TOTAL AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY VOCAB TERMS

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment or ecosystem can sustain indefinitely, given the available resources and technology.

Cohort

A group of individuals who share a common characteristic or experience, typically born during the same time period or within a specific range.

Crude Birth Rate

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in a given year, without adjusting for age or other factors.

Crude Death Rate

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population in a given year, without adjusting for age or other factors.

Demographic Momentum

The tendency of a population to continue growing even after fertility rates decline, due to a high proportion of young people who will eventually reach reproductive age.

Demographic Transition Model

A model that illustrates the stages of population growth and decline as a society undergoes economic and social development, typically including four or five stages.

Dependency Ratio

The ratio of dependent (non-working) population to the working-age population, usually expressed as a percentage.

Old Age Dependency

The portion of the population composed of elderly individuals, typically age 65 and older, who are not in the labor force and may rely on others for support.

Youth Dependency

The portion of the population composed of children and young people, typically under the age of 15, who are not in the labor force and may require support.

Diaspora

The dispersion of a particular ethnic or cultural group from their homeland to various other locations around the world.

Doubling Time

The number of years it takes for a population to double in size, assuming a constant rate of natural increase.

Ecumene

The portion of the Earth's surface that is permanently inhabited by human populations.

Epidemiological Transition Model

A model that describes the changing patterns of health and disease as societies develop, typically including stages of pestilence and famine, receding pandemics, and degenerative diseases.

Endemic

A characteristic or phenomenon that is native or restricted to a particular geographic area or population.

Fertility Rate

The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, often expressed as the Total Fertility Rate (TFR).

Gender Roles

Societal expectations and behaviors associated with individuals based on their perceived gender, often affecting roles in the family, workplace, and society.

Infant Mortality Rate

The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births in a given year.

J-curve

A graphical representation of the initial decrease in population followed by a rapid increase, often seen when a population undergoes a demographic transition.

Neo-Malthusian

A perspective that echoes the concerns of Thomas Malthus, suggesting that overpopulation and resource depletion are significant challenges for modern society.

Overpopulation

The condition in which a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, potentially leading to resource scarcity and environmental degradation.

Pandemic

An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale, affecting a large proportion of the world's population.

Physiological Density

The number of people per unit of arable land, indicating the pressure on agricultural resources in a region.

Population Explosion

A sudden and rapid increase in the population of a region.

Population Projection

Predictions of future population size, based on current demographic trends and assumptions.

Population Pyramid

A graphical representation of a population's age and sex structure, typically showing a pyramid shape in developing countries and a more rectangular shape in developed countries.

Pro-Natalist Policy

Government policies that encourage higher birth rates and population growth, often through incentives and support for families.

Anti-Natalist Policy

Government policies that discourage high birth rates and population growth, often through measures like family planning and birth control.

Rate of Natural Increase

The difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate, reflecting the annual population growth rate excluding migration.

S-curve

A graphical representation of population growth that starts slowly, accelerates, and then levels off as the population reaches its carrying capacity.

Standard of Living

The level of comfort, well-being, and material goods enjoyed by a population, often measured by factors like income, housing, and access to healthcare and education.

Sustainability

The ability to meet the needs of the present population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often in the context of environmental and resource management.

Thomas Malthus

An 18th-century economist and demographer who proposed that population growth would eventually outstrip the Earth's resources, leading to inevitable checks on population growth, such as famine and disease. He said population grows geometrically and food grows linearly

Zero Population Growth

A condition in which the birth rate equals the death rate, resulting in no net population growth.

Push Factor

Factors or conditions in an individual's home region that encourage or force them to leave, such as economic hardship, political instability, or environmental disasters.

Pull Factor

Factors or conditions in a destination region that attract migrants, such as better economic opportunities, political stability, or the presence of family and community.

Voluntary

A type of migration where individuals choose to move in search of better opportunities or for personal reasons, rather than being forced to migrate.

Forced Migration

Migration that occurs when individuals are compelled to move due to factors such as conflict, persecution, or environmental disasters, often against their will.

Transnational Migrant

An individual who moves across international borders, often maintaining connections and activities in both their home and host countries.

Refugee

A person who has been forced to flee their home country due to persecution, conflict, or violence and has sought refuge in another country, often with the protection of international laws and agreements.

Intercontinental Migration

Migration that involves movement between different continents, often over long distances.

Interregional Migration

Migration that occurs within the same country but involves movement between different regions or areas.

International Migration

Migration that involves crossing international borders, typically implying movement between countries.

Intraregional Migration

Migration that occurs within the same region or area, often involving movement from rural to urban areas.

Rural to Urban

A common type of intraregional migration where individuals move from rural areas to urban centers in search of better economic opportunities and improved living conditions.

Gravity Model

A model used to predict the interaction between two places based on their population size and the distance between them. It suggests that larger populations and shorter distances lead to greater interactions.

Distance Decay

The diminishing importance of a particular phenomenon, such as migration or cultural influence, with increasing distance from its source.

Step Migration

The process of migrating to a distant destination in stages, often with temporary stops or settlements along the way.

