AP Human Geography Exam

Reference Maps (1.1)

Designed for people to refer to for general information about a place (physical or political)

Thematic Maps (1.1)

Used as a communications tool - tell us how human activities are distributed

Clustering (1.1)

Grouped/bunched together

Dispersal (1.1)

appears to be distributed over a wide area

Elevation (1.1)

Using levels of how high/low somethings is located on the land

Mercator Map (1.1)

Shape and directions of countries are fairly accurate, greatly distorted from poles

Robinson Map (1.1)

Everything is distorted in small amounts

Goode Map (1.1)

Continent sizes are accurately portrayed, directions and distance aren’t accurate

Gall Peters Map (1.1)

Shape of countries especially near the equator are distorted

Geospatial Data (1.2)

All information including physical features and human activities

Geographic Information System (GIS) (1.2)

A computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface

Geographic Positioning System (GPS) (1.2)

This system uses data from satellites to pin-point a location on earth and help people find their way to a destination

Remote Sensing (1.2)

The process of taking pictures of the Earth’s surface from satellites to provide a greater understanding of the Earth’s geography over long distances

Census Data (1.3)

An official count of individuals in a population

Absolute Location (1.4)

The precise spot where something is located

Relative Location (1.4)

Where something is in relation to other things

Space (1.4)

Extent of an area and can be in a relative and absolute sense

Place (1.4)

Refers to the specific human and physical characteristics of a location

Distance decay (1.4)

A geographical term which describes the effect of a distance on cultural or spatial interactions

Time-Space Compression (1.4)

The increasing sense of connectivity that seems to be bringing people closer together evn though their distances are the same

Pattern (1.4)

The geometric or regular arrangement of something in an area

Sustainability (1.5)

The goal of the human race reaching equilibrium with the environment, meeting nthe needs of the present generation while also leaving resources for future generations

Natural Resources (1.5)

A physical material consisting part of Earth that people need and value

Environmental Determinism (1.5)

How the physical enviornment caused (determined) social development

Possibilism

The physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to their environment

Scale (1.6)

The relationship between the distance on the ground and the corresponding distance on a specific map

Scale of Analysis (1.6)

How zoomed out or in you are when looking at geographic data

Region (1.7)

A place larger than a point and smaller than a planet that is grouped together because of a measurable or perceived common feature

Formal Region (1.7)

A region that’s based on quantitative data, all government areas are in this because they share a government (ex: Wisconsin)

Functional Region (1.7)

A region based around a node or focal point (ex: DC metro)

Vernacular/Perceptual Region (1.7)

An area that shares a common qualitative characteristic, it’s only a region because people believe it’s a region (ex: Midwest)

Ecumene (2.1)

A term used by geographers to mean where people are settled on earth (ex: along rivers, coats, etc.)

Physical Factors of Distribution (2.1)

People avoid areas too dry, too wet, too cold, etc.

Cultural Factors of Distribution (2.1)

Populations will be concentrated in areas that have access to education, healthcare, and entertainment

Arithmetic Density (2.1)

Total number of objects in an area

Physiological Density (2.1)

Number of people supported by a unit area of arable land

Arable Land (2.1)

Land suited for agriculture

Agricultural Density (2.1)

Ratio of the number of farmers to amount of arable land

Carrying Capacity (2.2)

The maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain

Overpopulation (2.2)

When there is not enough resources in an area to support a population

Age/Sex Ratio (2.3)

Comparison of the numbers of males and females of different ages

Population Pyramid (2.3)

A graph of the population of an area by age and sex

Demography (2.4)

The study of population

Crude Birth Rate (CBR) (2.4)

The number of live births per one thousand people in the population

Crude Death Rate (CDR) (2.4)

The number of deaths per one thousand people in the population

Doubling Time (2.4)

The time period it takes for a population to double in size

Fertility Rate (2.4)

The number of live births occurring in a population

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) (2.4)

Number of babies that die during the first year per 1000 live births

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI) (2.4)

(birth rate - death rate)/10, positive means population is growing, and negative means population is shrinking

Epidemiological Model (2.5)

Explains how a society has developed and the change in how/why people are dying as we’ve progressed

Stage 1 of DTM (2.5)

High CDR, infectious diseases are a principal cause of human deaths

Stage 2 of DTM (2.5)

Receding pandemics, improved sanitation and medicine, better nutrition

Stage 3 of DTM (2.5)

Degenerative and human-created diseases, decrease in infectious diseases

Stage 4 of DTM (2.5)

Degenerative causes of death - cardiovascular diseases and cancers - extended life expectancy, better life choices

Stage 5 of DTM (2.5)

Very low birth and death rates, very old population

Malthus Theory (2.6)

While population increases geometrically, food supply increases arithmetically (slower than population increase)

