ap human geo cards

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Sequent occupance

When a new group of people move into an area they may change the function and appearance of buildings to match their culture.  For example, a Mosque may be turned into a Church, depending on who now lives in a place.

Possibilism

Disagrees with determinism.  Belief that the environment does impact your culture and choices, but humans still have options.  So you may live in a hot environment, but that doesn’t mean you will want to go around shirtless.  There are lightweight materials that some cultures wear and feel fine.

Friction of Distance

Based on the notion that distance usually requires some amount of effort, money, and/or energy to overcome. Because of this "friction," spatial interactions will tend to take place more often over shorter distances; quantity of interaction will decline with distance.

Spatial association

Things that tend to occur together on the landscape.  They’re correlated, like liquor stores, fast food, and poor neighborhoods.

Formal Region

A homogeneous (same) region is an area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.  E.g. most people in Japan speak Japanese.  Charlotte city laws apply all throughout the city limits.

Vernacular Region

A place that people believe exists as a part of their cultural identity.  Such regions emerge from people’s informal sense of place rather than from scientific models developed through geographic thought. (Often identified using a mental map – E.g. “The South” though people will disagree which states actually make up this perceived region)

Acculturation

Process of adopting only certain cultural customs from cultural convergence (interaction), rather than fully assimilating.  E.g. moving to Japan and learning lots of Japanese, but continuing to speak English at home.

Syncretism

The mixing of two cultures or cultural traits to form a totally new culture. Sikhism is an example. A mix of Islam and Hinduism to form something totally new.

Reference map

Helps you find where you’re going.  E.g. road map.

Thematic Map

A map that shows some variable or “theme” across space.  E.g. a choropleth map changes the color of a region based on some activity taking place there, like internet connections.

Large-scale map

Shows large detail, but not as large of an area. (like a neighborhood)

Small-scale map

Shows small detail, but a large area (like a global map).

Space Time Compression

The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as a result of improved communications and transportation system. Tiktok spreads things much faster than hand-written books once did.

Space

Explains how much of the earth is being shown on the map.  Or, how much of the earth is being impacted by something like pollution?  Local, regional, national, global scales.

Functional Region

Area organized around a node or focal point of some phenomenon.  The further away you get from the node, the more distance decay there is.  E.g. India is the node and hearth of Sikhism.  The further you get away from this node, the fewer Sikh people you will find.

Cohort

Population of various age categories in an age/sex population pyramids.  This is important because this can tell what state this country it is whether in Stage 3 or Stage 5 in the demographic transition model.

Transhumance

Seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pasture areas.  Seen in pastoral nomadism agriculture.

Crude Birth Rate

AKA natality. Select 1,000 people at random in a country and measure how many of them will have a child.  This if and how fast a country’s population is growing.

Epidemiological Transition Model

This is a distinctive cause of death in each stage of the demographic transition.  Stage 1-2 usually an infectious disease and famine.  Stages 3-4 degenerative old age and junkfood diseases like cancer, obesity, heart disease.

Agricultural Density

The number of farmers per unit of arable land, which is land suited for agriculture.  Developed countries can have many fewer farmers because machines.

Physiological Density

The number of people per unit of area of arable land, which is land suitable for agriculture.

Ecumene

Land that is occupied by humans because the land is farmable.  Areas like Siberia are non-ecumene and have very few settlements because it is too cold to grow food there.

Infant Mortality Rate

(IMR) The annual number of deaths of infants under one year of age, compared with total live births. It is expressed as the annual number of deaths among infants per 1000 births rather than a percentage. This is important because it tell how developed a country is, if they have a high IMR they are an LDC, and if it is low they are an MDC.

Step Migration

One of Ravenstein’s laws.  People tend to move from rural areas to villages.  Then from villages to towns. Then from towns to cities.

Internal Migration

Permanent movement within a particular country.  Types are interregional (movement across regions)e.g. the Great Migration. Intraregional, usually from urban to rural or rural to urban area.

Rural-To-Urban Migration

Common in developing countries.  Stop being subsistence farmers and move to find jobs.  In developed countries, recent college grads often do this = gentrification.

Guest Worker

France has an old population.  They often invite foreign workers in for a temporary time to do labor.  They are not allowed to stay permanently.  Japan has a similar program.  The USA has done this too.

