AP Human Geography Vocabulary Assignment Notes
Vocabulary Assignment Directions
Define each vocabulary term on a separate sheet of paper (HANDWRITTEN).
Use the Ultimate Study Guide for definitions.
Class time will be allocated, but extra time may be needed.
This is an important assignment to prepare for the AP Human Geography test.
UNIT 1: Geography: Nature and Perspective
Changing attributes of place: Includes built landscape and sequent occupance, reflecting how places evolve over time due to human activity.
Cultural attributes: Encompasses cultural landscape, which is the visible imprint of human activity on the land.
Density: Types include:
Arithmetic density: Total number of people divided by total land area.
Physiological density: Number of people per unit area of arable land.
Agricultural density: Number of farmers per unit area of farmland.
Direction: Divided into:
Absolute direction: Based on cardinal points (N, E, S, W).
Relative direction: Terms like “left,” “right,” “down the street.”
Distance/Direction: Absolute vs. relative distance and direction measures.
Distance Decay: Decrease in interaction or influence as distance increases.
Environmental Determinism: The belief that physical environment shapes human behavior and culture.
Location: Types are:
Absolute location: Exact coordinates on a map (latitude and longitude).
Relative location: Position of a place relative to others.
Human Environment Interaction: How humans adapt to and modify their environment.
Pattern: Describes the arrangement of phenomena in space as:
Linear: Elements arranged in a line.
Clustered (“nucleated”): Close together in groups.
Dispersed: Spread out over an area.
Physical attributes: Refers to characteristics of the natural landscape.
Possibilism: Theory stating that the environment may limit human activity but people have the ability to adjust.
Region: Includes:
Formal/uniform: Area defined by specific characteristics (e.g., language).
Functional/nodal: Defined by a function or node (e.g., newspaper circulation areas).
Perceptual/vernacular: Based on personal perception (e.g., “the Midwest”).
Geographic Scale of analysis: Implied level of generalization in data representation.
Spatial: Related to space on or near Earth’s surface.
Spatial interaction: Influenced by:
Accessibility: How easily one can reach another location.
Connectivity: Relationship among locations.
Network: Interconnections of places.
Distance decay, friction of distance: Reductions in interaction with distance.
Time-space compression: The process by which advances in technology reduce the perceived distance between places.
Distortion: Refers to inaccuracies that can occur in map representation (SADD: Shape, Area, Distance, Direction).
Map Types: Different types of maps include:
Mercator: Preserves shape but distorts size of landmasses.
Peters: Accurately represents area but distorts shape.
Robinson: Attempts to minimize all types of distortion.
Goode's Homolosine: Reduces distortions in area and shape but is not a true map projection.
Geographic Information System (GIS): Technology designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.
Global Positioning System (GPS): Satellite-based system used to determine precise location on earth.
Remote sensing: Obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, often using satellite imagery.
Grid: Earth's coordinate system includes:
Latitude: Lines that run parallel to the equator.
Longitude: Lines that run from pole to pole.
Prime Meridian: The zero-degree line of longitude.
International Date Line: Line of longitude at approximately 180 degrees opposite the Prime Meridian.
Map scale: The relationship between distance on a map and actual distance on Earth, categorized into:
Small scale: Represents large areas with less detail.
Large scale: Represents small areas with greater detail.
Toponym: Place names and their significance in understanding geography.
UNIT 2: Population and Migration
Population
Population clusters: Areas with high population density.
Asylum seeker: Individual seeking refuge from persecution.
Advances in Agriculture/Sanitation/Healthcare: Increases in population leverage on improved systems.
Anti-Natalist policies: Government policies aimed at reducing birth rates.
Aging population: Increasing proportion of older individuals in a population.
Brain Drain: Emigration of highly trained or qualified individuals from one country to another.
Carrying capacity: Maximum population size an environment can sustain.
Demographic equation: Mathematical formula that represents the population change.
Demographic momentum: Tendency of a population to keep growing even after fertility rates fall.
Demographic Transition Model: Model describing population change over time.
Dependency ratio: Ratio of dependents (young and old) to the working-age population.
Doubling time: Time taken for a population to double in size.
Family planning: Efforts to control the number and spacing of children.
Ecumene: The inhabited land of the world.
Epidemiological Transition Model: Transition of disease patterns as a society develops.
Gendered space: Areas designated or perceived to be ascribed to a particular sex.
Gerrymandering: Manipulating electoral district boundaries for political advantage.
Government redistricting: Rearranging the boundaries of electoral districts.
Infant mortality rate: Number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.
