ap human geo

Space

The areas we occupy as humans; it has no value until the people who occupy it make it their own.

Place

How we modify space based on who we are as a group of people.

Cultural landscape

The built forms that cultural groups create in inhabiting Earth and the associated meanings, values, and experiences.

Absolute location

A precise position on Earth’s surface.

Relative location

The position of one place in relation to another.

Time–distance decay

Near things are more related than distant things, and interaction decreases with distance.

Time-space compression

Decreasing distance between places, often summarized as “the world is shrinking.”

Friction of distance

The inhibiting effect of distance on human interaction.

Interdependence

Ties between regions and countries creating a global economic system.

Diffusion

Spread of phenomena through space and time.

Environmental determinism

Belief that physical environment shapes cultures.

Possibilism

Belief that societies can develop in various ways despite the physical environment.

Glocal perspective

Acknowledges the relationship between local communities and global patterns.

Population distribution

Pattern of human spread on Earth’s surface.

Population density

Average number of people per unit of land area.

Dependency ratio

Number of dependents per 100 working-age people.

Youth dependency ratio

Number of young dependents per 100 working-age people.

Elderly dependency ratio

Number of elderly dependents per 100 working-age people.

Population pyramid

Graphic device for comparing age and sex structure.

Demographic equation

Method for calculating total population based on natural increase and migration.

Rate of natural increase (RNI)

Difference between births and deaths as a percentage of total population.

Zero population growth (ZPG)

When births equal deaths, resulting in zero RNI.

Doubling time

Number of years for a population to double.

Rule of 70

Tool for calculating doubling time by dividing 70 by RNI.

Malthusian

Related to Malthus’s theory of population.

Cornucopians

People who disagree with Malthusian views.

Boserup effect

Increase in food production from new farming methods.

Antinatalist policies

Aim to reduce fertility rates.

Pronatalist policies

Aim to boost fertility rates.

Brain drain

Loss of skilled individuals through migration.

Brain gain

Gain of skilled individuals through migration.

Push-pull theory of migration

Factors influencing migration decisions.

Material culture

Physical objects made and used by a cultural group.

Nonmaterial culture

Intangible elements of culture like beliefs and values.

Sense of place

Distinctive feeling or perception of a place.

Placelessness

Result of standardization erasing local distinctiveness.

Sacred spaces

Sites with religious meaning.

Secularization

Religion becoming less dominant in everyday life.

Centripetal force

Unifying force in a neighborhood, society, or country.

Centrifugal force

Force threatening cohesion in a neighborhood, society, or country.