AP Human Unit 1

Unit 1 Vocab

Spatial Approach

Studying where things are located and why they are there.

Physical Geography

Study of natural features and processes on Earth.

Human Geography

Study of people, cultures, and their activities across Earth.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place on Earth.

Latitude

Lines measuring distance north or south of the Equator.

Equator

The imaginary line at 0° latitude dividing Earth into north and south halves.

Longitude

Lines measuring distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Prime Meridian

The line at 0° longitude dividing east and west.

International Date Line

An imaginary line where the calendar date changes by one day.

Relative Location

Where a place is compared with another place.

Place

A location with unique physical and human characteristics.

Reference Maps

Maps showing general locations of places and features.

Thematic Maps

Maps that show information about one specific topic.

Choropleth Maps

Maps that use different shades or colors to show data by area.

Dot Distribution Maps

Maps using dots to show where something occurs.

Graduated Symbol Maps

Maps using symbols of different sizes to represent amounts.

Isoline Maps

Maps using lines to connect places with equal values.

Topographic Maps

Maps showing elevation and the shape of Earth's surface.

Cartogram

A map that changes the size of areas based on data.

Region

An area that shares certain characteristics.

Site

The physical characteristics of the exact location of a place.

Situation

A place's location compared with surrounding places.

Toponyms

Names given to places.

Absolute Distance

The exact measured distance between two places.

Time-Space Compression

Technology making distant places seem closer because travel or communication is faster.

Friction of Distance

The idea that interaction becomes harder as distance increases.

Distance-decay

Interaction between places usually decreases as distance increases.

Spatial Association

When two or more things have similar geographic patterns.

Density

The amount of something within a certain area.

Distribution

How something is spread out across an area.

Mercator Projection

A map projection that keeps directions accurate but makes areas near the poles look larger.`

Peters Projection

A map projection that shows land areas more accurately but distorts shapes.

Conic Projection

A map made by projecting Earth onto a cone, often used for mid-latitude areas.

Robinson Projection

A map projection that balances distortions in shape, size, and distance.

Geographic Models

Simplified representations used to explain geographic ideas or processes.

Spatial Models

Models that show where things are located and how they are arranged.

Nonspatial Models

Models that explain relationships without focusing mainly on location.

Regionalization

Dividing an area into regions based on shared traits.

Human-Environment Interaction

How people affect the environment and how the environment affects people.

Cultural Ecology

Study of how culture and the environment influence each other.

Environmental Determinism

Belief that climate and landforms are the primary factors shaping human behavior and societal/cultural development

Possibilism

Acknowledges limitations imposed by the natural environment, but focuses on the role of human culture to modify and better respond to the environment to (better) fit human needs

Landscape Analysis

The study of the visible features of an area and how they are arranged.

Spatial Data

Information connected to a specific location.

Cultural Landscape

The visible ways humans have changed the natural environment.

Patterns

Repeated arrangements or trends across space.

Scale

The level or size at which geographic information is studied.

Cartographic Scale

The relationship between distance on a map and distance in real life.

Geographic Scale

The size of the area being studied.

Formal Regions

Areas where people or places share one or more measurable traits.

Functional Regions

Areas organized around a central point or activity.

Vernacular Regions

Areas people believe exist based on culture or perception.

Quantitative Data

Information expressed using numbers or measurements.

Qualitative Data

Information describing qualities or characteristics rather than numbers.

Mental Maps

Personal ideas or images of where places are located.

Homogeneous Regions

Areas where a certain characteristic is similar throughout.

Proximity

How close one place or object is to another.