Geography and Cultural Concepts Glossary

A series of flashcards derived from the glossary of geography and cultural concepts to aid in exam preparation.

Absolute location

Precise location of a place, usually defined by latitude and longitude.

Accessibility

Ease of flow between two places.

Acropolis

The upper, fortified part of an ancient Greek city, commonly a religious site.

Africa city model (de Blij model)

Model showing how colonial cities were often built around African cities, with three CBDs: traditional, informal, and colonial.

Agency

The belief an individual has in their ability to affect change in their life.

Agglomeration

Cost advantages created when similar businesses cluster in the same location.

Agricultural theory

The theory that the Proto-Indo-European language spread with the diffusion of agriculture.

Agriculture

Purposefully growing crops and raising livestock to produce food, feed, and fiber.

Animistic religion

Traditional religion where animals or objects are significant.

Anthropocene

Current geologic epoch in which humans shape Earth's environment.

Arithmetic population density

Number of people per unit area of land; calculated by dividing population by land area.

Assimilation

When a minority group loses distinct cultural traits and adopts the customs of the dominant culture.

Asylum-seeker

Migrant who claims the right to protection as a refugee in a foreign country.

Authenticity

The idea that one place or experience is the true one.

Backward reconstruction

Tracking sound shifts to uncover an original language.

Barrioization

Dramatic increase in Hispanic population in a neighborhood.

Bid rent theory

The premise that the price and demand for land increase as one gets closer to the central city.

Biodiesel

Renewable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease.

Biodiversity

Variety of plants and animals in an area.

Blockbusting

Rapidly changing racial or class composition of a neighborhood influenced by real estate agents.

Boundary

A plane that divides two countries beneath the subsoil and into the airspace.

Bracero Program

Laws and agreements passed in the U.S. and Mexico in 1942 to encourage migration for agricultural work.

Break-of-bulk

A place where goods are transferred from one transport form to another.

Break-of-bulk point

A site where goods are transferred between different forms of transportation.

Buddhism

Religion based on the belief in reaching enlightenment by following the middle path; splintered from Hinduism.

Cadastral system

Method of land survey defining land ownership and property lines.

Capitalism

Economic system where goods and services are produced for profit.

Carrying capacity

The amount of plant and animal life that land can support.

Cartography

The art and science of making maps.

Caste system

Social structure in South Asia where people are born into their societal roles.

Census

An official count of a population.

Central Business District (CBD)

The zone in a city where businesses cluster and infrastructure is built around.

Central city

Urban area that is not suburban, usually older and original.

Central place theory

Theory explaining the size and location distribution of cities and towns.

Centrifugal

Attributes that can divide a nation, like wealth inequality.

Centripetal

Attributes that can unite a nation, like shared culture.

Chain migration

Permanent movement following kinship links.

Child dependency ratio

Number of people aged 0-14 per 100 people aged 15-64.

Child mortality rate

Probability per 1000 live births that a child will die before age 5.