Arithmetic Density

The total number of people divided by the total land area.  This is what most people think of as density; how many people per area of land.

Age Distribution

(Population pyramid) is two back-to-back bar graphs, one showing the number of males and one showing females in a particular population in five-year age groups.  This is important because you can tell from the age distribution important characteristics of a country: whether high guest worker population, they just had a war or a deadly disease and more.

Rate of Natural Increase

The formula that calculates population growth. The formula finds the increase (or decrease) in a population. The formula is found by doing births minus deaths.  Migration is usually not included in the equation. This is important because it helps to determine which stage in the demographic transition model a country is in.

Sharia Law

a legal system based on Muslim principles.  There are many types of Sharia Law, and most Muslims do not practice Sharia Law.

Secularism

Something that is not religious in nature.  This does not necessarily mean something is against religion, just that it is not religious.

Confucianism

Developed by Confucius, in China, it is a complex moral code centered around filial piety, relationships, and duties within society.  Many also consider themselves Buddhist and Taoist.

Fundamentalism

Literal interpretation of holy texts (no room for personal interpretation) and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion.  E.g. if the Bible says God made the world in 7 days, fundamentalists think that literally means seven 24hr days.

Animism

Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and life.  E.g. Shintoism and many Native American religions.

Ethnocentrism

Seeing another culture through the lens of your own culture’s values.  For example, many indigenous/folk cultures have very strict gender roles.  Modern USA culture may frown upon that.

Mosque

An Islamic (Muslim) church or temple.

Zionism

The belief that the Jewish people should have a state, and that state is in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, Israel.  Some believe Palestinians should be allowed to stay, but others say they should be forced to leave Israel.

Lingua Franca

A globalized powerful language.  Popular culture.  One often used by non-native speakers to do business with others.  E.g. English, French, Spanish, Mandarin

Pidgin Language

Has no native speakers.  A language like “Spanglish,” where you’ve mixed and matched words with another language in order to more easily learn it.  A bridge to actually learning a language.

Creole Language

 A pidgin language that has been adopted by a people.  It now has native speakers, or people who are born into speaking it.

Halal & Kosher Foods

Foods that follow Islamic and Jewish traditions and taboos.

Cultural Ecology

The geographic study of human environmental relationships.  E.g. Most Hindus do not believe in the farming of cows.  Buddhists may oppose the building of dams due to environmental/animal concerns.

Sikhism

A religion that began in sixteenth century Northern India .  A syncretic faith that contains aspects of both Hinduism, and Islam.

Stupa/Pagda

A temple for Buddhists, Confucians, Taoists, or people who practice Shintoism.  Most in these faiths do not actually visit these buildings often.

Agrarian

People or societies that are mostly farmers.  Usually live in rural locations.

Organic Agriculture

No pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs.  Limited antibiotic use.  Is often healthier, but also more expensive.  More extensive and takes up much more land.  Better for animal rights concerns.

Commodity Interdepency

Certain countries produce certain crops or other products better than other countries.  When they trade the things that they lack (complementary advantage), they benefit but can become dependent on one another.

Biotechnology

Using living organisms in a useful way to produce commercial products like pest resistant crops.  E.G. GMOs. An aspect of the Green Revolution.

Aquaculture

The cultivation/farming of aquatic organisms (fish) especially for food.  Green revolution fish.

Intensive Agriculture

Producing as much as possible with the land you have (big or small farm).  Requires organization and efficiency.  Usually commercial. Monocropping is common.  A single crop focused on like corn.

Extensive Agriculture

Not getting a high yield of food for the amount of land you’re using.  Few machines used if any.  Mostly seen in LDC’s.  Examples are shifting cultivation and pastoral nomadism.

Swidden/Milpa

The land that is burned and stripped in order to have things grown in it.  A part of shifting cultivation or “Slash and Burn” farming.

Desertification

Destruction of arable land.  Soil exhaustion.   Soil salinization.  Shifting cultivation can cause this if people do not give the forest time to regrow before slashing again.

Nomadic Herding/Pastoralism

Herding of domesticated animals.  Transhumance movement from grazing spot to grazing spot.  Conflict with land owners and country borders.

Third Agricultural Revolution

‘Green Revolution’ Rapid diffusion of new agricultural techniques between 1970’s and 1980’s, especially new high-yield seeds and fertilizers. Has caused agricultural productivity at a global scale to increase faster than population growth.  Made Malthus/Thanos wrong for now.

