APHUG 1.1

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key geographic terms about space, place, scale, and regions.

Space

The geometric surface of the Earth on which objects are located and separated by distance.

Activity Space

The area within which daily activities occur.

Place

A bounded area that holds human importance.

Toponym

The name assigned to a place once its human importance is recognized.

Region

A type of place defined by shared characteristics; can be formal, functional, or vernacular.

Sequent Occupancy

The succession of cultural groups and influences that contribute historical layers to a place.

Scale

The relationship of an object or place to the Earth as a whole.

Map Scale

The ratio of distance on a map to the corresponding distance in the real world.

Relative Scale (Scale of Analysis)

The level of aggregation at which phenomena are examined, ranging from local to global.

Formal Region

An area of bounded space characterized by one or more homogeneous traits.

Functional Region

An area organized around a central node and its connected activities (e.g., trade, transport, communication).

Vernacular Region

An area perceived to exist by its inhabitants, based on cultural identity or shared history.

Homogeneous Characteristic

A common trait—such as language—shared throughout a formal region.

Regional Boundaries

The borders of a region, which vary depending on the type of region and criteria used.