AP Human Geography Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions important for understanding AP Human Geography Unit 3 concepts.

Islam

A religion based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed which stresses belief in one god (Allah), Paradise and Hell, and a body of law written in the Quran.

Judaism

The monotheistic religion of the Jews.

Karma

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation.

Multistate Nation

A nation that stretches across borders and across states.

Nation

A politically organized body of people under a single government.

Neo Colonialism

The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies.

Sequent Occupancy

The succession of groups and cultural influences throughout a place's history.

Shaman

The single person who takes on the roles of priest, counselor, and physician and acts as a conduit to the supernatural world in a shamanist culture.

Sikhism

The doctrines of a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam.

State

A politically organized territory that is administered by a sovereign government and is recognized by the international community.

Stateless Nation

A group of people with a common political identity who do not have a territorially defined, sovereign country of their own.

Theocracies

Governments controlled through divine guidance or religious leadership.

Zionism

A movement to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Blue Laws

Laws that restrict certain activities such as the sale of alcohol on Sunday.

Buddhism

The teachings of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire; enlightenment is obtained through right conduct and wisdom.

Christianity

A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.

Diaspora

When a group of people are scattered to various locations.

Ethnic Neighborhood

An area within a city containing members of the same ethnic background.

Ethnic Separatism

where an ethnic group seeks to separate from a state to form its own country, often due to a distinct identity, cultural differences, or historical grievances

Ethnonationalism

The tendency for an ethnic group to see itself as a distinct nation with a right to autonomy or independence.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

Genocide

Deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group.

Hinduism

A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Indigenous Communities

Communities that are native to a particular territory.

Pagan

A follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times.

Pilgrimage

A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods.

Sect

A relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination.

Sharia Law

The system of Islamic law, based on varying degrees of interpretation of the Quran.

Universalizing Religion

A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location.

Blockbusting

A process by which real estate agents convince white property owners to sell their houses at low prices due to fear of different ethnic groups moving in.

Centrifugal Force

A force that divides people and countries.

Centripetal Forces

Forces that tend to unite or bind a country together.

Ethnic Cleansing

Process in which a more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes a less powerful one to create an ethnically homogeneous region.

Multi Ethnic State

A state that contains more than one ethnicity.

Multinational State

A state that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country.

Nationality

Identity with a group of people that share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular place.

Nation State

A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity transformed into a nationality.

Racism

Belief that one race is superior to another.

Self Determination

Concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves.

Separate but Equal

Judicial precedent established by in the Plessy v Ferguson decision that enabled states to establish segregation.

Triangular Slave Trade

A practice where European ships transported slaves from Africa to Caribbean islands, molasses to Europe, and trade goods back to Africa.

Animism

Belief that objects and natural events have a discrete spirit and conscious life.

Autonomous Religion

A religion that does not have a central authority but shares ideas informally.

Branch

A large and fundamental division within a religion.

Caste System

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life.

Cosmogony

A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe.

Denomination

A distinct subgroup within a larger religious tradition.

Ethnic Religion

A religion with a relatively concentrated spatial distribution whose principles are based on physical characteristics of the location.

Fundamentalism

Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion.

Hierarchical Religion

A religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control.

Ghetto

A poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group.

Missionaries

People who work to spread their religious beliefs.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Apartheid

A social policy or racial segregation involving discrimination against non-whites.

Balkanization

The contentious political process by which a state may break up into smaller countries.