Infrastructural stress: Strain on infrastructure due to population growth or migration.
Life expectancy: Average number of years a person can expect to live.
J-curve: Growth pattern that shows rapid increase.
Malthus, Thomas: Economist known for his theory on population growth.
Mortality: Death rates in a population.
Natality: Birth rates in a population.
Neo-Malthusian: Modern perspectives drawing upon Malthus' theories on population.
Overpopulation: Population exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment.
Population distributions: How populations are spread across an area.
Potential workforce: Individuals capable of working within an economy.
Pro-Natalist policies: Government policies encouraging higher birth rates.
Population statistics: Metrics including CBR (Crude Birth Rate), CDR (Crude Death Rate), TFR (Total Fertility Rate), IMR (Infant Mortality Rate), RNI (Rate of Natural Increase).
Population projection: Estimate of future population size and characteristics.
Population pyramid: Graphical illustration showing the distribution of various age groups in a population.
Rate of natural increase: Difference between birth rate and death rate.
S-curve: Growth pattern demonstrating stabilization after rapid growth.
Site factors: Geographic and environmental factors influencing population clusters.
Sex ratio imbalances: Discrepancy between the number of males and females in a population.
Standard of living: The degree of wealth and material comfort available.
Sustainability: Ability to maintain balance in consumption and resource use.
Women in government/work/school: Representation and participation of women in various sectors.
Zero population growth: A population that is not increasing or decreasing.
Migration
Chain migration: Migration pattern where groups follow earlier migrants.
Distance decay: Decline of activity or interaction as distance increases.
Gravity model: Model predicting interaction between places based on their size and distance.
Forced migration: Movement of people against their will, often due to conflict or disaster.
Internal migration: Migration within a country's borders.
Intervening opportunity: A favorable opportunity that presents itself while migrating.
Migration patterns: Includes Intercontinental, Interregional, and Rural-urban movements.
Push-pull factors: Conditions that drive people away (push) from their current location or draw them (pull) to a new area.
Refugee: A person who flees their country due to persecution.
Ravenstein's laws of migration: Set of principles that describe migrant behavior.
Space-time prism: A graphical representation of the space within which a person can travel within a given time frame.
Step migration: Migrating in stages rather than all at once.
Transhumance: Seasonal movement of people with their livestock.
Transmigration: The movement from one territory to another that is usually facilitated by a government.
Voluntary Migration: Movement based on a choice rather than as a consequence of force.
UNIT 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes
Concepts of Culture
Acculturation: Process of cultural change resulting from the meeting of cultures.
Assimilation: Process by which a person or group adopts the language and customs of another group.
Cultural landscape: The visible imprint of human activity on the landscape.
Cultural realm: Distinct areas of cultural traits.
Culture: Shared patterns of behavior and beliefs among a group.
Cultural convergence/divergence: Trends toward similarities or differences in cultures.
Culture region: Areas defined by similar cultural traits (e.g., core, periphery).
Diffusion types: Processes whereby cultural phenomena spread:
Expansion (hierarchical, contagious, stimulus).
Relocation.
Sequent occupance: Concept highlighting layers of cultures over time within the same location.
Ethnicity: Social group that shares a common cultural heritage.
Ethnocentrism vs cultural relativism: Judgment of other cultures based on one’s own culture versus understanding cultures in their own context.
Multiculturalism: Coexistence of diverse cultures.
Syncretism: Blending of different belief systems.
Geography of gender: Study of how geography affects gender roles and dynamics.
Sense of place vs placelessness: The emotional ties to a location versus a lack of identity in a place.
Folk/Pop Culture
Architectural form: Style of buildings reflecting cultural influences.
Built environment: Human-made structures or landscapes.
Folk culture: Traditional beliefs and practices of a specific group.
Folk food: Traditional dishes specific to certain cultures.
Folk house: Styles of homes reflecting regional attributes.
Folk songs: Traditional music reflecting cultural narratives.
Folklore: Traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community.
Material culture: Physical objects used in everyday life by a culture.
Nonmaterial culture: Intangible elements such as beliefs, values, and norms.
Popular culture: Mainstream cultural interests and activities.
Traditional architecture: Building styles that reflect historical, cultural, and environmental contexts.
Imperialistic effect of diffusion of language, religion, and culture: Spread of cultural elements often aligned with colonial or imperial dominance.
Language
Creole: Stable, fully developed language that arises from a mixture of different languages.
Dialect: Variations in language depending on region or social group.
Indo-European languages: Major language family with widespread global dispersion.
Isogloss: Geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs.
Language: The method of human communication, either spoken or written.
