Ap Human Geo Unit 1 test preparation



Sequent occupance

Idea that successive societies leave behind their cultural imprints on a place, each layering on the previous one

Thematic map that uses numbers or data to show information about places


1

Statistical map

2

Topographic map

3

Physical map

4

Planimetric map

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Terms in this set (54)

Original

Sequent occupance

Idea that successive societies leave behind their cultural imprints on a place, each layering on the previous one

Cultural landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the natural landscape (Carl Sauer)

Physical attributes

Natural characteristics of a place: climate, landforms, elevation, vegetation, water

Diffusion

The spread of a feature or idea from its point of origin to other places over time

Hearth

The place of origin of an innovation or cultural trait

Relocation diffusion

Spread of an idea through the physical movement of people carrying it to a new place

Expansion diffusion

Spread of an idea from a hearth while remaining strong in the origin (includes contagious, hierarchical, stimulus)

Contagious diffusion

Rapid, widespread spread through direct contact, like a disease or viral trend, without regard to hierarchy

Hierarchical diffusion

Spread from persons or nodes of authority/power to other persons or places (e.g., big cities to smaller towns)

Stimulus diffusion

An underlying idea spreads, but the specific trait is adapted or changed (e.g., McDonald's serving local foods abroad)

Dispersion (scattered)

Spread out, features far apart from each other

Concentration (clustered/agglomerated)

Features close together in space

Relative distance

Distance described in terms of time, cost, or effort rather than measured units

Distortion

Inaccuracy in size, shape, distance, or direction when a 3D Earth is shown on a flat map

Distribution

The arrangement of a feature across space (includes density, concentration, and pattern)

Determinism

Human behavior, individually and collectively, is strongly affected by (even controlled or determined by) the physical environment. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, some used it to argue that people in some climates were superior to others

Possibilism

View that acknowledges limits on the effects of the natural environment and focuses more on the role of human culture, different cultures may respond to the same environment in diverse ways, depending on their beliefs, goals, and available technologies

Absolute location

Exact location on Earth given by coordinates (latitude and longitude) or an address

Relative location

Location described in relation to other places or features

Site

The physical characteristics of a place itself (climate, water, soil, topography)

Centralized pattern

Features arranged around a central point

Cluster

A group of features located close together

Place

A specific place on Earth distinguished by a particular characteristic

Region

An area on Earth defined by one or more particular characteristics (e.g., New England)

formal region

Area where everyone shares one or more traits, like a language or climate (e.g., Corn Belt, Spanish-speaking countries)

Functional (nodal) region

Area organized around a central node with connections that decrease with distance (e.g., a pizza delivery zone, newspaper's circulation)

Perceptual (vernacular) region

Region based on people's feelings and attitudes, not official boundaries (e.g., "the Middle East," "Midwest")

Scale

The degree of generalization or area of study, from local to global, also the ratio on a map

Distance decay

The farther away something is, the less interaction it has with the origin

Friction of distance

The increase in time, cost, and effort as distance increases, which discourages interaction

Time-space compression

Reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place due to improved communication and transportation

Terra incognita

Latin for "unknown land", areas not yet mapped or explored on early maps

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays layers of geographic data

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Satellite-based navigation system that gives exact absolute location

Latitude (parallel)

Imaginary lines running east-west, measuring distance north or south of the equator (0° to 90°)

Longitude (meridian)

Imaginary lines running north-south from pole to pole, measuring distance east or west of the prime meridian (0° to 180°)

Equator

0° latitude, divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Prime meridian

0° longitude, running through Greenwich, England, divides Eastern and Western Hemispheres

Grid (global grid system)

The system of latitude and longitude lines used to determine absolute location

Map scale

The relationship between distance on a map and distance on Earth (ratio, written, or graphic bar)

Reference map

Map showing locations of places and geographic features (e.g., road map, atlas)

Physical map

Map showing natural features like mountains, rivers, and elevation

Thematic map

Map that displays a specific topic or spatial pattern of a single theme

Statistical map

Thematic map that uses numbers or data to show information about places

Cartogram

Map that distorts the size of places based on a variable, like population

Dot distribution map

Thematic map using dots to show the presence, number, and density of a feature

Choropleth map

Thematic map using colors or shading to show data by area, like density by state

Isoline map

Map with lines connecting points of equal value (e.g., contour lines, isotherms, isobars)

Mental map

A map of an area that exists in a person's mind based on their perceptions and experiences

Map projection

Method of transferring the curved Earth onto a flat surface, which always causes some distortion

Time zones

24 zones roughly 15° of longitude wide, each an hour apart, based on the sun's position

Globalization

Increasing interconnection of the world's economies, cultures, and politics

Census data

Population data collected by governments about people and places, a major source of geographic data

Fieldwork

First-hand data collection by geographers in the field (interviews, observations, surveys)

1. Key Concepts & Human-Environment Interaction

  • Cultural Landscape: The visible imprint of human activity on the natural landscape (concept pioneered by Carl Sauer).