Mediterranean Agriculture

Farming in the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea (Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia), also in lands with similar climates (California, central Chile, Southwestern South Africa, and Southwestern Australia). Sea moisture but little rain.  Rocky and hilly.  Olives, grapes, wines, and pastoral herding.

First Agricultural Revolution

Neolithic Revolution.  Around 8000 B.C. when humans first domesticated plants and animals. Pros and cons.

Shifting Cultivation

Cut and burn the forest to create swidden land.  Grow food for a couple years until the soil exhausts.  Move to another section of forest to slash and burn.  Repeat.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

Can be wet rice dominant or other crop (e.g. soybean) dominant.  Found in LDCs of East Asia and some MDC.  Few machines or pesticides used.  Lots of hands and labor used.  Rice paddies etc.

Exclusive Economic Zone

An area of the sea where a state has exclusive right to for fishing, whaling, and mining.  This is determined by the “Law of the Sea” agreement.  Usually 200 miles out from a country’s shoreline.

Economic Base

A community’s basic industries (e.g., those industries that export products elsewhere and bring money in).  Non-basic industries will then pop up to support those (like restaurants and grocery stores.)

BRIC Countries

Trade partners among these semi-periphery countries…Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  They have complimentary advantage.  They help one another produce things.

Break of Bulk Point

An area where you can switch the method of transport for freight cars.  For example, a port where freight cars are taken off of ships and put on trucks or trains.

Gender Inequality Index

Measures how equal women are in a country compared to men in available jobs, voice in the government, health, and education.  Developed countries usually very high, North Africa in Middle East are much improved, but still not great.

GDP, GNP, GNI

All slightly different measures of a country’s income.  How much wealth is produced in a country each year.  “Per capita” would mean that you’re measuring this “per person” in a country.

Neoliberal Policies

Fans of globalization.  International trade.  Fans of free trade like NAFTA and the European Union.  Products and trade are often cheaper and more available (e.g. fruits that are out of season), but this also leads to outsourcing.  Want fewer regulations of large companies.  Lower taxes on the wealthy, with claims that these people will then invest extra money back into the economy.

Outsourcing

When transnational companies move their factories/secondary sector work to developing/periphery countries.  They can pay workers less there, and have to worry about fewer worker safety laws etc.  Happens more often with free trade zones (e.g. NAFTA and EU).

Growth Pole

Agglomeration of one particular industry in an area that innovates and creates new tech.  Silicon valley makes LOTS of the social media and apps we use.  Detroit was once a hub of car production.  Universities can sometimes push out new industries and ideas.

Agglomeration

When related things are built close together.  Fast food restaurants may want to be near Walmarts.  Barnes and Noble wants to be near Starbucks.  Bars want to be near sports stadiums.  Growth poles like Silicon Valley where one industry dominates an area.

Economic Restructuring

When a country is in economic trouble or cannot pay loans to the World Bank or IMF, they may have to cut lots of their spending programs.  Tighten their belt (i.e. austerity).  Usually programs for the poor take the hit.

Export Processing Zones AKA Special Economic Zones

Regions where countries try to attract international trade.  They want Nike etc. to come there.  They remove taxes and tariffs.  Build roads and bridges.  = more globalization and outsourcing.  Usually not a whole country, just one area like Hong Kong island.

Post-Fordist Production

Globalization.  Transnational companies use factories all over the world to produce products, based on where transportation, labor, and skills are the cheapest.  The modern economy.  Connected to Wallerstein’s World Systems model.  AKA New International Division of Labor.

Commodity Dependency

A commodity is a raw material (e.g. wood, oil, gold).  This is the idea that some periphery/developing countries have few resources, and may rely on the few they have.  E.g. Saudi Arabia’s entire economy depends on oil exports.

Microloans

Loans of less than $100 given in developing/periphery countries.  Very helpful especially for poor women.  Often use to start small commercial farm or craft and lift out of poverty.  Most are easily paid back.

Hoyt Sector Model

Different activities extend out from central business district (downtown) in wedge shapes.  Industry and public transit located close to city center.

Census Tract

The census is conducted every 10 years in the USA.  Collects demographic data that determines voting districts etc.  A census tract is a neighborhood of 5,000 people.  Quantitative data.

