AP HUMAN GEO Unit 1 Review [EVERYTHING You NEED to Know]

AP Human Geography Unit 1 Study Guide

Reference Maps: Designed for navigation and location reference. Examples:
- Political maps (showing country or state boundaries)
- Topographic maps (depicting elevation and landform features)
- Road maps (illustrating transportation routes)
Thematic Maps: Focus on specific themes or data sets. Examples:
- Choropleth maps (showing population density or economic data)
- Isoline maps (depicting areas of equal value, such as temperature)
- Dot distribution maps (representing density using dots)

A cartogram distorts geography based on thematic data; the shapes and sizes of geographic features are altered to represent information rather than provide a geographic reference.

Latitude: Lines running parallel to the equator, measured in degrees north or south.
Longitude: Lines running from pole to pole, measured in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian.
Equator: The 0-degree latitude line that divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Prime Meridian: The 0-degree longitude line dividing the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
International Date Line: Roughly along the 180-degree longitude line where the date changes.
Hemispheres: Regions of the Earth:
- Northern Hemisphere: Above the equator
- Southern Hemisphere: Below the equator
- Eastern Hemisphere: East of the Prime Meridian
- Western Hemisphere: West of the Prime Meridian.
Time Zones: Divided by longitudinal lines, typically 15 degrees apart for each hour.

Mercator Projection: Preserves shape but distorts size, particularly near the poles.
Robinson Projection: Reduces distortion but does not completely eliminate it, making it visually appealing.
Polar Projection: Good for polar regions but distorts equatorial and distant landmasses.
Interrupted Projection: Preserves area but distorts shape and distances.

Qualitative Data: Non-numerical and descriptive (e.g., cultural practices interviews).
Quantitative Data: Numerical and measurable (e.g., population census data).

Geographers utilize spatial analysis techniques to find patterns, such as examining population density maps for urban vs. rural distribution.

Absolute Distance: Measured in units like kilometers; exact distance.
Relative Distance: Distance related to other locations (e.g., 50 miles from downtown).
Absolute Location: Exact coordinates (latitude and longitude).
Relative Location: Location in relation to others.
Distribution: Arrangement of features across space.
Density: Number of features per area.

The theory that physical environment determines human behavior and societal development. Example: Agricultural societies in fertile river valleys.

The theory that the environment limits but does not dictate human choices. Example: Urban areas adapting to local climates.

Economic activities (industrial zones), social practices (community spaces), political influences (government buildings).

The maintenance of ecological balance by conserving resources and limiting degradation.

Geographic Scale: Level of analysis (local, regional, global).
Cartographic Scale: Ratio of distance on map to actual distance (e.g., 1:50,000).
Large Scale vs. Small Scale: Large scale shows details (e.g., city maps); small scale covers larger areas (e.g., world maps).

Geographers analyze data from various scales to understand broader patterns and local nuances, as processes in one scale can influence another.

Formal Region (Uniform): Defined by common characteristics (e.g., a political state).
Functional Region (Nodal): Defined by function or activity (e.g., regional transportation networks).
Perceptual Region (Vernacular): Based on personal perception (e.g., "the South" in the USA).