Ap human geography - unit 3

Population density – The number of people living in a given area, usually measured per square kilometer or mile.

Population distribution – The spatial arrangement of people across Earth's surface.

Refugees – People forced to flee their country due to conflict, persecution, or disasters, unable to return safely.

Remittance – Money sent by migrants to family members in their home country, often supporting the local economy.

Step migration – Migration that occurs in stages, such as moving from a village to a town and then to a city.

Transhumance – The seasonal movement of livestock and people between highland and lowland pastures.

Transnational migration – When people move across international borders while maintaining connections to their home country.

Voluntary migration – When people choose to move, often for economic opportunities or better living conditions.

Acculturation – The process of cultural change that occurs when one group adopts some traits of another while maintaining its own identity.

Assimilation – The process by which a minority group adopts the dominant culture, often losing its original traits.

Built environment – The human-made surroundings, including buildings, roads, and infrastructure, that shape the landscape.

Centripetal force – A factor that unifies people and strengthens a state, such as a common language or religion.

Centrifugal force – A factor that divides people and weakens a state, such as ethnic conflict or political instability.

Colonialism – The practice of one country establishing settlements and exerting control over another territory.

Imperialism – The broader policy of extending a country's power through diplomacy or military force, often without settlement.

Creolization – The blending of different languages and cultures, often seen in colonial regions where indigenous, European, and African influences mix.

Cultural convergence – The process by which different cultures become more alike due to globalization and the spread of ideas.

Cultural divergence – When cultures become more distinct due to resistance to outside influences or geographic separation.

Cultural landscape – The visible imprint of human activity on the environment, including buildings, roads, and agricultural patterns.

Dialects – Regional variations of a language with distinct pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

Ethnic religions – Religions that are closely tied to a specific ethnic group and do not actively seek converts, such as Hinduism or Judaism.

Ethnocentrism – The belief that one’s own culture is superior and using it as the standard to judge others.

Global/modern culture – A culture influenced by mass media, technology, and international interaction, often spreading Western norms.

Hearth – The place where a cultural trait, idea, or innovation originates and begins to spread.

Indigenous culture – The traditions and practices of native groups who have maintained their heritage despite external influences.

Isogloss – A geographic boundary that separates different linguistic features, such as word usage or pronunciation.

Land-use patterns – The ways people use land for activities like agriculture, industry, and urban development.

Language families – Groups of related languages that share a common ancestral language, such as Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan.

Lingua franca – A common language used for communication between speakers of different native languages, such as English in global business.

Multiculturalism – The coexistence of diverse cultures in a society, promoting respect and recognition of different traditions.

Postmodern architecture – A style that emerged as a reaction against modernist simplicity, incorporating diverse designs and historical elements.

Sense of place – The emotional connection people have to a location based on their experiences and cultural identity.

Sequent occupancy – The concept that different cultural groups leave layers of influence on a place over time.

Syncretism – The blending of different cultural or religious traditions into a new, unique practice.

Time-space convergence – The idea that technology and transportation reduce the time needed to travel and communicate over distances.

Toponyms – The names given to places, which often reflect cultural history, geography, or significant events.

Types of diffusion – The ways cultural traits spread, including relocation (through migration) and expansion (through interaction, hierarchical, contagious, or stimulus diffusion).

Universalizing religion – A religion that seeks to convert people worldwide, such as Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism.