ap human geo midterm review

Unit I: Think Like a Geographer

1. Environmental determinism vs. Possibilism:

   • Environmental determinism argues that the physical environment shapes human behavior and societal development.

   • Possibilism states that while the environment presents challenges, humans have the ability to adapt and modify their surroundings.

2. Different Scales of Analysis & Their Use:

   • Local, regional, national, and global scales help geographers analyze patterns at different levels.

   • Using different scales helps understand how local events fit into broader trends.

3. Site vs. Situation:

   • Site refers to a location’s physical characteristics (e.g., climate, elevation).

   • Situation refers to a location’s relationship to other places (e.g., distance from a major city).

4. Types of Regions & Examples:

   • Formal (Uniform) – Defined by a shared characteristic (e.g., French-speaking Quebec).

   • Functional (Nodal) – Centered around a focal point (e.g., a subway system).

   • Perceptual (Vernacular) – Based on cultural identity or perception (e.g., “the South” in the U.S.).

5. Types of Map Projections & Their Uses:

   • Mercator – Preserves direction; distorts size near poles; used for navigation.

   • Robinson – Balances distortion; used for general reference.

   • Gall-Peters – Preserves area but distorts shape; used for equality-focused maps.

   • Goode’s Homolosine – Reduces distortion of land masses; used for world maps.

6. Five Economic Sectors & Examples:

   • Primary – Extracting natural resources (e.g., farming, fishing, mining).

   • Secondary – Manufacturing and industry (e.g., car production, textile factories).

   • Tertiary – Providing services (e.g., retail, banking, teaching).

   • Quaternary – Knowledge-based work (e.g., research, software development).

   • Quinary – High-level decision-making (e.g., CEOs, government officials).

7. Types of Data Geographers Analyze:

   • Quantitative (e.g., population statistics, economic data).

   • Qualitative (e.g., interviews, cultural observations).

8. Technology Geographers Use & Why It’s Helpful:

   • GIS (Geographic Information Systems) – Helps analyze spatial data.

   • GPS (Global Positioning System) – Determines absolute location.

   • Remote Sensing – Collects data from satellites or drones.

   • These tools help geographers map and analyze geographic patterns.

9. Absolute vs. Relative Location:

   • Absolute location – Exact latitude and longitude (e.g., 40°N, 74°W).

   • Relative location – Location in relation to another place (e.g., “north of Mexico”).

10. Reading Different Maps:

• Cartogram – Uses size distortion to show data (e.g., world population cartogram).

• Reference Map – Shows physical and political features (e.g., road map).

• Thematic Map – Focuses on a specific theme (e.g., population density, climate).

Unit II: Population & Migration

1. Pro-Natalist vs. Anti-Natalist Policies:

   • Pro-Natalist: Policies that encourage births (e.g., France’s tax benefits for large families).

   • Anti-Natalist: Policies that discourage births (e.g., China’s former One-Child Policy).

2. Fertility Rate & Development:

   • A high fertility rate often indicates a less developed country (LDC) with lower education and healthcare.

   • A low fertility rate is common in more developed countries (MDCs) with better healthcare and career opportunities for women.

3. Types of Migration:

   • Voluntary – Moving by choice (e.g., job relocation).

   • Forced – Moving due to conflict or disasters (e.g., refugees).

   • Internal – Migration within a country (e.g., rural to urban migration).

   • International – Migration across countries.

4. Factors in a Country’s Development:

   • LDCs – Least Developed Countries (low GDP, poor infrastructure).

   • NICs – Newly Industrialized Countries (e.g., Mexico, India).

   • MDCs – More Developed Countries (high income, strong economies).

   • BRICS – Emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).

5. Why Population Grew Rapidly in the 1800s:

   • Industrial Revolution led to improved agriculture, medicine, and sanitation.

6. Population Pyramid Information:

   • Shows age and gender distribution of a population.

   • Can indicate birth/death rates, life expectancy, and economic status.

7. Different Population Pyramid Shapes (continued):

   • Expansive – Wide base, high birth rates (e.g., Nigeria).

   • Stationary – Balanced age distribution, low birth/death rates (e.g., U.S.).

   • Contracting – Narrow base, declining birth rates (e.g., Japan).

8. Thomas Malthus & His Population Theory:

   • Predicted population growth would outpace food production, leading to famine.

   • Critics argue technology and agricultural advances prevent this crisis.

9. Physiological, Arithmetic, & Agricultural Densities:

   • Physiological Density – Population per unit of arable land (shows food stress).

   • Arithmetic Density – Population per total land area (general measure).

   • Agricultural Density – Farmers per unit of arable land (indicates development level).

10. Common Push & Pull Factors:

• Economic: Job loss (push), better wages (pull).

• Social: Religious persecution (push), cultural freedom (pull).

• Political: War (push), political stability (pull).

• Environmental: Natural disasters (push), better climate (pull).

