SSSS (Social Studies Study Set)

Cartography

The science and art of making maps.

Scale

A ratio that compares a distance on a map to a distance in the real world.

Region

An area defined by one or more natural or cultural characteristics.

Latitude and longitude

A coordinate system for determining locations on the Earth's surface.

Peninsula

A landform surrounded by water on three sides.

Projections

Methods of representing the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map.

Pangaea

A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras.

Indigenous

Native peoples of a region, often with distinct cultural practices.

Plate tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates.

Earthquakes

Sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements along fault lines.

Climate vs. weather

Climate refers to long-term atmospheric conditions, while weather refers to short-term variations.

Gender vs. sex

Gender is a social construct related to roles, while sex refers to biological differences.

Gender roles

Societal norms dictating what behaviors are acceptable based on one's gender.

Descriptions of climate zones

Categorization of regions based on long-term weather patterns.

Global warming/climate change/GHGs

Increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to greenhouse gas emissions.

World's most valuable commodities

Products that have significant economic importance and demand.

World population deprived of food, clean water

Statistics highlighting global inequalities in access to essential resources.

Shantytowns, slums, barrios, etc.

Informal settlements often characterized by substandard living conditions.

Developed vs. developing nations (MDC, LDC)

MDCs are economically advanced; LDCs are less economically developed.

Sustainable development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations.

J curve

A model that shows the relationship between societal development and disruption.

Extraction

The process of obtaining natural resources from the environment.

ISI

Import substitution industrialization; economic policy of replacing imports with domestic production.

Quotas

Limits set on the quantity of goods that can be imported or exported.

Primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary

Different sectors of the economy: primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services), quaternary (knowledge-based).

Formal vs. informal economy

Formal economy is regulated and taxed; informal economy operates outside of government regulation.

Democratization, factors of

Variables that foster or hinder the process of increasing democratic governance.

Measures of well-being, including GNI (in many sources: GDP), HDI

Indicators used to evaluate the economic and social well-being of populations.

Push/pull factors

Conditions that cause people to leave a place (push) or attract them to a place (pull).

Urbanization, characteristics of

The process of population movement from rural to urban areas, leading to growth of cities.

Double day

The concept of women engaging in both paid labor and unpaid domestic work.

Culture, values

Beliefs, behaviors, and practices characteristic of a group.

Climates

Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation in a region.

NAFTA (now USMCA), free trade agreements

Trade agreements aimed at reducing tariffs and increasing trade between countries.

Tariffs

Taxes imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries.

Free trade vs. fair trade

Free trade emphasizes minimal restrictions on trade; fair trade focuses on equitable trading conditions.

Livability of a city - factors include

Quality transportation, well-maintained parks, quality schools affecting urban appeal.

Gentrification

The process of renovating urban neighborhoods, often displacing lower-income residents.

Nuclear family

A family unit consisting of two parents and their biological children.

Extended family

A family structure that includes additional relatives beyond the nuclear unit.

Middle and South American climate zones/temperature-altitude zones

Classification of climates in Middle and South America based on altitude and temperature.

Amazon rainforest

The largest tropical rainforest in the world, known for its biodiversity.

El Nino

A climate pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific.

Aztecs, Incas, Mayans

Ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica and South America, known for their rich cultures.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered lands.

Export processing zones

Areas where goods are manufactured for export, often with tax exemptions.

Mercantilism

Economic theory emphasizing the role of government in increasing national wealth by regulation.

Privatization

The transfer of ownership of public services or assets to private enterprises.

Maquiladoras

Factories in Mexico that assemble imported materials for export.

Remittances

Money sent back home by migrants to their families.

War on drugs, cartels

Efforts to combat illegal drug trade and related criminal organizations.

Brain drain

The emigration of highly trained or educated individuals from one country to another.

Machismo, marianismo

Cultural norms in Latin America emphasizing male dominance (machismo) and female virtue (marianismo).

Roman Catholicism

A branch of Christianity with a significant influence in Latin America.

Evangelical Protestantism

A movement within Protestant Christianity characterized by a focus on personal faith.

Liberation theology

A movement advocating for social justice and the rights of the poor within Christianity.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches.

Nuclear power

Energy produced through nuclear fission; a controversial energy source.

Industrial Revolution

A period of major industrialization during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Age of Exploration

A period from the 15th to 17th centuries marked by European explorations of the world.

Cold War

A period of political tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II.

Sphere of Influence

A region where a country has exclusive rights and privileges.

Capitalism (market economy)

An economic system based on private ownership and free markets.

Socialism, communism (command economy)

Economic systems where the government plays a significant role in the economy.

European Union, including membership requirements

A political and economic union of European countries with specific criteria for membership.

Subsidy

Financial aid granted by the government to support a specific industry or sector.

Population pyramids (different shapes)

Graphs that show the distribution of various age groups in a population.

Assimilation vs. acculturation

Assimilation means adopting the dominant culture, while acculturation means exchanging cultural traits.

United Kingdom/Great Britain (who is in U.K.?)

The U.K. includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

World's most popular tourist destination - region

Regions known for attracting the highest number of tourists worldwide.

Geography of the Netherlands

Characterized by its flat landscape, extensive canal systems, and significant land reclamation.

World's largest country

Russia, known for its vast territory and diverse geography.

Post-Soviet states

Countries that were part of the Soviet Union after its dissolution in 1991.

Iron Curtain

A term used to describe the division between Western Europe and the Soviet sphere of influence.

Fall of Soviet Union

The collapse of the Soviet government in 1991, leading to the independence of several states.

Chernobyl

The site of a catastrophic nuclear disaster in 1986 in Ukraine.

Glasnost, perestroika

Policies introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev aimed at increasing openness and restructuring the Soviet economy.

Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin

Key figures in the development and implementation of communist ideology.

Mikhail Gorbachev, Vladimir Putin

Leaders of Russia associated with significant political changes; Gorbachev with reform and Putin with consolidation of power.

Conflict in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Chechnya, Crimea

Ongoing geopolitical conflicts involving Russia and neighboring regions.

Coup d'etat

A sudden overthrow of a government, often involving the military.

Color revolutions

Protests that led to regime changes in several countries, notably in the post-Soviet space.

Russian press freedom

The state of media independence and expression in Russia under different regimes.

Russian population pyramid

A graphical representation showing the age distribution of the Russian population.