Unit 5 AP Human Geography Notes

Crops for Export

Crops are often shipped to other countries to get more money, which can exacerbate food shortages in areas already experiencing scarcity. This often happens because arable land, which is land suitable for farming, is diverted to grow cash crops rather than food for local consumption. This prioritization of profit over local food production poses a significant challenge to food security.

Extensive Farming Practices

Several types of extensive farming practices are pivotal in agricultural production:

  1. Cultivation

    • This broad term encompasses various methods of growing crops and can include both intensive and extensive practices depending on the scale and resource usage.

  2. Slash-and-Burn Agriculture (Swidden Agriculture)

    • This method involves cutting down brush and trees and then burning the remnants to return nutrients to the soil. While it can be effective in enriching the land temporarily, it leads to soil degradation and deforestation if not managed properly.

    • Rotating the land is crucial as nutrients become depleted, often leading to the abandonment of land.

  3. Nomadic Herding

    • This practice comprises moving with livestock across territories in search of food and water. It is typically practiced in areas where sedentary agriculture is not feasible due to harsh climates or lack of arable land.

  4. Ranching

    • Commonly found in economically developed regions, ranching requires large tracts of land, thus being located away from urban centers to minimize costs. Historically, animals were walked to slaughterhouses, a practice that significantly reduced transportation costs.

  5. Transhumance

    • This form of migration is connected to seasonal changes and involves cyclically moving livestock between highlands and lowlands. Unlike nomadic herding, which involves continuous movement with no fixed path, transhumance specifically refers to the seasonal movement between two distinct areas.

Settlement Patterns

Understanding settlement patterns is crucial in recognizing how communities are structured:

  1. Clustered

    • Buildings are packed closely together, providing easier access to services and economic opportunities, though they may require additional resources to sustain such density.

  2. Dispersed

    • Characterized by significant space between buildings, where residents must travel farther to access services, which can lead to increased dependence on transportation options.

  3. Linear

    • Structures are arranged in a line, often along transportation corridors such as roads or rivers, facilitating easier shipment and travel.

Survey Methods

Different surveying methods are used to determine land boundaries and usage:

  1. Long Lots

    • This method features narrow parcels of land connected to a waterway, commonly found in Europe, especially in regions like Louisiana and Quebec, ensuring access to shipping routes for goods.

  2. Meets and Bounds

    • Boundaries defined based on local landmarks, primarily used in England and the 13 colonies, relying on natural geographic features for delineation.

  3. Township and Range

    • A grid system utilized in the United States, allowing for organized land sales and ownership identification, which has implications for agricultural management and land use strategy.