Unit 1 Vocab

Human Geography

The study of different events and processes that change the way humans understand and change Earth, encompassing political, social, economic, and physical aspects.

Spatial Perspective

The analysis of where and why something happens.

Ecological perspective

The study of relationships between living things and their environment.

Location

The specific area where an object is situated.

Absolute Location

The precise location of an object defined by latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

The position of an object in relation to its surroundings.

Place

A location distinguished by its characteristics, including climate, language, landforms, and religion.

Site

The absolute location of an area, including its characteristics, climate, and resources.

Situation

The location of a place based on its relationship with other places and features surrounding it.

Space

The area between two or more things.

Distribution

The arrangement of things within a given area.

Density

The number of people or animals in a given area.

Pattern

The arrangement of settlements or other features in an area.

Flow

The movements and changes in people, goods, and political and economic systems.

Environmental Determinism

The theory that humans are controlled by the physical environment.

Possibilism

The theory that humans have the ability to modify their environment.

Distance Decay

The principle that the further apart things are, the less interaction occurs between them.

Time-Space Compression

The phenomenon where technology causes relative distance to shrink, impacting interactions.

Sustainability

The responsible use of natural resources to ensure their availability for future generations.