AP HUMAN UNIT 1 VOCAB

Absolute Direction

Definition: A constant orientation relative to a fixed frame of reference, always pointing the Same way no matter the locations

Example: north/south and east/West

Absolute Distance

Definition: Precise measurement of the distance between two locations.

Example: The distance between Washington, DC, and New York City, which is about 214 miles

Absolute Location

Definition: Location on Earth's Surface determined by the Coordinate system of longitude (which runs from the North to South pole) and latitude (which runs parallel to the equator)

Example: The absolute location of Washington, DC, is

76° 51° 39°10'N.

Acculturation

Definition: When a less dominant Culture adopts characteristics of a more dominant culture

Example: When immigrants to the United States adopt Certian American cultural practices (like Celebrating the fourth of July) while maintaining aspects of their Original Culture (like celebrating Diwali).

Assimilation

Definition: The process where peade lose original cultural trails and adopt those of a domirant Culture, either fully or partially.

Example: When second-generation Asian-American immigrants fully embrace American cultural norms, language, and values, while losing the practices of their original homeland.

Cartogram

Definition: A map that alters the shape or size of regions in order to illustrate information regarding another variable

Example: A map of the world where countries are resized based on their population rather than their actual

geographic size

Cartography

Definition: The theory/practice of making visual representations of Earths surface in the form of maps

Example: When people discovered America, they used

Cartography to make maps

Choropleth Map

Definition A thematic map that' uses shapes or colors to represent spatial data as average values per unit of

data

Example: Shading a map based on the distribution/clustering

of the Latino Population in York

Clustering

Definition: A spacial pattern where similar activities or populations gather in a specific area

Example: when houses that have similar bigger lots are built very close together

Contagious Diffusion

Definition: A form of cultural diffusion where ideas rapidly Spread via person to Person Contact

Example: The rapid spread of internet memes online

Culture

Definition: the common beleifs, values customs, behaviors, and

artifacts that a group of people use to engage with one another and their environment

Example: Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico

Cultural Ecology

Definition: the relationship between culture and the environment, focusing on how humans adapt to different environments

Example: The agricultural practice of farming inSoutheast Asia

Cultural landscape

Definition: the physical environment that has been modified by human activities/beleifs

Example: Mosques in Southwest Asia, temples in India, buildings, factories

Density

Definition: the number of individuals living in a Specified land area (measured in square miles/ square kilometers)

Example: If a city City has a population of 1 million people living in an area of 100 square miles, the density is

10,000 people per square mile

Diffusion

Definition: the movement of ideas, people, objects, cultural practices, technology, weather patterns, etc from one place to another

Example: The Spread of the internet from its origins to

the United States (technological diffusion)

Dispersal

Definition: when objects in an area are relatively far apart

Example: An area that has houses that are further apart and have larger lots more land from one house to the next

Distance Decay

Definition: A theory in AP Human Geography that states that as the distance between two locations increases, the interaction between them. decreases

Example: People in a small Texas are unlikely to frequently interact with a village town in Nepal

Distribution

Definition:the distribution of people, resources, or phenomena across a geographic area

Example: The Population density of NYC is much higher in Mannahatan compared to the less densely populated areas of

of New York

Dot Distribution Map

Definition: Maps that use dot Symbols to show the presence

or quantity of a phenomenon. They are good at showing patterns of density.

Example: A map showing population of the USA that uses 1 dot for every 1,000 people, showing clustering in NYC

Ecology

Definition: The scientific study of ecosystems

Example: energy movement through food webs

Environmental Determinism

Definition: A philosophical theory that states that human behaviors are a direct result of the surrounding

environment

Example: The Inuit people in the Artic rely on hunting sea mammals, building igloos, and making warm clothes due to the extreme cold and the lack of materials there.

Expansion Diffusion

Definition: A type of cultural diffusion in AP Human Geography

where cultural elements spread to other cutures but continue to be Significant in the culture of origin

Example: The popularity of sushi a Japanese dish, has spread roughout the world, but it's still eaten in Japan

Formal / Uniform Region

Definition: An area with a single, predominant characteristic that is Consistent throughout the region.

Example: The Corn Belt in the united states, a uniform region characterized by the predominant Consistent cultivation of corn across states, like Iowa and Indiana

Functional / Nodal Region

Definition: A social or economic function that takes place between a central node/focal point, and its surrounding area is the functional region

Example: New York City is a functional region where the city (node) acts as the central hub for economic

activities

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Definition: A computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays data that has a geographic reference.

Example: Urban planners use GIS to map/analyze the distribution of public services, such as hospitals and schools

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Definition: A system that uses Sattelite data to determine specific locations on Earth and assist people in navigating to their locations

Example: Drivers use GPS to get real-time directions, find the fastest routes, and navigate.