11. Definition of a Refugee:

• A person forced to flee their country due to conflict, persecution, or disasters.

12. Demographic Transition Model (DTM) & Its Limitations (continued):

• Stage 1 – High birth and death rates, low growth (pre-industrial societies).

• Stage 2 – Death rates drop due to medical advances, rapid growth (LDCs).

• Stage 3 – Birth rates decline, growth slows (NICs).

• Stage 4 – Low birth and death rates, stable or slow growth (MDCs).

• Stage 5 (hypothetical) – Population decline due to very low birth rates.

• Limitations: Doesn’t account for migration, cultural factors, or government policies.

13. Does Every Country Follow the DTM Path?

• No, some countries experience unique changes due to war, policies, or cultural differences.

14. How Gender Impacts Population Studies:

• Gender roles affect fertility rates, labor force participation, and migration trends.

• Some cultures prefer sons, leading to gender imbalances.

Unit III: Culture

1. Major Holy Sites (from Religion Chart):

   • Christianity – Jerusalem, Vatican City.

   • Islam – Mecca, Medina.

   • Judaism – Western Wall, Jerusalem.

   • Hinduism – Varanasi, Ganges River.

   • Buddhism – Bodh Gaya (where Buddha attained enlightenment).

2. Lingua Franca: Definition, Purpose, & Cultural Negatives (continued):

   • Examples: English (global trade), Swahili (East Africa), Mandarin (China & neighboring countries).

   • Cultural Negatives: Can lead to the decline of indigenous languages and loss of cultural identity.

3. Types of Diffusion & Examples:

   • Relocation Diffusion – Physical movement of people spreads culture (e.g., Spanish in Latin America).

   • Expansion Diffusion – Culture spreads without migration.

     • Contagious Diffusion – Rapid, widespread (e.g., viral TikTok trends).

     • Hierarchical Diffusion – Spreads from authority or influencers (e.g., fashion trends from celebrities).

     • Stimulus Diffusion – Core idea spreads but changes (e.g., McDonald’s adapting menus in India).

   • Barriers to Diffusion: Physical (mountains, oceans), political (censorship), cultural (language differences).

4. Examples of Artifacts, Sociofacts, & Mentifacts:

   • Artifacts – Physical objects (e.g., pottery, clothing, buildings).

   • Sociofacts – Social structures and traditions (e.g., family structures, education systems).

   • Mentifacts – Beliefs and ideas (e.g., religion, language, values).

5. Popular vs. Folk (Traditional) Cultures & Which Is Under Threat:

   • Folk Culture: Small, rural, traditional, passed down through generations (e.g., Amish communities, indigenous dances).

   • Popular Culture: Large, urban, spreads rapidly via media and globalization (e.g., fast food, pop music).

   • Threatened Culture: Folk culture is under threat due to globalization, mass media, and the dominance of popular culture.

6. How Distance Decay Affects Culture:

   • The farther people are from a cultural hearth, the less influence it has (e.g., rural areas may not adopt urban fashion trends as quickly).

   • Modern technology (internet, transportation) reduces distance decay by allowing cultures to spread faster.

7. What Is a Place Name Called & How Are Places Named?

   • A toponym is a place name.

   • Places can be named after physical geography (e.g., Rocky Mountains), historical figures (e.g., Washington, D.C.), or cultural events (e.g., New Orleans from French heritage).

8. Definition of Cultural Landscape:

   • The visible imprint of human activity on the environment, such as buildings, agriculture, and infrastructure (e.g., rice terraces in the Philippines, skyscrapers in New York).

9. Major Language Families & Their Distribution (continued):

   • Afro-Asiatic: North Africa & the Middle East (e.g., Arabic, Hebrew).

   • Niger-Congo: Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., Swahili, Yoruba).

   • Austroasiatic & Austronesian: Southeast Asia & Pacific Islands (e.g., Vietnamese, Tagalog).

   • Dravidian: Southern India (e.g., Tamil, Telugu).

10. Difference Between Race & Ethnicity & Why Geographers Study Them:

• Race: A socially constructed category based on physical traits (e.g., skin color).

• Ethnicity: A group’s shared cultural heritage (e.g., language, traditions, ancestry).

• Why Geographers Study Them: To understand spatial distribution, cultural identity, and social conflicts.

11. What Constitutes a Cultural Trait?

• A single element of a culture, such as language, clothing, religion, or traditions (e.g., eating with chopsticks in China, siestas in Spain).

12. Historic Causes of Diffusion & Their Impact Today:

• Colonialism & Imperialism: Spread of European languages and customs (e.g., English in India, Christianity in Latin America).

• Trade Routes: Exchange of goods and ideas (e.g., Silk Road spreading Buddhism, spices, and technology).

• Migration: Movement of people bringing cultural traditions (e.g., Italian food in the U.S.).

• Modern Impact: Continues to shape global culture, economies, and political boundaries. Many former colonies retain European languages, and global trade continues to influence cultural exchanges.