Language family: Groups of languages related through descent from a common ancestor.
Lingua franca: A common language used among speakers of different native languages.
Linguistic diversity: Variety of languages spoken within a specific area.
Monolingual/multilingual: Describing individuals or societies speaking one or multiple languages respectively.
Official language: Language given a special legal status in a particular country or jurisdiction.
Pidgin: A simplified language that develops as a means of communication between speakers of different languages.
Toponymy: Study of place names and their meanings.
Religion
Buddhism: Religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama.
Christianity: Major monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Ethnic religion: Religion closely related to particular ethnic groups.
Exclave/enclave: Parts of a country separated from the main territory.
Fundamentalism: Strict adherence to the basic principles of any subject or discipline.
Hinduism: Major religion that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
Interfaith boundaries: Dividing lines between different religious beliefs.
Islam: Major monotheistic religion founded on the teachings of Muhammad.
Judaism: Monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, rooted in ancient Israelite beliefs.
Monotheism/polytheism: Belief in one god vs. belief in multiple gods.
Muslim population: Number of adherents to Islam globally.
Reincarnation: Concept in several religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, of rebirth after death.
Religion: A system of beliefs that often includes the worship of a higher power.
Religious architectural styles: Types of constructions purpose-built for religious practices.
Religious conflict: Disputes arising between different religious groups.
Religious culture hearth: Origin point from which religious practices spread.
Religious toponym: Place names derived from religious significance.
Sacred space: Locations that hold religious significance.
UNIT 4: Political Organization of Space
Autonomous Region: Regions with a degree of self-governance.
Arab Spring: Series of protests and uprisings in the Arab world beginning in 2010.
Balkanization: Fragmentation of a region into smaller, often hostile units.
Basque/Catalan: Ethnic groups in Spain advocating for greater autonomy.
Boundary disputes: Conflicts arising over territorial lines, categorized into:
Definitional: Disagreement over the legal meaning of the boundary.
Locational: Disputes over the physical location of the boundary.
Operational: Conflicts regarding the administration of the boundary.
Allocational: Disputes over resources that cross boundaries.
Boundary origins: Types of boundaries based on their formation, including:
Antecedent: Established before human settlement.
Subsequent: Developed alongside cultural and economic changes.
Superimposed: Forcibly drawn without regard to preexisting cultural patterns.
Relic: No longer exists but still holds significance.
Boundary process: Steps in establishing a boundary:
Definition: Legal agreement on boundary location.
Delimitation: Mapping the boundary on the ground.
Demarcation: Physical markers on the landscape.
Administered: Enforcement of the boundary laws.
Boundary types: Can be:
Natural/physical: Based on physical barriers, like rivers.
Cultural: Based on cultural traits.
Geometric: Straight-line boundaries without regard to physical features.
Capital: Principal city of a country or region, often serving as the seat of government.
Centrifugal: Forces that tend to pull a state apart.
Centripetal: Forces that unite individuals within a state.
City-state: Independent city that governs itself and the surrounding territory.
Chokepoint: Narrow passage that restricts movement, often strategic for trade or military.
Colonialism: Control of a territory by a foreign power, often involving settlement.
Confederation: Union of sovereign groups or states for mutual support.
Conference of Berlin (1884): European powers' claims on African territories without African participation.
Core/periphery: Economic theory describing the relationship between dominant and dependent regions.
Decolonization: Process of countries gaining independence from colonial powers.
Democratization: Transition from authoritarian to democratic political systems.
Devolution: Transfer of power from central to local governments.
Demilitarized Zone: Area where military forces are prohibited, often to reduce conflict.
Ethnic conflict: Disputes arising due to cultural, ethnic, or religious differences.
Eritrea: East African country that gained independence from Ethiopia.
East Timor conflict: Struggles over independence and sovereignty in East Timor.
Ethnic separatism: Movement advocating for the autonomy of a specific ethnic group.
Ethnic cleansing: Attempt to establish a region as ethnically homogenous by removal of other ethnic groups.
Ethnonationalism: Nationalism based on ethnic groups.
European Union: Economic and political union of European countries.
Federal: Government system where power is divided between central and regional entities.
Fleming/Walloon conflict: Tensions between the two linguistic groups in Belgium.
Forward capital: Capital city intentionally located in a region of economic or strategic importance.
Gerrymander: Manipulating borders to favor one political party.
Horizontal/Vertical Integration: Techniques for expanding a business.
Irredentism: Advocacy for the attachment of territories administered by another state to one’s own.
Israel/Palestine conflict: Longstanding disputes between Israelis and Palestinians.