Barriadas

Similar to a squatter settlement or disamenity zone, but specific to Latin America.  Many underclass folks live here.

Slow Growth Policies

Green belts around large cities where nothing can be built.  New urbanism.  Walkable cities.

De Jure Segregation

Open racism.  Segregation on purpose, by law.  Before 1968 in the USA you could legally create racially homogenous neighborhoods, on purpose.

Gravity Model

 The further away a service/business is from someone, the less likely they are to use it.  High order goods (rare/espensive) have a range that can pull people from a further distance.  Low order goods (cheap/common) people will not travel far at all for.

Burgess Concentric Zones Model

An old city model based on 1900 Chicago.  Different city activities emerge in rings around the city center (CBD).  Squatters usually on the outer ring.  Common in developing/periphery countries.

Galactic City Model

Charlotte.  A city with a beltway (485) around it.  Lots of people commute into the city from boomburbs (Mooresville) that surround the larger city.  Lots of cars in North American cities = lots of cities here fit this model.

Zoning Ordinance

City rules about what you can build where.  Some areas will be designated “residential” where only homes can be built.  Some will say only single family dwellings, meaning, no apartments.

Local Food Movement

Trying to ensure that everyone has access to fresh fruits and vegetables in an area.  Combatting food deserts.  Often disagree with large agribusiness and factory farming.  Organic.

De Facto Segregation

Systemic structural racism.  Meaning, the system is racist even if people aren’t as much anymore.  In the US, our neighborhoods are still largely racially segregated due to old practices like redlining, blockbusting, and white flight.

Metropolitan Service Area

Multiple cities that have grown so large they are now connected.  You cannot tell where Osaka ends, and Tokyo begins.  This can cause fragmentation problems when solving regional issues like taxes, or building a highway that cuts through these areas.  Multiple local governments have to agree.

Market Area (Hinterland)

Related to central place theory.  This is the range of a city, or its pull or influence.  Represented by a hexagon with the theory.  So this is how far away people are willing to travel to Charlotte for something.

Electoral Regions

Voting districts that make up local, regional, and national governments.  Gerrymandering attempts to meddle with this process so that one party always wins.

Christaller’s Central Place Theory

Shows how settlements (villages, towns, cities) form in a regular nesting pattern.  New cities will usually form right at the edge of another city’s range (reach/influence).  Explains Rank size rule.  Hexagons are used to show a city’s range.

Irredentism

When a state (country) says they’re going to “reclaim” some lost territory.  China wants to take Taiwan.  Some Jewish folks argue that they’re reclaiming the land or Israel that their ancestors lived in centuries ago.

Devolution

Balkanization.  When a state breaks apart into smaller states that are unfriendly with one another.  This usually happens along ethnic lines.  The breakup of Yugoslavia into Croatia, Serbia, et. al. is an example.

Choke Points

Narrow strips of transportation like canals that are important to global trade, like the Suez or Panama Canals.  Countries may fight if they do not have access to use these.  During war, it may benefit one side to bomb them.

Relic Border

A border that used to exist, but doesn’t any longer.  Even though the border has long been gone, you can still see its influence.  The Northern USA is more developed than the old Confederacy that used to own slaves.  Eastern Germany has a lower income and life expectancy than Western Germany to this day.

Delimited Demarcated Administered

Border Stages.  First the border is an idea on a map, then it is seen in the landscape somehow with a sign or something, and finally people work along the border checking who comes in and out.

Democratization

When a state becomes more democratic, allowing more people to vote.  The USA often states this as a goal for countries around the world that we occasionally invade.  The degree to which this happens is debatable.

Shatterbelt Regions

Regions that are in near constant conflict because they are caught in between two more powerful regions.  Each powerful region is trying to pull them closer to them economically and ideologically.  Eastern Europe (e.g. Ukraine) is being influenced by both the EU and the Russians.

Failed State

A country with a government that has collapsed.  They cannot care for or govern their own people.  Citizens distrust them.  Revolt and revolution likely.  People refuse to pay taxes.

Federal Government

A government that has national, regional, and local levels of govt.  This gives lots of people influence in laws and policies, but slows the process with so many voices.  This works OK for large states, and states with many ethnic groups.

Unitary Government

A national level government that controls an entire state.  Local regions of the state have little influence in the government.  This style works OK for small states, or nation states that have few ethnic groups.