Globalization

Definition: the growing connection. between people and places through economic, political, and cultural exchange

Example: McDonald's operates in numerous countries, bringing global business and cultural elements to diverse regions

Graduated Symbol Map

Definition. A map that uses proportionally scaled symbols to represent data values

Example: A map showing earthquake magnitudes worldwide, where larger circles indicate more powerful earthquakes

Hearth

Definition: The region where new and innovative ideas

originate

Example: In Silicon Valley, there have been many technological advancements and start up concepts that originated.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Definition: When an idea Spreads from the most Connected people to others

Example: When a new slang term emerges among popular Social media influencers, it gradually spreads to the wider online community

Isoline Map

Definition: Maps that show lines that join points of equal value

Example: A map showing lines of equal population density across a region or country

Latitude

Definition: The

angular distance measured north or

south from the equator

Example: The City Rio de Janerio is located

approximate 22.9 degrees South latitude

Location

Definition: The posistion of a place or location on the Earth's surface

Example: Absolute Location (Eg, Nyc is 40.7128° N Latitude and 74.0060°W longitude), and Relative location (NYC is approx 225 miles northeast of DC)

Longitude

Definition: A geographic that measures the posistion of a point on Earth for another celestial body) in terms of its distance east or west of the

Prime Meridian

Example: Tokyo, Japan, is 139.6917°E, or 139.6917°E of the prime

Meridian

Map Scale

Definition: Indicates the relationship between distances and actual distance

Example: A scale of 1:100,000 means that 1 unit on the map equals 100,000 units on the ground

Mental Map

Definition: A person's internal representation of the physical world based on their knowledge and experiences.

Example: A person navigating their drive home without using lips or a physical

map.

Meridian

Definition: A line of longitude that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole

Example: The Prime Meridian at 0° longitude, passing through Green wich, England

Parallel

Definition: A line of latitude" that runs east-west around the earth and is parallel to the equator

Example: The Tropic of Cancer at approximately 23.5°N latitude

Pattern

Definition. refers to the arrangement of objects on the Earth's surface in relationship to one

another

Example: Grid pattern of Streets in Manhattan, NYC

Place

Definition: A Specific point On Earth distinguished by particular physical and human characteristics

Example: Paris, known for its unique culture, land marks, and history

Possibilism

Definition: The theory that the environment sets certian

limitations in an area, but culture is

otherwise determined by Social Conditions

Example: Agricultural practices can be adapted to arid environment's through irrigation

Projection

Definition: A method used to represent the curved surface of earth flat map

Example: The Mercator Projection, commonly used for navigation

Reference Map

Definition: Shows the locations of geographic

for which census data is collected and distributed

Example: A road map

showing high ways, cities, and major landmarks

Relative Direction

Definition: directions like left, right, forward, and backward, based on a person's orientation

Example: Turn left at

the next intersection

Relative Distance

Definition: A measure of the Social, cultural, and economic Connectivity between two places (TIME)

Example: The travel time between 2 Cities considering

traffic and transportation

Relative Location

Definition: The posistion of a place in relation to another place

Example: Chicago is

located west of Lake

Michigan and South of Milwaukee

Region

Definition: An area defined by one or more distinctive characteristics or features

Example: The Mid West region of the United States, known for its agriculture and industry

Relocation Diffusion

Definition: The spread of an idea or innovation through the

physical movement of people

Example: The spread of languages such as Spanish to Latin America during colonization

Remote sensing

Definition: The gathering of data about Earth's surface from a sattelite orbiting the planet or other long- distance methods

Examples: Using sattelite imagery to monitor deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

Scale

Definition: The relationship between the portion of the Earth being studied and

the Earth as a whole

Example: Local, regional,

and global scales of analysis in Studying climate change

impacts

Scale of Analysis

Definition: The level at

which data is analyzed,

such as global, regional,

national, or local

Example: Analyzing population density at the city level VS

country level

Site

Definition: The exact

location of a city or Settlement on Earth,

including its physical

Characteristics

Example: Climate, soil quality, wildlife.

Situation

Definition: The location of a place relative to other places and its surrounding features

near

Example: Istanbul's situation as a city that is Europe / Asia has made

it a cultural Commercial place

Space-Time Compression

Definition: The reduction in the time it takes for Something to reach another place due to advances in technology and transportation

Example: The internet, which allows for instant communication across the globe

Spatial Perspective

Definition: A way of understanding the world by examining how things are arranged, situated, and interconnected in space

Example: studying the

distribution of urban areas, agricultural land, and natural resources

on other planets

Stimulus Diffusion

Definition: The spread of an idea, principle, or trend, even if some details are changed by the new adaptors

Example: Fast food spreading from the United States to other countries, like McDonald's adapting its menu to other countries tastes

Sustainability

Definition: The use of Earth's resources

in ways that ensure their availability for future generations

Example Practices like recycling, renewable energy use, and sustainable agriculture

Syncretism

Definition: The blending of 2 or more cultural traits to form a new trait

Example: The fusion of African, European, and Indigenous influences in

Latin American music/ religion

Thematic Map

Definition: map

that shows the relationship between specific data sets and physical geography, focusing on a specific theme / subject area

Example: A map showing the distribution of world religions

Vernacular / Perceptual Region

Definition: An area that people feel is part of their cultural identity. These regions are based on people's perceptions and histories, differing

from person

to person. They lack clear boundaries and do not align with official borders.

Example: The Bible Belt or Hillbilly Region