AP Human Geography Ultimate Guide

Space

The geometric surface of the Earth.

Activity Space

The area where daily activities occur.

Place

A bounded space of human importance.

Toponym

A place-name assigned to a location.

Scale

Relationship of an object or place to the Earth.

Sequent Occupancy

Succession of cultural influences in a place's history.

Formal Region

Bounded space with homogeneous characteristics.

Functional Region

Area with a central node serving a practical purpose.

Vernacular Region

Based on residents' collective perception.

Absolute Location

Defines a point using coordinates like latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

Position compared to a known place or feature.

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases with distance from a place of origin.

Central Place Theory

Analyzes city locations and economic exchange.

Core and Periphery

Relationships in regional, cultural, and economic phenomena.

Diffusion Patterns

Ways in which human phenomena spread spatially.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Incorporates data layers for spatial analysis.

Population Growth

Involves rate of natural increase and demographic equation.

Birth Rate

Annual statistic of live births per total population.

Death Rate

Annual statistic of deaths per total population.

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

Annual percentage of population growth.

Doubling Time

Time for a country's population to double.

Net Migration Rate (NMR)

Immigration minus emigration per thousand population.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children per female.

Replacement Rate

TFR of 2.1 for population stability.

Dependency Ratio

Ratio of non-working to working individuals.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

Theory of population changes over time.

Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs)

Countries that have experienced rapid industrialization and economic growth, transitioning from primarily agricultural to manufacturing-based economies.

Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)

A model that explains the changing population patterns in societies as they develop, focusing on the shifts in birth and death rates due to medical advancements.

Population Projection

Estimating how a population will change over time and predicting its growth or decline based on various factors.

S-Curve of Population

Describes the pattern of rapid population growth followed by stabilization or decline due to reaching the carrying capacity of the environment.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model that illustrates the stages of population growth and decline in societies as they progress through economic and social development.

Malthusian Theory

Theory proposing that population growth will outpace food production, leading to a crisis unless population control measures are implemented.

Population Pyramids

Graphical representations of a population's age and gender distribution, providing insights into the demographic structure of a country or region.

Cultural Synthesis (Syncretism)

The blending of different cultural influences to create a new, unique cultural expression or identity.

Monolingual

Knowing and using only one language for communication.

Lingua Franca

A common language used as a bridge between speakers of different native languages, facilitating communication in diverse settings.

Dravidian

A language family spoken by 230 million people in and around the Indian subcontinent.

Anatolian theory

A theory suggesting that migrants from the Indian subcontinent settled in present-day Turkey before migrating to Europe.

Folk music

Original music specific to a culture, often incorporating unique instruments and cultural stories.

Bluegrass

A popular folk music type originating in Kentucky, influencing country and rock music.

Continental cuisine

Formal food traditions from mainland Europe, including haute cuisine and nouvelle cuisine.

Five Pillars of Islam

Core principles guiding moral behavior for Muslims, including daily prayers and pilgrimage to Mecca.

Caste System

Social hierarchy in India with five main castes, including Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits.

Theocracy

A form of government where religious leaders hold senior positions, as seen in Iran.

Folklore

Stories and histories specific to a culture, shaping societal ethics and beliefs.

Race

Physical characteristics defining common genetic heritage, categorized into Mongoloid, Caucasoid, and Negroid groups.

Lebensraum

the living space for each distinct nation based on optimal physical geography of the culture group

Neo-Nazism

violent racism against non-whites and immigrants or violent expression of xenophobia

Ethnocentrism

belief in the superiority of one’s nation or ethnic group over others

Cultural relativism

understanding individual beliefs and activities in the context of their culture

Internal identity

expressing cultural heritage to those sharing the same background

External identity

expressing cultural heritage to those from different backgrounds

Culture regions

bounded spaces with homogeneous cultural characteristics

Fuzzy borders

difficulty in determining where one cultural region ends and another begins

Cultural Hearths

localized areas where cultures originated or have main population centers

Sequent occupance

different dominant cultures replacing each other over time in a region

Acculturation

adapting to a new culture while retaining aspects of the original culture

Assimilation

complete change in identity as a minority culture becomes part of the majority

Cultural survival

efforts to protect and promote indigenous cultures

Depopulation of Native Americans

significant decline in native population due to diseases of European origin

Cultural globalization

influences diminishing other cultures, mainly from English-language sources

Supranationalism

sovereign states aligning for common purposes

Territoriality

expression of political control over space

Citizenship

legal identity based on state of birth or naturalization

Enclave

minority culture group within a country dominated by a different culture

Exclave

fragmented sovereign territory separated from the main state territory

Boundary Process

The process of claiming, negotiating, or capturing borders.

Delimitation Process

Placing borders on the map.

Demarcation Process

Placing markers on the ground to show where borders lie.

Physical Border

Natural boundaries like rivers, mountains, or deserts.

Cultural Border

Estimated boundaries between nations, ethnic groups, or tribes.

Geometric Border

Boundaries surveyed along lines of latitude and longitude.

Definitional Dispute

Interpretation differences in border treaties.

Locational Dispute

Border movement due to natural changes like rivers shifting.

Operational Dispute

Agreed borders with crossing issues.

Allocational Dispute

Disputes over resources lying across borders.

Frontier

Open and undefined territory.

Tyranny of the Map

Imposed boundaries not matching cultural boundaries.

State Morphology

Impact of a country's shape on society and external relations.

Compact State

Shape without irregularity.

Fragmented State

Broken into pieces like archipelagos.

Elongated State

Stretched-out, long shape.

Prorupt State

State with a panhandle or peninsula.

Perforated State

State with holes like a large lake.

Landlocked State

State with no sea or ocean borders.

Annexation

Addition of territory through land purchase or extension of territorial claims.

Capitals

Seat of government in a state.

Suffrage

Voting rights based on age, race, and gender.

Gerrymandering

Irregularly shaped districts for political advantage.

Feudalism

Political economy with aristocracy controlling land and wealth.

Absolute Monarchy

Supreme aristocrat as head of state and government.

Constitutional Monarchy

Supreme aristocrat as head of state, elected leader as head of government.

Commonwealth of Nations

Former British Empire parts with the British monarch as head of state.

Free-Market Democracies

Elected-representative parliamentary systems.

Separation of Powers

Division of executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Marxist-Socialism

Political-economic theories aiming to address feudalism and capitalism inequalities.

Geopolitics

Global-scale relationships between sovereign states.

Centripetal Forces

Factors holding together the state.

Centrifugal Forces

Factors tearing apart the state.

Balkanization

Political landscape transition from a larger state to smaller states.