Chain Migration

A pattern of migration where individuals follow the path established by previous migrants from their home region to a particular destination, often for reasons of familiarity and support.

Intervening Opportunity

A positive opportunity or attraction along the migration route that can influence a migrant's decision to settle or stop at a particular location.

Intervening Obstacle

A barrier or negative factor that can hinder or prevent migration to a desired destination.

Cyclic Movement

A type of movement that involves regular, repetitive journeys, such as commuting, seasonal labor migration, or nomadic herding.

Periodic Movement

Movement that occurs at regular intervals but is not necessarily tied to specific routes, such as college attendance or military service.

Migratory Movement

The act of moving from one place to another, encompassing various types of migration.

Migration Transition

A concept that describes the changes in the migration patterns of a society as it undergoes demographic and economic development.

Transhumance

Seasonal migration of livestock and herders between highland and lowland areas in search of grazing and water.

Internal Migration

Migration that occurs within the boundaries of a single country or region, often involving movement between different cities or states.

Migration

The act of moving from one place to another, often with the intention of settling in a new location.

Coyote (in relation to migration)

A colloquial term for a person who smuggles migrants across borders, often for financial gain. Coyotes are often involved in illegal or irregular migration processes. Apartheid

African Union

a continental organization with 55 members used to maintain peace and build on the countries in the region.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

a regional organization of 10 nations used to maintain peace and trade in the Southeast region of Asia.

Autonomous Regions

Geographical areas within a country that have a degree of self-governance and often have a level of legislative power and cultural autonomy.

Definitional boundary disputes

Disputes that arise from different interpretations of how a boundary was agreed upon.

Locational boundary disputes

Disputes arising from the delimitation and demarcation of a boundary.

Operational boundary disputes

Disputes concerning the administration of a boundary, including issues of movement and control across it.

Allocational boundary disputes

Disputes arising from the allocation of resources along or near a boundary.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary that existed before the cultural landscape emerged.

Consequent Boundary

A boundary that aligns with cultural, ethnic, or linguistic divisions.

Geometric Boundary

A boundary drawn using straight lines or arcs regardless of physical or cultural features.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary created after the cultural landscape has developed.

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary forcibly placed over existing cultural landscapes.

Relic Boundary

A boundary that no longer functions as a boundary but still holds some cultural significance.

Boundary Process Definition

The stage at which the exact location and nature of a boundary are agreed upon.

Delimitation

The mapping of a boundary's rough outline.

Demarcation

The actual placing of markers or boundaries on the ground to show where a boundary exists.

Buffer State

A country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers, which serves to prevent conflict between them.

Centrifugal Force

Factors that divide and disrupt a state, potentially leading to its breakup or disunity, such as ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences.

Centripetal Force

Factors that unify and bring a country together, promoting national cohesion and stability, such as a shared language, culture, or strong national identity.

City-state

An independent city and its surrounding territory functioning as an autonomous political unit.

Choke Points

Narrow passages or strategic points in a region that can be easily controlled or blocked, often having significant geopolitical importance.

Colonialism

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting its resources for the benefit of the controlling power.

Conference of Berlin (1884)

A meeting held in Berlin to discuss the partitioning of Africa among European powers without the presence of African leaders, leading to the scramble for Africa and the colonization of the continent.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gain independence from their colonizing states and establish themselves as sovereign states.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

An area where military forces, equipment, or activities are restricted or prohibited, often established to reduce tension between conflicting nations.

Devolution

The transfer of certain powers or responsibilities from a central government to regional governments within a state.

Domino Theory

The idea that the fall of one country to communism would lead to the fall of its neighboring countries, popular during the Cold War era.

EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)

A sea zone prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, allowing a coastal state to claim exclusive rights to exploit marine resources within 200 nautical miles from its shoreline.

Enclave

A portion of territory within or surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct.

Exclave

A part of a country geographically separated from the main part and surrounded by foreign territory.

Ethnic Separatism

The advocacy or movement toward the separation or independence of an ethnic or cultural group from a larger political unit.

Ethnic Cleansing (Genocide)

The systematic and violent removal or extermination of an ethnic, racial, or religious group from a specific geographic area.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of European countries that seek to promote economic cooperation, peace, and shared values among its member states.

Failed State

A failed state is a political entity that cannot provide basic functions such as security, law enforcement, and public services, often resulting in widespread disorder and instability.

Federal State

A political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central federal government.

Forward Capital

A capital city deliberately positioned in a disputed or strategically important area to signal a country's intentions or to advance development in that region.

Frontier

A border or boundary marking the geographical limit of a country or area of settled land.

Geopolitics

The study of the effects of geography (human and physical) on politics and international relations.

Gerrymander

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a specific political party or group.

Heartland Theory

Theories associated with geopolitical strategist Halford Mackinder, which suggest that control of the Eurasian "heartland" (central area) leads to global dominance.

Iron Curtain

The symbolic division between the Communist Eastern Bloc (dominated by the Soviet Union) and the non-Communist Western Bloc after World War II.

Irredentism

A political or nationalist movement advocating the recovery of territories culturally or historically related to one's nation but currently under another state's control.