AP Human Geography Unit 5

AP Human Geography Unit 5 vocabulary flashcards

Von Thunen's Model

Transportation costs (weight & distance) and land value determines where farmers must be in relation to the market

Subsistence Farming

Farming produces food that is needed to survive on a daily basis to a person, family or village

Commercial Farming

Farming of products for sale off the farm (mostly done in more developed countries, requires use of machinery)

First Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic Revolution)

Took place 10,000 years ago in 8,000 BCE. Allowed humans to become more sedentary and avail themselves of a more reliable source of food (shift from being primarily hunting/gathering societies to ones that planted crops for food) - changed human history.

Second Agriculture Revolution

Occurred during the Industrial Revolution during 1750-1850 in more developed world. Uses technology provided by the Industrial Revolution as means to increase production and distribution of products.

Third Agricultural Revolution (Green Revolution)

(latter half of the 20th century) corresponded with exponential growth occurring around the world - also called the Green Revolution - involves the use of biotechnology (genetic engineering) and expanded use of fertilizers.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

More intense style of subsistence farming (more work needed to obtain same level of production). Used in the developing world largely in parts of Asia. Maximizes every piece of land by double & triple cropping, and not wasting any land - no animal grazing.

Green Revolution

Involves the use of biotechnology (genetic engineering). Also called the third agricultural revolution.

Mediterranean Agriculture

Practiced in climate that has dry summer and cool, moist winter (grapes, dates, olives) - around Mediterranean Sea, parts of California and southern Australia

Desertification

Overgrazing of land led to encroaching deserts within arid regions (Southern Sahara regions have experienced loss of farmland to expanding desert)

Transhumance

The action or practice of moving livestock from one grazing ground to another in a seasonal cycle, typically to lowlands in winter and highlands in summer.

Double Cropping

Growing of two crops per year to double the harvest - used in Asia and other parts of the world to maximize land use

Shifting Cultivation

Slash and Burn agriculture - clear land of vegetation (usually by burning) and use land until nutrients in field are depleted (scars the landscape). Use of land only 2-3 years. Very damaging to the environment but used to support most of the world's people in the developing world

Pastoral Nomadism

Involves moving animals on a seasonal basis to areas that have necessary vegetation & water to meet the needs of animals. Done in arid climates in North Africa and Central Asia. Mostly goats, sheep, camels. People survive off of the milk products of the animals & rarely meat products.

Agriculture

Deliberate modification of the Earth's surface through the cultivation of plants and animals

Columbian Exchange

Refers to a period of cultural and biological exchanges between the New and Old Worlds. Exchanges of plants, animals, diseases and technology transformed European and Native American ways of life. Beginning after Columbus' discovery in 1492 the exchange lasted throughout the years of expansion and discovery.

Food security

Exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life

Swidden

A field created by slash-and-burn agriculture (involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland)

Crop rotation

The system of varying successive crops in a definite order on the same ground, especially to avoid depleting the soil and to control weeds, diseases, and pests.

Plantation

Commercial agriculture largely in the developing world on which crops such as bananas, coffee, sugar, and tobacco are cultivated by resident labor.

Agribusiness

Large scale agricultural production done in the developed world. Includes agri-chemicals, breeding, crop production (farming and contract farming), distribution, farm machinery, processing, and seed supply, as well as marketing and retail sales.

Truck Farming / Market gardening

The production of some vegetable crops on an extensive scale in regions especially suited to their culture primarily for shipment to distant markets.

Milkshed

The ring surrounding an urban area where milk can be supplied without spoiling

Horticulture

Growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and tree crops. Common in Mediterranean farming.

Ranching

Commercial grazing of livestock for meat over an extensive area.

Aquaculture / aquafarming

The rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.

Genetically Modified Foods

Foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering.

Organic Agriculture

Production of food without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions.

Sustainable agriculture

Agricultural practices that preserve and enhance environmental quality through the use of sensitive land management, limited use of chemicals and integration of crops and livestock.

Local food movement

Purchasing food from nearby farms because you want to minimize the pollution created from the transportation of food around the world

Value-added specialty crops

Increasing the economic value of a commodity through particular production processes, e.g., organic produce, or through regionally branded products that increase consumer appeal and willingness to pay a premium over similar but undifferentiated products. i.e. free-range chickens, hormone-free beef

Economies of scale

A proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production. Example, it would cost you a few dollars to make a soda while it costs Coca-Cola just a few cents.

Commodity chain

Series of links connecting the many places of production and distribution and resulting in a commodity that is then exchanged on the world market. Example, farms to processing facilities to

Global Supply Chain

A system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to the end customer

Intercropping

Planting different types of crops in alternating bands or other spatially mixed arrangements

Desertification

Degradation of land, especially in semiarid areas, primarily because of human actions like excessive crop planting, animal grazing, and tree cutting.

Metes and bounds system

Natural features were used to demarcate irregular parcels of land

Township and range system

A rectangular land division scheme designed by Thomas Jefferson to disperse settlers evenly across farmlands of the U.S. interior.

Long-lot survey system

Divided land into narrow parcels stretching back from rivers, roads, or canals

Bid rent theory

Geographical economic theory that refers to how the price and demand on real estate changes as the distance towards the Central Business District (CBD) increases.

Fair trade products

Paying fair prices for products manufactured or grown by a disadvantaged producer in a developing country.

Monoculture

Farming strategy in which large fields are planted with a single crop, year after year

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

Urban farming

The growing of fruits, herbs, and vegetables and raising animals in towns and cities, a process that is accompanied by many other activities such as processing and distributing food, collecting and reusing food waste.

Intensive agriculture

Any agricultural system involving the application of large amounts of capital and/or labor per unit of cultivated land; may be part of either subsistence or commercial economy

Extensive agriculture

An agricultural system characterized by low inputs of labor per unit land area.