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