AP Human Geography Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards from AP Human Geography review notes.

Distance decay

The effect on interactions between two places as distance increases; generally, the greater the distance, the less the interaction.

Nodes

A focal point or central hub in a functional region.

Functional region

A region defined by a particular set of activities that occur in it, typically characterized by a node or focal point.

Formal region

An area where everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics.

Environmental determinism

The belief that the physical environment predisposes human social development.

Geospatial

Modern tools contributing to geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer system that stores, organizes, and displays geographic data.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A system that determines the precise location of something on Earth through satellites.

Remote sensing

The process of detecting and monitoring physical characteristics of an area using satellites or aircraft.

Relative distance

The cultural connectedness between two places, setting aside physical distance.

Neo-Malthusian theory

Believers in the Malthusian theory that resource conservation may be the only solution.

Emigration

The movement of people out of an area.

Esther Boserup

Proposed that the threat of starvation motivates innovation in agriculture technologies.

Elderly dependency/support ratio

The ratio of people aged 65 and older to the number of working-age people.

Youth dependency ratio

The ratio of working people to the number of youth dependent on them.

Net migration

The difference between the level of immigration and the level of emigration.

Gravity model

Predicts that larger cities have a stronger pull on immigrants due to population size.

Physiological density

The number of people per unit of arable land.

Agricultural density

The ratio of the number of farmers to the amount of arable land.

Arithmetic/population density

The number of people living in a particular area.

Dependency ratio

The ratio of the working-age population to those who are dependent, such as children and the elderly.

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI/INR)

The rate at which the population grows per year.

Remittance

The transfer of money by workers back to their home country after emigration.

Chain migration

Migration that occurs when relatives or individuals from the same community have already relocated to another area.

Acculturation

The adoption of the traits of a majority culture while retaining some native cultural traits.

Ethnic religions

Religions that appeal to specific groups of people living in one place, without seeking converts.

Stimulus diffusion

A type of diffusion where an idea or innovation adapts to the culture that presents it.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture or religion is superior to others.

Cultural relativism

The practice of not judging a culture but trying to understand it on its own terms.

Cultural divergence

The tendency for cultures to become more dissimilar as distance increases.

Cultural convergence

The opposite of cultural divergence; cultures become more similar.

Syncretism

The blending of different beliefs and practices into a new system or religion.

Built environment/cultural landscape

The forms and structures imposed on a natural environment by humans.

Assimilation

The process of adopting the culture of a major culture while abandoning one's original culture.

Sequent occupancy

The idea that successful societies leave cultural imprints on a place.

Orthodox religion

A religion that remains closed to blending with other religions.

Time-space convergence

The reduction of time needed to travel due to technological advancements.

Pidgin language

A simplified language that combines elements of two or more languages.

Lingua franca

A language that is mutually understood and used in trade by people from different language backgrounds.

Universalizing religions

Religions that seek to convert individuals globally, such as Christianity and Islam.

UNCLOS

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which establishes rules for ocean resources.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

A sea zone extending 200 nautical miles from a country's coast, where it has special rights.

Supranationalism

Cooperation among national states to accomplish shared goals.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization that promotes peace and cooperation among nations.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance for collective defense.

Antecedent boundary

A boundary established before human settlement in an area, often based on natural features.

Consequent boundary

A boundary formed to reflect cultural differences.

Subsequent boundary

A boundary established after settlement to accommodate cultural characteristics.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

A buffer zone between North and South Korea.

Reapportionment

The process of redistributing representation based on population changes after a census.

Nationalism

A strong devotion to one's nation.

Nation state

A politically organized area with a sovereign government and defined territory, as in Japan or Iceland.

Stateless nation

An ethnic group without a sovereign state, such as the Kurds or Basque.

Enclave

A territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of another state.

Exclave

A part of a country that is geographically separated from the main part, like part of Russia.

Multistate nation

A nation spread across multiple states, such as the Russians or Koreans.

Self-determination

The right of ethnicities to govern themselves.

Ethnic nationalist movements

Attempts by ethnic groups to separate from a larger country.

Ethnonationalism

When an ethnicity identifies itself as a distinct nation deserving of autonomy.

Choke points

Strategically significant locations where narrow waterways control the flow of goods.

Shatter belts

Regions of instability found between powerful countries.

Irredentism

The political principle or policy of reclaiming territory that one believes belongs to one's nation.

Neocolonialism

The practice of using economic power to influence or control developing countries.

New international division of labor

Changes in the global economy leading to shifts in labor distribution.