AP Human Geography Non-Textbook Vocab

5 climate Regions

Tropical,Dry, Temperate, Continental, Polar

Linear settlement

a rural or small-scale settlement pattern where buildings, homes, and infrastructure are arranged in a long, narrow line, typically following a transport route (road, river, canal, or railway) or a physical feature like a coastline or valley

Metes

Refers to the straight-line measurements of distance and bearing (angles) between boundary points.

Bounds

Refers to natural or man-made landmarks, such as rivers, roads, trees, or fences, that define the perimeter

Long Lot

a cadastral land division method featuring narrow, rectangular plots of land, typically extending backward from a road, river, or canal.

Indus River valley civilization

an ancient, highly advanced urban culture located in modern-day Pakistan and northwest India.

Fertile Crescent

a, boomerang-shaped agricultural hearth in Southwest Asia (spanning modern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Turkey). Known as the "Cradle of Civilization," it was the birthplace of the Neolithic Revolution, where early domestication of plants/animals and irrigation techniques allowed nomadic groups to settle.

Monoculture

the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species, such as corn, wheat, or soybeans, over a large area for consecutive seasons

Economies of Scale

the cost advantages reaped by companies when production becomes efficient and output increases, reducing the average cost per unit

Export commodites

aw materials, agricultural products, or goods produced in one country and sold to another for profit, often driving the economies of developing nations.

Land cover change

the alteration of the physical, biological, or built materials on the Earth’s surface, often driven by human activities like agriculture, urbanization, or deforestation

Soil Salinization

the accumulation of water-soluble salts in the soil root zone, often caused by improper irrigation in arid regions, which reduces soil fertility and destroys crop productivity

Community supported agriculture

a sustainable, direct-marketing model where consumers ("members") buy shares of a local farm’s harvest in advance, providing farmers with upfront capital

Value added specialty crops

agricultural products (like organic produce, artisanal goods, or gourmet items) whose value has been increased through processing, packaging, or marketing

Food insecurity

the lack of consistent, reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for an active, healthy life

Food deserts

a low-income, often urban or rural, geographic area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food, typically lacking supermarkets or grocery stores within 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural