AP Human Geography Key Concepts

A collection of key terms and definitions for AP Human Geography concepts.

Latitude

Based on the equator, it represents geographic coordinate specifying north-south position.

Longitude

Based on the prime meridian, it represents geographic coordinate specifying east-west position.

GIS

Geographic Information System, used to layer different maps to show patterns in data.

Thematic Maps

Maps that display data organized by theme, such as isoline, dot, and choropleth maps.

Population Pyramids

Graphical illustration used to show demographic patterns in a population by sex and age.

DTM (Demographic Transition Model)

Model that describes the stages of population growth through birth/death rates without considering migration.

Epidemiological Transition Theory

Theory linking disease prevalence to the development stage of a country.

Ravenstein's Laws of Migration

A series of common patterns observed in migration trends, such as the tendency to migrate shorter distances.

Zelinsky Model of Migration Transition

Model that explains migration occurrences based on a country’s demographic stage.

Malthusian Theory of Population Growth

Theory asserting that population grows exponentially while food production grows linearly.

S-Curve

Graph showing the adoption speed of new ideas, starting slowly, accelerating, and then leveling off.

Language Tree

Diagram showing the relationship of languages and their families, with Indo-European as the largest.

Organic Theory

Concept likening countries to living organisms that require expansion to survive.

Mackinder's Heartland Theory

Theory asserting that control of Eastern Europe/Russia is key to global domination.

Spykman's Rimland Theory

Theory proposing that global power lies in controlling the rimland areas including the UK, India, and China.

Domino Theory

Cold War notion that the fall of one country to communism leads to the fall of neighboring countries.

Core-Periphery Model

Framework describing the economic relationship between core and periphery countries.

Von Thunen Model

Model explaining the location of agricultural activities in rings around a city.

Ester Boserup's Theory

The principle that food production increases in response to population growth.

Rostow's Stages of Development

Five stages of industrial development: Traditional Society, Preconditions to Take Off, Take Off, Drive to Maturity, and High Mass Consumption.

Wallerstein's World System

Theory linking global economic systems with specific roles for core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries.

Dependency Theory

Idea that colonization created dependency in periphery countries on core countries for goods.

Weber's Least Cost Theory

Theory stating that industries choose locations based on minimizing transportation costs.

Christaller's Central Place Theory

Theory that explains the placement of urban centers based on consumer behavior.

Burgess Concentric Zone Model

Model describing urban land use in concentric rings around a central business district.

Gravity Model

Model predicting that larger cities attract more people because of their size and services offered.

Hoyt Sector Model

Model depicting urban land use in sectors radiating from the city center.

Harris-Ullman Multiple Nuclei Model

City model illustrating multiple centers of business activity rather than a single center.

Borchert's Evolution of the American Urban System

Stages of urban development driven by transportation innovations.

Zipf's Rank Size Rule

Statistical rule suggesting that the population of a city inversely relates to its rank in size.

Bid-Rent Curve

Theory stating that land prices decrease as distance from the city center increases.