AP Human Geography Every Unit

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Reference Map

A map showing basic geographic information like boundaries, landmarks, and physical features.

Thematic Map

A map focused on a specific theme such as population, climate, or economics.

Topographic Map

A map showing elevation and landform contours.

Isoline Map

A map using lines to show continuous data such as temperature or elevation.

Dot Density Map

A map using dots to show frequency or concentration of a feature.

Choropleth Map

A map using colors or shading to represent data values.

Flow Line Map

A map showing movement of people, goods, or ideas.

Cartogram Map

A map that distorts size or shape to show data such as population or wealth.

Robinson Projection

A world map projection minimizing overall distortion.

Mercator Projection

A projection preserving shape and direction but distorting size near the poles.

Remote Sensing

Collecting Earth data from satellites or aircraft.

GIS

A system that stores, analyzes, and displays geospatial data.

GPS

A satellite system for determining precise location.

Geospatial Data

Data tied to specific geographic locations.

Geographical Data

Information about Earth's physical, cultural, or environmental features.

Absolute Distance

Physical distance measured in miles or kilometers.

Relative Distance

Distance measured in time, cost, or convenience.

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases as distance increases.

Time-Space Compression

Technology reduces travel and communication time.

Sustainability

Meeting present needs without harming future generations.

Environmental Determinism

The environment shapes human behavior.

Possibilism

Humans adapt and make choices despite environmental limits.

Global Scale

Data across the entire world.

National Scale

Data for an entire country.

Regional Scale

Data for an area larger than a community but smaller than a nation.

Local Scale

Data for a single community.

Formal Region

A region with uniform characteristics.

Functional Region

A region organized around a focal point.

Perceptual/Vernacular Region

A region based on cultural identity or perception.

Arithmetic Density

Population divided by total land area.

Physiological Density

Population divided by arable land area.

Agricultural Density

Farmers divided by arable land area.

Distribution

The spread of people or objects across an area.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population an area can support.

Sex Ratio

Number of males per 100 females.

Population Pyramid

A graph showing age and sex structure of a population.

Fertility Rate

Average number of children per woman.

Mortality Rate

Number of deaths per 1,000 people.

Infant Mortality Rate

Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

Natural Increase Rate

Population growth based on births minus deaths.

Doubling Time

Time needed for a population to double.

Demographic Transition Model

A model showing stages of population change.

Malthusian Theory

The idea that population grows faster than food supply.

Neo-Malthusian Theory

Modern concerns about overpopulation and resource depletion.

Pronatalist Policy

Policies encouraging higher birth rates.

Antinatalist Policy

Policies aimed at reducing birth rates.

Contraception

Methods used to prevent pregnancy.

Ravenstein's Laws

Principles describing migration patterns.

Microloans

Small loans supporting entrepreneurship in developing countries.

Dependency Ratio

Dependents divided by working-age population.

Intervening Obstacle

A barrier that hinders migration.

Intervening Opportunity

An opportunity that changes migration paths.

Push Factor

Negative conditions causing people to leave.

Pull Factor

Positive conditions attracting migrants.

Forced Migration

Involuntary movement due to conflict or disaster.

Voluntary Migration

Movement by choice for economic or personal reasons.

Chain Migration

Migrants follow earlier migrants from the same place.

Step Migration

Migration occurring in stages.

Refugee

Person forced to flee their country due to danger.

Internally Displaced Person

Person forced to flee but stays within their country.

Asylum Seeker

Person seeking protection in another country.

Guest Worker

Temporary foreign worker.

Remittance

Money migrants send back to their home country.

Transhumance

Seasonal movement of livestock between grazing areas.

More Developed Country

Country with high industrialization and wealth.

Less Developed Country

Country with low industrialization and development.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's own culture.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding a culture based on its own values.

Cultural Appropriation

Using elements of another culture without respect.

Cultural Landscape

Human imprint on the physical environment.

Ethnicity

Identity based on shared cultural traits.

Sequent Occupancy

Layers of cultural influence left over time.

Sense of Place

Emotional or cultural connection to a location.

Placemaking

Creating meaningful and unique places.

Centripetal Force

Factors that unify a country or culture.

Centrifugal Force

Factors that divide a country or culture.

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid, widespread diffusion through contact.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of ideas through physical movement.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread from influential people or places.

Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread from small places to larger ones.

Stimulus Diffusion

Spread of an idea even if the trait changes.

Lingua Franca

A common language used for communication.

Creolization

Blending of cultural elements into a new culture.

Colonialism

Control of foreign territory for economic or political gain.

Imperialism

Extending influence over other countries.

Cultural Convergence

Cultures becoming more similar.

Cultural Divergence

Cultures becoming more distinct.

Universalizing Religion

Religion seeking global appeal.

Ethnic Religion

Religion tied to a specific group or location.

Language Families

Groups of related languages.

Dialect

Regional variation of a language.

Cultural Hearth

Region where cultural traits originate.

Acculturation

Adopting some traits of another culture.

Assimilation

Complete absorption into another culture.

Syncretism

Blending of beliefs or practices into something new.

Multiculturalism

Coexistence of multiple cultural groups.

Nation

A group of people with shared culture and identity.

Nation-State

A state whose population is mostly one nation.

Stateless Nation

A nation without its own state.

Multinational State

A state with multiple nations.