Landlocked: Countries or regions entirely surrounded by land, lacking access to the ocean.
Microstate: Very small sovereign state.
Multinational State: A country containing multiple national, cultural, or ethnic groups.
Multi-State Nation: A nation that spreads across multiple states.
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance among countries.
Nationalism: Ideology that stresses the interests of a particular nation over others.
Nation-state: A political entity characterized by a defined territory and population with a common culture.
Nigeria: African nation with diverse ethnic groups and political challenges.
Nunavut: Canadian territory created for the Inuit peoples.
Redistricting: Redrawing electoral district boundaries.
Regionalism: Advocacy for regional interests and autonomy.
Reunification: Process of bringing together previously divided states or regions.
Satellite state: State that is nominally independent but heavily influenced by another.
Superimposed Boundary: A boundary that ignores pre-existing cultural or social patterns.
Self-determination: The right of a people to determine their own political status.
Shatterbelt: A region caught between strong, colliding external cultural-political forces.
Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself.
State: A political unit with defined territory and government.
Stateless nation: Ethnic or national minority lacking state control over a territory.
South Sudan: World’s newest country, gaining independence in 2011.
Supranationalism: Associations or agencies that transcend national boundaries.
Subnationalism: Allegiance to a particular region, distinguishing from the nation-state.
Territorial disputes: Conflicts over land ownership.
Territoriality: Attempt by individuals or groups to assert control over a geographic area.
Terrorism: Use of violence to intimidate or coerce for political purposes.
UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Unilateralism: Policy of a country acting independently in international relations.
USSR Collapse: Disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
UN: United Nations, an intergovernmental organization founded in 1945.
Voting District: A specific area in which voters elect representatives.
UNIT 5: Agriculture and Rural Land Use
1st Agricultural Revolution: Transition from hunting-gathering to settled agriculture.
Agribusiness: Industry associated with the production of agricultural goods.
Agricultural industrialization: Transformation of agriculture into a modern industry.
Agricultural site factors: Conditions affecting agricultural production such as soil, climate.
Agricultural origins: Where forms of agriculture began historically.
Agriculture: Cultivation of plants and livestock for food and other products.
Animal domestication: Taming and breeding of animals for human use.
Aquaculture: Cultivation of aquatic organisms for food.
Bid rent curve: Economic theory concerning land use in relation to its distance to the market.
Commercial agriculture: Large-scale production for sale, can be:
Intensive: High input; high yields per unit area.
Extensive: Low input; larger area harvested.
Core/periphery: Economic model describing development disparities.
Cool chains: Transportation methods that keep products fresh through refrigeration.
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture): Partnership between farmers and consumers where consumers support farms by purchasing shares.
Conservation efforts: Practices aimed at protecting agricultural ecosystems.
Complex commodity chain: Series of processes used to transform raw materials into consumer-ready goods.
Columbian exchange: Transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations between the Americas and the Old World.
Commodity dependence: Economies reliant on exports of primary products.
Cultivation regions: Geographic areas planted with specific crops.
Dairying: Agricultural practice focused on milk production.
Double cropping: Growing two crops in the same season.
Depletion of water sources: Overuse of water resources leading to scarcity.
Government subsidies: Financial assistance provided to encourage agriculture.
Economic activity: Sectors categorized into primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, quinary:
Primary: Extraction of raw materials.
Secondary: Manufacturing.
Tertiary: Services.
Quaternary: Knowledge-based services.
Quinary: High-level decisions and management.
Fertilizer/pesticides/herbicides: Chemicals used to enhance agricultural productivity and protect crops.
Fair Trade: Trade policy that guarantees fair prices to producers in developing countries.
Food deserts: Areas with limited access to affordable and healthy food.
Environmental modification: Human impact on the environment through agriculture.
Environmental consequence of agriculture: Issues arising from agricultural practices like pollution.
Feedlot: Farm where livestock are fattened for slaughter.
Job specialization: Division of labor focusing on specific tasks.
Luxury crops: Non-subsistence crops, such as coffee and tea, aimed at profit.
Supply food chain: Sequence of processes involved in food production and supply.
Green revolution: Period of agricultural transformation marked by high-yield crop varieties and modern farming technology.
GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms): Organisms altered for desired traits using genetic engineering.
Organic foods: Food products grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Hunting and gathering: Pre-agricultural method of obtaining food by foraging.
Intensive agriculture: High input and output farming methods.
Extensive farming: Lower input farming over larger areas.
Mediterranean agriculture: Farming practiced in regions with a Mediterranean climate.
