ap human geography

Human geography

One of the two major divisions of geography; the spatial analysis of human phenomenon, including population, cultures, activities and landscapes

Globalization

Set of processes that one increasing interactions deepening relationships, and accelerating connectedness across country borders

Spatial distribution

Clustering or dispersal or movement of people and things

“The why of where”

Core concept of explaining the factors and processes that lead to the spatial distribution of human activities and features on earth’s surface

epidemic

Rapid diffusion of disease that happens in a specific area

Pandemic

Outbreak of disease that spreads worldwide

Environmental determinism

Set of theories that uses environmental differences to explain everything from intelligence to wealth

Environmental possibilism

Allows people to adapt to and modify their surroundings to suit their needs

Carrying capacity

The idea that land can hold a measurable amount of plant and animal life

Formal region

Area of land with common cultural or physical traits

Functional region

Area of land defined as sharing a common purpose in society

Perceptual region

Area of land that an individual perceives as being similar

Sense of place

Infusing a place with meaning as a result of experiences in a place

Perception of place

How a place is envisioned

Diffusion

Spread of an idea; innovation or technology from its hearth to their people and places

Spatial interactions

Degree of connectedness of contact among people or places

Hearth

Area or place where an idea, innovation or technology originates

Cultural landscape

The visible human imprint on the landscape

Sequent occupance

Imprints left on the cultural landscape by a series of successive societies. Each society contributed to the cumulative cultural landscape

Scale

Geographical scope in which we analyze and understand a phenomenon

Mental maps

Maps of an area made from memory or experience by individual of groups

Activity spaces

Places within the rounds of daily activity

Cartography

Art and science of making maps

Assimilation

When a minority group loses distinct cultural traits, such as dress, food or speech and adopts the customs of the dominant culture

Acculturation

The process by which a less dominant culture adopts some of the traits of a more dominant culture while still retaining its own cultural characteristics