AP Human Geography Ultimate Guide

Space

The geometric surface of the Earth.

Activity Space

The area where daily activities occur.

Place

A bounded area of human importance.

Toponym

A place-name assigned to a location.

Scale

Relationship of an object or place to the Earth.

Sequent Occupancy

Succession of cultural influences in a place.

Formal Regions

Areas with homogeneous characteristics.

Functional Regions

Areas with a central node serving a purpose.

Vernacular Regions

Regions based on residents' perception.

Absolute Location

Defines a point using coordinates.

Relative Location

Location compared to a known place.

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases with distance.

Friction of Distance

Inhibits interaction between points.

Space-Time Compression

Decreased time and distance between places.

Central Place Theory

Analysis of city locations and economic exchange.

Core and Periphery

Relationships in regional phenomena.

Diffusion Patterns

Ways in which phenomena spread.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Computer programs for spatial analysis.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Network of satellites for location.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

Theory of population changes.

Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs)

Countries that have experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth, transitioning from primarily agricultural to manufacturing-based economies.

Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)

A model that explains the changing population patterns in societies as they develop, particularly focusing on the shifts in birth and death rates due to medical advancements.

S-Curve of Population

A graphical representation showing the growth of a population, characterized by rapid growth, followed by stabilization or decline as the population reaches its carrying capacity.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model that illustrates the stages of population growth and decline in societies, from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.

Zero Population Growth (ZPG)

A state where birth rates equal death rates, resulting in no net increase in the population size.

Malthusian Theory

A theory proposing that population growth will outpace food production, leading to a crisis unless population growth is controlled.

Population Pyramids

Graphical representations showing the age and gender distribution of a population, providing insights into the demographic structure of a country or region.

Cultural Synthesis (Syncretism)

The blending of different cultural influences to create a new, unique cultural expression.

Monolingual

Knowing and using only one language.

Lingua Franca

A language used as a common medium of communication between speakers of different languages.

Dravidian

A language family spoken by 230 million people in and around the Indian subcontinent.

Anatolian theory

A theory suggesting that migrants from the Indian subcontinent settled in present-day Turkey before migrating to Europe.

Folk music

Original music specific to a culture, often incorporating unique instruments and cultural stories.

Bluegrass

A popular folk music type originating in Kentucky, heavily influencing contemporary country and rock music.

Five Pillars of Islam

The core principles guiding moral behavior for Muslims, including daily prayers and pilgrimage to Mecca.

Caste System

A social hierarchy in India with five main castes, including Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits.

Theocracy

A form of government where religious leaders hold senior positions of governance, as seen in Iran.

Folklore

Stories and histories specific to a culture, defining ethical foundations and societal histories.

Land Use

How property is utilized, shared, or divided, reflecting cultural practices and influences on the landscape.

Race

Physical characteristics of common genetic heritage, categorized into Mongoloid, Caucasoid, and Negroid groups.

Lebensraum

the living space for each distinct nation based on optimal physical geography of the culture group

Neo-Nazism

based on violent racism against non-whites and immigrants or violet expression of xenophobia

Ethnocentrism

belief in the superiority of one’s nation or ethnic group over others

Cultural relativism

idea that beliefs and activities are understood in the context of one's culture

Internal identity

expression of cultural heritage to those sharing the same background

External identity

expression of cultural heritage to those from different backgrounds

Culture regions

bounded spaces with homogeneous cultural characteristics

Fuzzy borders

difficulty in determining boundaries between cultural regions

Cultural Hearths

localized areas where cultures originated or have main population centers

Acculturation

adapting to a new culture while retaining aspects of the original culture

Assimilation

complete change in identity as a minority culture merges with the majority

Cultural survival

efforts to protect and promote indigenous cultures

Genocide

large-scale systematic killing of people of one ethnic group

Nation

a population with a single culture

State

a population under a single government with sovereign territory

Nation-state

single culture under a single government

Sovereignty

state's independence from outside control with international recognition

Stateless nations

culture group not included in the state political process

Federal states & confederations

provide military protection, administer foreign diplomacy, and regulate trade

Supranationalism

sovereign states aligned for a common purpose, like the European Union

Boundary Process

The process of claiming, negotiating, or capturing borders.

Delimitation Process

Placing borders on the map.

Demarcation Process

Placing markers on the ground to show where borders lie.

Physical Border

Natural boundaries like rivers, mountains, or deserts.

Cultural Border

Estimated boundaries between nations, ethnic groups, or tribes.

Geometric Border

Boundaries surveyed along lines of latitude and longitude.

Definitional Dispute

Interpretation differences of border treaties by states.

Locational Dispute

Border movement due to natural changes like rivers shifting.

Operational Dispute

Issues with passage across agreed borders.

Allocational Dispute

Disputes over resources lying across borders.

Frontier

Open and undefined territory.

Tyranny of the Map

Imposed boundaries not matching cultural boundaries.

State Morphology

Impact of a country's shape on society and external relations.

Compact State

Shape without irregularity.

Fragmented State

Broken into pieces like archipelagos.

Elongated State

Stretched-out and long in shape.

Prorupt State

Has a panhandle or peninsula.

Perforated State

Contains holes like a country with a large lake.

Landlocked State

Lacks sea or ocean borders.

Territorial Change

Alteration of state territory through processes like decolonization.

Annexation

Addition of territory through land purchase or extension of territorial claims.

Capitals

Seat of government in a state.

Suffrage

Voting rights based on age, race, and gender.

Gerrymandering

Creating irregularly shaped voting districts for political advantage.

Feudalism

Political-economic system with aristocracy controlling land and wealth.

Absolute Monarchy

Supreme aristocrat as head of state and government.

Constitutional Monarchy

Supreme aristocrat as head of state, with elected parliament leader as head of government.

Commonwealth of Nations

Independent former British Empire parts with the British monarch as head of state.

Free-Market Democracies

Countries with elected-representative parliamentary systems.

Marxist-Socialism

Political-economic theories aiming to address feudalism and capitalism inequalities.

Geopolitics

Global-scale relationships between sovereign states.

Centripetal Forces

Factors holding together the state.

Centrifugal Forces

Factors tearing apart the state.

Balkanization

Political landscape transition from a larger state to smaller states.

Neocolonialism

Contemporary colonialism based on economic pressure.

Heartland-Rimland model

Defines global geopolitical landscape and potential conflict areas

Primary commodity of conflict

The resource countries are willing to fight over

Shatterbelt theory

Proposed by Saul Cohen in 1950

Pivot Area

Modified concept from Mackinder's Heartland by Saul Cohen

Buffer states

Lands protecting hostile countries by creating a buffer of sympathetic nations