Monocropping/Monoculture: Growing one crop over a wide area.
Intercropping/double cropping: Strategies to maximize crop yield by planting multiple crops.
Plant domestication: Process of breeding plants for human use.
Renewable/nonrenewable: Types of resources based on regeneration capabilities.
Rural settlement: Agricultural communities organized as dispersed or nucleated.
Sauer, Carl O.: Influential geographer known for his work in cultural geography.
Second Agricultural Revolution: Technological advancements in agriculture during the 18th-19th centuries.
Suitcase farm: Farm operated by a person who lives elsewhere.
Terracing: Creating flat platforms on slopes to conserve soil and water.
Survey patterns: Different methods to divide land.
Long lots: Long, narrow parcels of land.
Metes and bounds: Boundaries defined by natural features or landmarks.
Township-and-range: Rectangular land division system.
Sustainable agriculture: Farming methods that meet current needs without compromising future generations' needs.
Third agricultural revolution: Modern agricultural practices through industrialization and technological innovation.
Seed hybridization: Creating new plant varieties through selective breeding processes.
Subsistence farming: Farming focused on growing food primarily for the farmer's family.
Transhumance: Seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.
Truck farming: Commercial gardening and fruit farming.
Von Thünen model: Economic land use model depicting how agricultural land use changes with distance from the market.
Urban farming: Planting food within urban areas, often utilizing rooftops and community gardens.
UNIT 7: Industrial and Economic Development
Development
Sectoral structure: Distribution of economic activity across different sectors.
Core-periphery model: Economic theory that describes the distribution of economic power and resources in spaces where a “core” dominates the “periphery.”
Dependency theory: Critique of the global economy positing that resources flow from periphery to core, perpetuating inequality.
Development: The process of economic growth and improvement in living standards.
Energy consumption: Measure of energy used by individuals or societies.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Total economic output of a country.
Gross National Product (GNP): Similar to GDP but includes income from abroad.
Human Development Index (HDI): Composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators.
More Developed Countries (MDC): Countries with a high HDI and lifestyle quality.
Less Developed Countries (LDC): Nations with lower HDIs and economic conditions.
Measures of development: Indicators used to evaluate progress such as GDP, literacy rates, and life expectancy.
Neocolonialism: Continued economic domination of former colonial powers.
Purchasing power parity (PPP): Economic theory that estimates adjustments for price level differences across countries.
Rostow’s “Stages of Growth” model: Economic development theory suggesting that economies develop in five stages.
Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory: Perspective focusing on the world economy that emphasizes global interconnectedness and division of labor.
Commodity Dependence: Heavy reliance on a small range of commodities for economic stability and growth.
MDC Consumption Patterns: Consumption behaviors typical in developed countries.
LDC Consumption Patterns: Consumption behaviors typical in developing countries.
Gini Coefficient: Measure of income inequality within a population.
Gender Inequality Index: Measurement of gender disparities in various dimensions of development.
Industrialization
Agglomeration: Clustering of industries in a specific area to benefit from shared resources and infrastructure.
Agglomeration economies: Benefits gained by companies when located near each other.
Air pollution: Contamination of the atmosphere caused by vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, etc.
Factors of production: Resources used to produce goods or services.
Assembly line production/Fordism: Mass production strategy breaking down the manufacturing process into simple tasks.
Bid rent theory: Economic theory explaining land value in relation to distance from urban centers.
Break-of-bulk point: Location where transfer between transportation modes occurs.
Comparative advantage: Economic principle where a country produces goods it can make more efficiently than others.
Complementarity trade: Trade that occurs when countries offer goods that complement each other.
Colonialism/Imperialism causes: Historical forces that led to domination of regions by foreign powers.
Containerization: Use of large freight containers for transporting goods, revolutionizing shipping efficiency.
Deglomeration: Process where businesses and industries spread out rather than cluster together.
Deindustrialization: Declining industrial activity in a region or economy.
Economic sectors: Divisions of different types of economic activity.
Economies of scale: Reduction in costs per unit due to increased production.
Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.
Energy resources: Supply of energy sources like fossil fuels, renewable sources, etc.
Export processing zone: Area designated for export-oriented manufacturing with reduced regulations.
Footloose industry: Industries that can be located anywhere due to low transportation costs.
Greenhouse effect: The trapping of heat in the earth's atmosphere by increased greenhouse gases.
Formal Economy: Sector of the economy that operates under government regulation.
Shadow Economy: Unregulated economic activities that are not taxed or monitored.
Growth poles: Development centers that drive economic growth in regions.
