Ap human geo vocab

real ones

Human Geography

one of the two major divisions of geography; the spatial analysis of human phenomena, including population, cultures, activities, and landscapes

Globalization

process of heightening interactions, increasing interdependence, and deepening relations across country borders

Spatial Distribution

physical locations of geographic phenomena, usually shown on a map

”the why of where”

understanding the underlying reasons and forces that explain why human phenomena are located where they are

Epidemic vs. Pandemic

epidemic is regional vs. pandemic is global

Environmental Determinism

set of theories that use environmental differences to explain everything from intelligent to wealth

Environmental Possibilism

the theory that the natural environment presents humans with a variety of possibilities and constraints, but it is human agency and cultural heritage, not the environment itself, that guide development and choices

carrying capacity

The idea that land can hold a measurable amount of plant and animal life

formal region

area of land with common cultural or physical traits

functional region

area of land defined as sharing a common purpose in society

Perceptual region

area of land that an individual perceives as being similar

Sense of place

infusing a place with meaning as a result of experiences in a place

perception of place

How a place is envisioned

diffusion

spread of an idea, innovation, or technology from its hearth to other people and places (contagious, expansions, hierarchical, relocation, stimulus diffusion)

spatial interactions

degree of connectedness or contact among people or places

hearth

area or place where an idea, innovation, or technology originates

cultural landscape

the visible human imprint on the landscape

sequent occupance

Imprints left on the cultural landscape by a series of successive societies. With each society contributing to cumulative cultural landscape

scale

geographical scope (local, national, or global) in which we analyze and understand a phenomenon

mental maps

maps of an area made from memory or experience by individuals or groups (cognitive, memory map)

activity (action) spaces

places within the rounds of daily activity

cartography

the art and science of making maps

Assimilation

When a minority group loses distinct cultural traits like the way they dress, food, speech, etc. they adapt to the customs of the dominant culture. It can happen voluntarily or by force

Acculturation

the process of where a group or individual adopts cultural traits, behaviors, and social patterns from another dominant culture through prolonged contact, leading to a modification of their original culture while still retaining some of their own traits