Neo-Malthusian Theory (2.6)

Earth’s resources can only support a finite population

Antinatalist Policies (2.7)

When a country provides incentives for people to have fewer children

Pronatalist Policies (2.7)

When a country provides incentives for people to have more children

Immigration Policies (2.7)

States can set up policies that make it easier or harder for people to immigrate to their territory

Contraception (2.8)

Methods of preventing pregnancy

Dependency Ratio (2.9)

The ratio of the number of people not in the workforce to those who are in the workforce

Life Expectancy (2.9)

The average number of years a person born in a country might expect to live

Push Factors (2.10)

Force that drives people away from a place

Pull Factors (2.10)

Force that draws people to immigrate to a place

Intervening Opportunity (2.10)

The presence of a nearer opportinuty that greatly diminishes the attractiveness of sites farther away

Intervening Obstacle (2.10)

Any force or factor that may limit human migrations

Asylum Seeker (2.11)

A person seeking residence in a country outside of their own because they’re fleeing persecution

Chain Migration (2.11)

A series of migrations within a group that begins with one person who through contact with the group, pulls people to migrate to the same area

Step-Migration (2.11)

Migration to a far away place that takes place in stages

Forced Migration (2.11)

When people migrate not because they want to but because they have no other choice

Guest Worker (2.11)

A legal immigrant who is allowed to work in a host country, often for a limited period, to fill labor shortages.

Internally Displaced Persons (2.11)

Individuals who are forced to flee their homes but remain within their country's borders.

Refugee (2.11)

A person who has been forced to leave their country due to persecution, war, or violence and is unable to return safely.

Transhumance (2.11)

The seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.

Transitional Migration (2.11)

Moving across a border into a another country

Voluntary Migration (2.11)

People choosing to migrate

Political Impact on Migration (2.12)

Brain drain: when majority of the educated/skilled workers leave an area to pursue better opportunities elsewhere

Cultural Impact on Migration (2.12)

Loss of culture or migrants bring in new language

Economic Impact on Migration (2.12)

Loss or gain of income dependening on the migration flow

Culture (3.1)

Body of materials, customary beliefs, and social forms that constitute the distinct traditions of a group.

Material Culture (3.1)

Physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture.

Nonmaterial Culture (3.1)

The intangible aspects of a culture, including beliefs, values, norms, and symbols, that shape the way people understand and interact with the world.

Cultural Relativism (3.1)

The culture should be judged based on it’s own standards, not based on another culture

Ethnocentrism (3.1)

The belief that one's own culture is superior to others, leading to the judgment of other cultures based on the standards of one's own.

Taboo (3.1)

A strong social prohibition against certain actions or behaviors within a culture, often deemed unacceptable or forbidden.

Cultural Landscapes (3.2)

The forms superimposed on the physical environment by the activites of humans (ex: street lights, churches, cemeteries, etc.)

Ethnic Neighborhoods (3.2)

Residential areas where a specific ethnic group predominates, often characterized by unique cultural traits and practices.

Indigenous People (3.2)

Ethnic groups that are the original inhabitants of a region, maintaining distinct cultural practices and languages.

Indigenous Community (3.2)

A group of Indigenous people who share common cultural practices, languages, and social structures, often residing in specific territories they have historically inhabited.

Sense of Place (3.3)

A strong feeling of belonging and attachment to a specific location, influenced by personal experiences, cultural identity, and emotional ties.

Language (3.3)

A system of communication used by a particular community or country, consisting of spoken, written, or signed words and symbol systems. It reflects the cultural identity and social interactions of its speakers.

Religion (3.3)

A system of beliefs and practices often centered around spiritual or supernatural elements, shaping moral values, community structures, and cultural identity.

Ethnicity (3.3)

A shared cultural heritage, often defined by common ancestry, language, and traditions, influencing identity and social interactions.

Gender (3.3)

Refers to the cultural differences and how men are treated differently compared to women

Relocation Diffusion (3.4)

The spread of trends or cultural practices through the physical movement of people, resulting in the transfer of ideas and innovations to new areas.

Expansion Diffusion (3.4)

The process by which a cultural trend or idea spreads from a central point to other areas, often through various means such as communication or social networks, without the need for migration.

Contagious Diffusion (3.4)

The rapid, widespread dissemination of a cultural trait or idea throughout a population, often occurring through direct contact or communication.

Hierarchical Diffusion (3.4)

The spread of cultural traits or ideas from larger or more influential entities to smaller or less influential ones, often following a rank-order process, typically through key individuals or institutions.

Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion (3.4)

The spread of cultural traits or ideas from smaller or less influential groups to larger or more dominant ones, often initiated by marginalized or grassroots movements, challenging traditional top-down diffusion.