Industrial Revolution regions: Areas where industrialization first took place with distinctive characteristics.
Industrial Revolution: Major period of change from agrarian to industrial economies.
Infrastructure: Basic physical systems needed to operate a society (roads, communication systems, etc.).
Industrial site factors: Physical and human geographic characteristics that influence industrial location.
Industrial situation factors: Proximity and accessibility to markets, labor, and resources.
International division of labor: Global allocation of different jobs for different countries.
Labor-intensive: Industries that require a high degree of labor input.
Least-cost Theory: Alfred Weber's theory predicting the location of manufacturing based on cost minimization.
Major manufacturing regions: Areas known for producing goods and having significant manufacturing activity.
Maquiladora: Manufacturing plants in Mexico, typically located near the US border.
Market orientation: Business approach focusing on customer demand and preferences.
Multiplier effect: Economic concept where initial investment generates increased economic activity.
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement, which created a trade bloc among the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Outsourcing: The practice of relocating specific business functions to external organizations.
Plant location: Factors determining where production facilities are sited.
Postindustrial: Societies where service industries dominate over manufacturing.
Neo-Malthusian: Modern theories reminiscent of Thomas Malthus’s ideas on population and resources.
Urbanization: Increase in a population living in urban areas.
Resource orientation: Locations for industries that develop around resource availability.
Rust Belt: Declining industrial region in the Northeast US.
Sun Belt: Region in the southern US known for economic growth and favorable climate.
Post-Fordist: Economic model that emphasizes flexibility and innovation in production.
Technopole: An area with a concentration of technology-based industries.
Special Economic Zones (China): Designated areas in China where economic practices differ from the rest of the country to encourage foreign investment.
Time-space compression: The phenomenon wherein technological advancements reduce distances and increase the pace of change.
Transnational corporation: Enterprises operating in multiple countries but managed from one nation.
Weber, Alfred triangle: Model explaining the relationship between transportation, labor, and raw materials in industrial location decision-making.
Weight-gaining: Products that gain weight during production process.
Weight-losing: Products that lose weight during production process.
OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
WTO: World Trade Organization, aimed at regulating international trade.
Trading Blocs: Groups of countries working together to promote trade.
Front Office/Back office: In industry, referring to customer-facing vs. behind-the-scenes operations.
Offshoring: Relocating business processes to another country.
Sustainability: The ability to meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Sustainable Development Goals: UN initiative for global goals addressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
UNIT 6: Cities and Urban Land Use
Agglomeration: The clustering of interconnected businesses and services in a particular location.
Barriadas: Shantytowns or informal settlements typically found in Latin America.
Bid-rent theory: Pricing of land and its relation to proximity to the city center.
Blockbusting: Real estate practice that involves inducing panic selling.
Brownfields/Redevelopment of Brownfields: Previously used land that is no longer in use and may be contaminated.
CBD (central business district): Commercial and business center of a city.
Boomburb: Suburban city experiencing rapid growth.
Census tract: Geographic area defined for statistical analysis.
Centrality: Importance of a city within its region or relation to other cities.
Centralization: Concentration of people and economic activities in urban centers.
Central-place theory: Hypothesis that explains the distribution of services based on the location from towns and cities.
Christaller, Walter: Geographer noted for developing the central-place theory.
City: Large human settlement characterized by significant population density and infrastructure.
City Infrastructure: Essential services and facilities supporting urban life, such as transportation and communication networks.
Colonial city: Urban centers founded by colonial powers, often with distinct historical architecture.
Commercialization: Process by which retail areas are developed to attract customers.
Commuter zone: Area outside a city where residents live but commute to work in the city.
Concentric zone model: Urban land use model presenting cities as a series of rings surrounding the CBD.
Counterurbanization: Movement of population away from urban areas to rural areas.
Decentralization: Distribution of administrative powers or functions away from a central authority.
De-facto segregation: Segregation that occurs through social forces rather than legal mandates.
Early cities: First urban settlements that emerged in historical contexts.
Economic base: A city’s primary economic activities that drive growth.
Edge city: Suburban area with significant commercial development.
Eminent domain: Law allowing government to take private property for public use, with compensation.
Ethnic neighborhood: Area predominantly populated by members of a specific ethnic group.
Environmental injustice: Disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on marginalized communities.
Exurb: A community outside of a larger metropolitan area.
Favela: Informal, substandard housing typically found in Brazil.
Food Deserts: Areas lacking access to affordable, healthy food.
Filtering: Process by which housing occupancy decreases and becomes less desirable.
Galactic City Model: Urban model describing decentralized cities with multiple nodes.
