as Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, Niger-Congo, Afro-Asiatic, and Austronesian.
Dravidian
A language family spoken by 230 million people in and around the Indian subcontinent.
Anatolian theory
A theory suggesting that European languages originated from migrants in present-day Turkey who later spread into Europe.
Folk music
Original music specific to a culture, often incorporating unique instruments and cultural stories.
Bluegrass
A popular folk music type originating in Kentucky, heavily influencing contemporary country and rock music.
Continental cuisine
Formal food traditions from mainland Europe, often served with specific sauces and side dishes.
Five Pillars of Islam
Core moral principles guiding followers, including daily prayers, alms to the poor, observance of Ramadan, creed, and the Hajj pilgrimage.
Caste System
Social hierarchy in India with five main castes - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits.
Theocracy
A form of government where religious leaders hold senior positions of governance.
Folklore
Stories and writings specific to a culture, defining societal histories and ethical foundations.
Race
Physical characteristics of common genetic heritage, categorized into Mongoloid, Caucasoid, and Negroid groups.
Lebensraum
Refers to the living space allocated to distinct nations based on optimal physical geography.
Neo-Nazism
Involves violent racism against non-whites and immigrants or an intense expression of xenophobia.
Ethnocentrism
Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group and the inferiority of others.
Cultural relativism
Idea that an individual's beliefs can only be understood within their cultural context.
Internal vs External Identity
Internal identity shared with those of the same heritage, while external identity is expressed to those from different backgrounds.
Culture regions
Bounded areas with homogeneous cultural characteristics.
Fuzzy borders
Cultural regions with unclear boundaries.
Cultural Hearths
Localized areas where cultures originate or have their main population centers.
Acculturation
Process of adapting to a new culture while retaining aspects of the original culture.
Assimilation
Complete change in identity as a minority culture merges with the majority culture.
Cultural survival
Efforts to protect and promote indigenous cultures.
Genocide
Large-scale systematic killing of people from one ethnic group.
Nation-state
A single culture under a single government.
Sovereignty
State's independence from external control with international recognition.
Supranationalism
Alignment of sovereign states for common purposes.
Territoriality
Expression of political control over space.
Citizenship
Legal identity based on birthplace or naturalization.
Enclave and Exclave
Concentrated minority culture group within a dominant culture group's territory and a separated piece of sovereign territory, respectively.
UNCLOS
Standard oceanic boundaries for UN member states ratified in 1994.
Admiralty law
International law governing legal procedures on the high seas.
Boundary Process
Involves claiming, negotiating, or capturing borders
Delimitation Process
Placing borders on the map
Demarcation Process
Placing markers on the ground to show border locations
Physical Border
Natural boundaries like rivers, mountains, or deserts
Cultural Border
Estimated boundaries between nations, ethnic groups, or tribes
Geometric Border
Boundaries surveyed along lines of latitude and longitude
Definitional Dispute
Interpretation differences in border treaties
Locational Dispute
Border shifts due to natural changes like rivers moving
Operational Dispute
Agreed borders with crossing issues
Allocational Dispute
Disputes over resources across borders
Frontier
Undefined territory like Antarctica
Tyranny of the Map
Imposed boundaries not matching cultural boundaries
State Morphology
Impact of a country's shape on society and relations with other countries
Compact State
Shape without irregularity like Nigeria
Fragmented State
Broken into pieces like the Philippines
Elongated State
Stretched-out shape like Chile
Prorupt State
Has a panhandle or peninsula like Italy
Perforated State
Contains holes like South Africa
Landlocked State
Lacks sea or ocean borders like Switzerland
Territorial Change
State territory changes through annexation or decolonization
Annexation
Addition of territory through purchase or claim extension
Capitals
Seat of government in states
Suffrage
Voting rights based on age, race, and gender
Gerrymandering
Irregularly shaped voting districts
Feudalism
Political economy with aristocracy controlling land and wealth
Absolute Monarchy
Supreme aristocrat as head of state and government
Constitutional Monarchy
Supreme aristocrat as head of state, elected leader as head of government
Commonwealth of Nations
Former British Empire parts with the British monarch as head of state
Free-Market Democracies
Elected-representative parliamentary systems
Marxist-Socialism
Political-economic theories aiming to address feudalism and capitalism inequalities
Geopolitics
Global relationships between sovereign states
Centripetal Forces
Factors holding together the state
Centrifugal Forces
Factors tearing apart the state
Balkanization
Transition from a larger state to smaller states
Irredentism
Desire of a minority ethnic group to form its own nation-state
Heartland-Rimland model
Defines global geopolitical landscape and potential conflict areas
Primary commodity
Agricultural land identified by Mackinder as a key state interest
Eastern European steppe
Productive grain cultivation area, part of Mackinder's Heartland
Buffer states
Surrounding sympathetic lands to protect against invasion
Shatterbelt theory
Proposed by Saul Cohen in 1950