  • Sequent Occupance: The idea that successive societies leave behind their cultural imprints on a place, with each layer building on the previous one.

  • Physical Attributes: Natural characteristics of a place, such as climate, landforms, elevation, vegetation, and water features.

  • Environmental Determinism: A 19th and early 20th-century theory proposing that human behavior and culture are strongly controlled or determined by the physical environment.

  • Possibilism: The modern viewpoint that while the physical environment sets limits, human culture can adapt and respond in diverse ways depending on technology, goals, and choices.

2. Location, Place, and Regions

  • Absolute Location: The precise location of a point on Earth expressed via coordinates (latitude and longitude) or a street address.

  • Relative Location: The position of a place described in relation to other known places or spatial features.

  • Site: The physical and environmental characteristics of a location itself (e.g., terrain, climate, soil, water availability).

  • Place: A specific point on Earth distinguished by unique physical and human characteristics.

  • Region: An area defined by one or more unifying characteristics across space.

    • Formal Region: An area where inhabitants share one or more distinctive, uniform traits (e.g., climate zones, official language, Corn Belt).

    • Functional (Nodal) Region: An area organized around a central node or hub, where interactions diminish with distance (e.g., pizza delivery zones, TV broadcast areas).

    • Perceptual (Vernacular) Region: An area defined by people's informal feelings, stereotypes, or cultural perceptions rather than precise boundaries (e.g., "The American South", "Midwest").

3. Spatial Patterns and Movement

  • Distribution: The arrangement of a feature across space, characterized by density, concentration, and pattern.

    • Concentration (Clustered/Agglomerated): Features situated close together in space.

    • Dispersion (Scattered): Features spread far apart across an area.

    • Centralized Pattern: Spatial arrangement organized around a central point.

  • Distance Dynamics:_

    • Relative Distance: Distance measured in terms of time, cost, or effort rather than strict physical units.

    • Distance Decay: The decline of an activity or interaction as distance from its origin increases.

    • Friction of Distance: The concept that distance requires time, energy, and effort to overcome, which discourages spatial interaction.

    • Time-Space Compression: The reduction in the time required for information, goods, or people to travel across space due to technological advancements in transportation and communication.

4. Types of Diffusion

  • Hearth: The origin or node from which an innovation, idea, or cultural trait originates.

  • Relocation Diffusion: The spread of a feature through the physical movement of people carrying it to new places.

  • Expansion Diffusion: The spread of an innovation or feature outward from a hearth while remaining strong in its origin.

    • Contagious Diffusion: Rapid, widespread diffusion through direct contact without regard to social status or hierarchy (e.g., viral trends, infectious diseases).

    • Hierarchical Diffusion: The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority and influence to other people or lower-order places (e.g., fashion trends from major cities to smaller towns).

    • Stimulus Diffusion: The spread of an underlying idea or principle, even though the specific trait is modified or adapted by the receiving culture (e.g., international menu adaptations).

5. Geographic Tools, Maps, and Projections

  • Global Grid System:

    • Latitude (Parallels): Lines running east-west that measure distance north or south of the Equator (0∘0^\circ to 90∘90^\circ).

    • Longitude (Meridians): Lines running north-south from pole to pole that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian (0∘0^\circ to 180∘180^\circ).

    • Time Zones: 24 global divisions, roughly 15∘15^\circ of longitude wide, each representing a one-hour time shift.

  • Geographic Data Collection & Technology:

    • GIS (Geographic Information System): Computer software designed to capture, store, analyze, and display layered spatial data.

    • GPS (Global Positioning System): Satellite navigation network providing precise absolute location coordinates.

    • Census Data: Government demographic statistics collected about a population, forming a critical dataset for spatial analysis.

    • Fieldwork: Direct, firsthand observation and data gathering conducted by geographers in the field.

  • Map Types and Projections:

    • Map Scale: The ratio comparing distance on a map to actual ground distance on Earth.

    • Reference Map: Maps showing general location details and geographical boundaries (e.g., topographic, road maps).

    • Thematic Map: Maps designed to display a specific theme or spatial distribution of data.

    • Choropleth Map: Uses shading or color gradients to present statistical data aggregated by predefined boundaries.

    • Dot Distribution Map: Uses uniform dots to show spatial presence and density of a phenomenon.

    • Isoline Map: Connects points of equal statistical value with continuous lines (e.g., elevation contours, isotherms).

    • Cartogram: Distorts the geographic size of regions in proportion to a specific variable (e.g., population size).

    • Map Projection & Distortion: The process of rendering the 3D Earth onto a 2D flat surface, which inherently distorts area, shape, distance, or direction.