2nd Semester Review Notes

2nd Semester Review

Units 5-7: Agriculture & Urban Geography
Unit 05: Agriculture

  • Agricultural Revolutions: Significant historical changes in agricultural practices.

1st Agricultural Revolution

  • Origins: Began approx. 14,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent.

    • Transition from foraging to agriculture: cultivation of domesticated plants (roots & seeds selected for size & heartiness).

    • Development of urban centers due to food surpluses.

  • Domestication of Animals (8,000 years ago):

    • Purpose: Beasts of burden (plow), source of milk/meat, fertilizer for crops.

  • Domesticated Animals: Of 148 candidate species, only 14 (10%) successfully domesticated.

2nd Agricultural Revolution

  • Time Frame: Preceded the Industrial Revolution (around 1800).

  • Innovations: Enhancements in food production in response to urban population demands.

    • Techniques: Crop rotation, Enclosure Movement (increased farm size), seed drill (efficient planting), high yield fertilizer.

    • Mechanical Advances: Internal combustion engine enabled mechanization of farming.

  • Consequences: Mass production of food fostered population growth, increased life expectancy, more trade.

3rd Agricultural Revolution (Green Revolution)

  • Initiation: Began in the 1930s with seed manipulation to boost crop yields.

  • Timeline:

    • 1940s: Manipulation of corn strains in Mexico.

    • 1960s: Hybrids like IR8 rice developed in India.

    • 1990s: US produced high-yield wheat crops.

  • Pros: Increased food supply, less crop failure, fewer farms support more people.

  • Cons: Unknown health risks, dependency on chemicals, nutrient deficiencies.

Effects of Agriculture

  • Environmental impacts:

    • Desertification

    • Pollution from pesticides and fertilizers

    • Alteration of land cover.

Unit 06: Urban Geography

  • Ranking Urban Centers: From megalopolis to hamlet, cities vary in size, specialization, and population.

    • Megacity: Minimum 5 million residents; face pollution and poverty issues.

    • Primate City: Largest city in a country, holds cultural significance.

Urban Models

  1. Concentric Zone Model: Developed by Ernest Burgess, depicts urban areas as concentric circles extending from the CBD (Central Business District).

  2. Sector Model: Introduced by Homer Hoyt; urban growth occurs in wedge-shaped sectors from the CBD.

  3. Multiple Nuclei Model: Created by Harris and Ullman; cities have multiple centers of activity, each with distinct land uses.

Unit 07: Development & Industry
Economic Measures

  • GNP: Total value of goods/services produced by citizens.

  • GDP: Value of goods/services within national borders.

  • GNI: National income measure, including income from abroad.

Development Theories

  1. Modernization Model: All countries can develop through stages (Walt Rostow).

  2. Dependency Theory: Core nations maintain control over peripheral nations, limiting progress.

  3. World-Systems Theory: Differentiates core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries based on economic power.

Gender Inequality Index

  • Measures disparity in reproductive health, economy, and education.

Sustainability and Industrialization

  • Definition: Meeting current needs without compromising future generations.

  • UN Sustainable Development Goals initiated in 2015 focused on holistic improvements across various sectors.

    • Goals include reducing poverty, promoting health, gender equality, clean energy, and sustainable cities.

Summary of Key Terms and Concepts

  • Urban Realms Model: Model showing modern metropolitan areas shaped by suburban sprawl and multiple centers.

  • Economic Activities: Classifications include primary (extraction), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (services), and quaternary (research) economies.

Review Resources

  • Online study tools such as Quizlet and Kahoot for interactive learning and reinforcement of key concepts.