Gentrification: Renovation of urban neighborhoods leading to displacement of lower-income residents.
Gravity Model: Model predicting interactions between places based on their population size and distance.
High-tech corridors: Areas where technology industries are concentrated.
Hinterland: Area surrounding a city that provides resources and services.
Inclusionary zoning: Policies ensuring affordable housing within a community.
In-filling: Development of vacant lots within existing urban areas.
Informal sector: Economic activities that are not regulated by the government.
Infrastructure: Basic physical systems of a business or nation.
Inner city: Central area of a city that is socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Invasion and succession: Process where one group replaces another in urban areas.
Latin American Model: Urban structure model reflecting Latin American cities with a rich core and a periphery.
Mixed use zoning: Areas designated for multiple purposes, including residential and commercial use.
Megacities: Very large cities with high populations often exceeding 10 million.
Megalopolis/conurbation: Large connected cities or urban regions.
Metropolitan area: Region that includes a core city and surrounding suburbs.
Multiple nuclei model: Urban spatial model suggesting cities have multiple centers of activity.
Multiplier effect: Economic concept where an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent.
New Urbanism: Urban design movement advocating for walkable neighborhoods with mixed-use environments.
Office park: Area with many offices located in a suburban setting.
Planned communities: Entire neighborhoods designed from a master plan.
Postindustrial city: Urban centers focusing on services rather than manufacturing.
Postmodern urban landscape: City designs that challenge the modernist forms and embrace plurality.
Public Housing: Housing provided by the government for low-income residents.
Primate city: A city that is disproportionately large compared to others in a country.
Rank-size rule: Statistical distribution showing that the nth largest city will be 1/n the size of the largest city.
Redlining: Denying services to residents of certain areas based on racial or ethnic composition.
Regional Planning Efforts: Initiatives aimed at coordinating local land use and economic policies across regions.
Sector model: Urban model suggesting cities develop in sectors radiating outward from the CBD.
Sanitation challenges: Issues of adequate waste management and clean water access in urban areas.
Settlement form: Patterns of human settlement including nucleated, dispersed, and elongated.
Smart Growth: Urban planning strategy that promotes sustainable and community-focused development.
Site/situation: Physical characteristics of a location vs. location relative to other areas.
Specialization: Focus of cities or regions on specific industries or functions.
Squatter settlement: Informal housing developed on land not owned or legally occupied.
Street pattern: Design of streets in urban areas such as grid or dendritic.
Suburb: Residential communities located near urban centers.
Suburbanization: Movement of populations from cities to suburbs.
Sub-Saharan African Model: Urban model explaining the structure and challenges of cities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Southeast Asia Model: Patterns of urbanization and spatial organization typical of Southeast Asian cities.
Sustainable Design Initiatives: Urban planning efforts that minimize environmental impacts.
Threshold/range: Minimum market needed to support a business and the maximum distance consumers will travel.
Transportation Oriented Development: Urban planning approach that maximizes access to public transport.
Underemployment: Situation where individuals are working less than their potential or in jobs beneath their skill level.
Urban Decay: Deterioration of an urban area due to neglect and disinvestment.
Urban Renewal: Redevelopment of urban areas aimed at improving infrastructure and economy.
Urban function: The role of a city in the broader economy or region.
Urban hearth area: Regions where urbanization began and developed distinct characteristics.
Urban heat island: Phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas.
Urban hierarchy: Ranking of cities based on size and influence.
Urbanization: Movement of populations from rural areas to cities.
Urban growth boundaries: Limits set to control the spread of urban development.
Urbanized population: Proportion of the population living in urban areas.
World city: City that serves as a global economic and cultural center.
Zone in transition: Areas of mixed land uses that are being redeveloped.
Zoning: Legal framework allowing cities to regulate land use to manage development.
Development
Sectoral structure: Distribution of economic activity across different sectors.
Core-periphery model: Economic theory that describes the distribution of economic power and resources in spaces where a “core” dominates the “periphery.”
Dependency theory: Critique of the global economy positing that resources flow from periphery to core, perpetuating inequality.
Development: The process of economic growth and improvement in living standards.
Energy consumption: Measure of energy used by individuals or societies.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Total economic output of a country.
Gross National Product (GNP): Similar to GDP but includes income from abroad.
Human Development Index (HDI): Composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators.
More Developed Countries (MDC): Countries with a high HDI and lifestyle quality.
Less Developed Countries (LDC): Nations with lower HDIs and economic conditions.
Measures of development: Indicators used to evaluate progress such as GDP, literacy rates, and life expectancy.
