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John Snow

A pioneer in the field of epidemiology known for his work on cholera.

Geographic information system (GIS)

A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.

Online mapping

The process of creating and using maps that are accessible via the internet.

Absolute direction

A direction that is defined using cardinal points (north, south, east, west) without reference to other locations.

Relative direction

A direction that is defined in relation to other locations or features.

Globalization

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Distance decay

The principle that the interaction between two locales declines as the distance between them increases.

Time-space compression

The phenomenon where the relative distance between places shrinks due to advancements in transportation and communication.

Time-space convergence

The idea that as technology improves, the time it takes to travel between places decreases.

Environmental determinism

The theory that the physical environment, particularly the climate and terrain, actively shapes cultures and societies.

Environmental possibilism

The theory that the environment sets certain constraints or limitations, but culture is otherwise determined by social conditions.

Carl Sauer

An American geographer known for his work in cultural geography and the concept of the cultural landscape.

Total fertility rate

The average number of children a woman would have during her lifetime based on current birth rates.

Replacement fertility level

The level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, typically around 2.1 children per woman.

Carrying capacity

The maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support.

Thomas Malthus

An economist known for his theory on population growth and its potential to outpace food supply.

Neo-Malthusians

A group that advocates for population control to prevent overpopulation and its associated problems.

Cultural landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the landscape, including buildings, roads, and agricultural fields.

Sequent occupance

The notion that successive societies leave their cultural imprints on a place, contributing to the cumulative cultural landscape.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture.

Cultural relativity

The principle of understanding another culture in its own context without judgment.

Sense of place

The emotional and psychological attachment people have to a specific location.

Cultural convergence

The tendency for cultures to become more alike as they interact and share ideas.

Assimilation

The process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture of another group, losing their original identity.

Acculturation

The process of cultural change and adaptation that occurs when different cultures come into contact.

Interfaith boundary

A boundary that separates different religious groups.

Intrafaith boundary

A boundary that separates different branches or denominations within the same religion.

Postmodern architecture

A style of architecture that emerged in the late 20th century characterized by a departure from modernist principles.

Centripetal forces

Forces that unify a country, such as shared culture, language, or political systems.

Centrifugal forces

Forces that divide a country, such as ethnic tensions or political disagreements.

Territoriality

The emotional attachment and defense of a specific territory.

Wallerstein's World Systems Theory

A theory that explains the world as a complex system divided into core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries.

Core

The most economically developed countries that dominate global trade and economic activity.

Semi-periphery

Countries that are in between core and periphery, often providing labor and resources to core countries.

Periphery

Less developed countries that are often exploited for their resources by core countries.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

A regional organization formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, consisting of former Soviet republics.

The Paris Agreement (2016)

An international treaty on climate change aimed at limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

The Schengen Area

A group of European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders.

Shatterbelt

A region that is caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, often resulting in instability.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic, national, or religious group.

Ethnic cleansing

The attempt to establish a region or area as ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove individuals of particular ethnic groups.

Irredentism

The political or popular movement that seeks to reclaim and reoccupy a lost homeland.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to local or regional administrations.

Sustainability

The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level, often in the context of environmental conservation.

Monocropping

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop over a wide area for many consecutive years.

Multicropping

The agricultural practice of growing multiple crops in the same space during a single growing season.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, mollusks, and aquatic plants.

Transhumance

The seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.

Organic farming

A method of farming that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Community-supported agriculture

A farming model in which consumers buy shares of a farm's harvest in advance.

Brownfields

Previously developed land that is not currently in use and may be contaminated.

Low density housing

Residential areas characterized by a small number of housing units per acre.

Medium density housing

Residential areas with a moderate number of housing units per acre.

High density housing

Residential areas characterized by a large number of housing units per acre.

Knowledge economy

An economy in which growth is dependent on the quantity, quality, and accessibility of the information available.

Comparative advantage

The ability of a country or company to produce a particular good or service at a lower opportunity cost than others.

Multiplier effect

The proportional amount of increase in final income that results from an injection of spending.

Economies of scale

The cost advantage that arises with increased output of a product.

Neoliberalism

A political approach that favors free-market capitalism and minimal government intervention in the economy.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

An intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Organizations that operate independently from the government, often to address social or political issues.