Neocolonialism: Continued economic domination of former colonial powers.
Purchasing power parity (PPP): Economic theory that estimates adjustments for price level differences across countries.
Rostow’s “Stages of Growth” model: Economic development theory suggesting that economies develop in five stages.
Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory: Perspective focusing on the world economy that emphasizes global interconnectedness and division of labor.
Commodity Dependence: Heavy reliance on a small range of commodities for economic stability and growth.
MDC Consumption Patterns: Consumption behaviors typical in developed countries.
LDC Consumption Patterns: Consumption behaviors typical in developing countries.
Gini Coefficient: Measure of income inequality within a population.
Gender Inequality Index: Measurement of gender disparities in various dimensions of development.
Industrialization
Agglomeration: Clustering of industries in a specific area to benefit from shared resources and infrastructure.
Agglomeration economies: Benefits gained by companies when located near each other.
Air pollution: Contamination of the atmosphere caused by vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, etc.
Factors of production: Resources used to produce goods or services.
Assembly line production/Fordism: Mass production strategy breaking down the manufacturing process into simple tasks.
Bid rent theory: Economic theory explaining land value in relation to distance from urban centers.
Break-of-bulk point: Location where transfer between transportation modes occurs.
Comparative advantage: Economic principle where a country produces goods it can make more efficiently than others.
Complementarity trade: Trade that occurs when countries offer goods that complement each other.
Colonialism/Imperialism causes: Historical forces that led to domination of regions by foreign powers.
Containerization: Use of large freight containers for transporting goods, revolutionizing shipping efficiency.
Deglomeration: Process where businesses and industries spread out rather than cluster together.
Deindustrialization: Declining industrial activity in a region or economy.
Economic sectors: Divisions of different types of economic activity.
Economies of scale: Reduction in costs per unit due to increased production.
Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.
Energy resources: Supply of energy sources like fossil fuels, renewable sources, etc.
Export processing zone: Area designated for export-oriented manufacturing with reduced regulations.
Footloose industry: Industries that can be located anywhere due to low transportation costs.
Greenhouse effect: The trapping of heat in the earth's atmosphere by increased greenhouse gases.
Formal Economy: Sector of the economy that operates under government regulation.
Shadow Economy: Unregulated economic activities that are not taxed or monitored.
Growth poles: Development centers that drive economic growth in regions.
Industrial Revolution regions: Areas where industrialization first took place with distinctive characteristics.
Industrial Revolution: Major period of change from agrarian to industrial economies.
Infrastructure: Basic physical systems needed to operate a society (roads, communication systems, etc.).
Industrial site factors: Physical and human geographic characteristics that influence industrial location.
Industrial situation factors: Proximity and accessibility to markets, labor, and resources.
International division of labor: Global allocation of different jobs for different countries.
Labor-intensive: Industries that require a high degree of labor input.
Least-cost Theory: Alfred Weber's theory predicting the location of manufacturing based on cost minimization.
Major manufacturing regions: Areas known for producing goods and having significant manufacturing activity.
Maquiladora: Manufacturing plants in Mexico, typically located near the US border.
Market orientation: Business approach focusing on customer demand and preferences.
Multiplier effect: Economic concept where initial investment generates increased economic activity.
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement, which created a trade bloc among the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Outsourcing: The practice of relocating specific business functions to external organizations.
Plant location: Factors determining where production facilities are sited.
Postindustrial: Societies where service industries dominate over manufacturing.
Resource orientation: Locations for industries that develop around resource availability.
Rust Belt: Declining industrial region in the Northeast US.
Sun Belt: Region in the southern US known for economic growth and favorable climate.
Post-Fordist: Economic model that emphasizes flexibility and innovation in production.
Technopole: An area with a concentration of technology-based industries.
Special Economic Zones (China): Designated areas in China where economic practices differ from the rest of the country to encourage foreign investment.
Time-space compression: The phenomenon wherein technological advancements reduce distances and increase the pace of change.
Transnational corporation: Enterprises operating in multiple countries but managed from one nation.
Weber, Alfred triangle: Model explaining the relationship between transportation, labor, and raw materials in industrial location decision-making.
Weight-gaining: Products that gain weight during production process.
Weight-losing: Products that lose weight during production process.
OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
WTO: World Trade Organization, aimed at regulating international trade.
Trading Blocs: Groups of countries working together to promote trade.
Front Office/Back office: In industry, referring to customer-facing vs. behind-the-scenes operations.
Offshoring: Relocating business processes to another country.
Sustainability: The ability to meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Sustainable Development Goals: UN initiative for global goals addressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.