1. Space and Place
Space: Refers to the Earth's geometric surface where objects are located, defined by distances and relationships.
Activity Space: The area in which daily activities occur.
Place: A bounded space with human importance, recognized through toponyms (place-names).
Attributes of Place: Change over time due to successive cultural and social influences, known as sequent occupancy.
2. Scale and Analysis
Scale: The relationship between an object/place and the Earth as a whole.
Map Scale: The ratio of map distance to real-world distance.
Relative Scale (Scale of Analysis): The level of aggregation for examining data, ranging from local to global levels.
3. Types of Regions
Formal Regions: Areas with a homogeneous characteristic (e.g., language). Boundaries can be defined differently based on context:
Cultural Regions: Have fuzzy borders.
Political Regions: Well-defined boundaries.
Environmental Regions: Measurable, often transitional (e.g., ecotones).
Functional (Nodal) Regions: Defined by a central node that serves a specific purpose (e.g., market areas around outlet malls). Includes the concept of intervening opportunities.
Vernacular Regions: Based on residents' perceptions or collective mental maps, varying due to individual or group interpretations.
4. Location Concepts
Absolute Location: Defined by coordinates (latitude and longitude).
Relative Location: Describes a place's position in relation to others.
1. Definition of Culture
Culture: The collective experience, traits, and activities shared by a group with common heritage.
2. Components of Culture
Art: Represents cultural identity and pride.
Architecture: Reflects cultural influences in the built environment.
Language: A key element connecting cultural groups.
Music: Expresses shared traditions and influences.
Film and Television: Communicates cultural stories and values.
Food: Culinary practices that signify cultural heritage.
Clothing: Fashion that symbolizes cultural identity.
Social Interaction: Behaviors and practices among people.
Religion: Shapes cultural beliefs and practices.
Folklore: Traditional stories reflecting cultural history.
Land Use: Shows cultural values and economic practices.
3. Cultural Synthesis (Syncretism)
Definition: The blending of different cultural influences into a new, distinct cultural form.
Example: American country music as a product of Scots-Irish, German, African, and other musical traditions.
4. Architecture
Modern Architecture (20th century): Emphasizes geometric, ordered designs (e.g., rectangular steel and glass skyscrapers).
Contemporary Architecture: Incorporates curves, eco-friendly technologies, and innovative materials (e.g., metal sheeting).
Postmodern Architecture: Features wavy and non-linear shapes, moving away from rigid forms.
5. Traditional Architecture Patterns
New Commercial Buildings: Blend modern efficiency with traditional materials.
Folk Housing Types:
New England: Cape Cod, Saltbox styles.
Federalist/Georgian: Symmetrical, classical townhomes with Greek/Roman influences.
I-House: Simple, rectangular structures with symmetrical windows and central doors.
6. Religious Buildings and Places
Christian: Churches often have steeples; cathedrals feature domes and towers.
Islamic: Mosques with domes and minarets.
Hindu: Temples with intricate carvings.
Buddhist: Pagodas and stupas with symbolic architecture.
Jewish: Synagogues varying widely but often including symbolic religious motifs.
Relic Boundaries
Definition: Former state boundaries that still have political or cultural significance.
Example: German-Polish border after 1945; Kaliningrad to the USSR in 1946.
Subsequent Boundaries
Definition: Boundaries that evolve due to conflict or cultural changes (e.g., war, migration).
Example: German-Polish border after 1945; Kaliningrad to the USSR in 1946.
Superimposed Boundaries
Definition: Political boundaries laid over existing cultural boundaries, often for political reasons.
Example: Sub-Saharan Africa after the Berlin Conference of 1884; Yugoslavia and Iraq after the Treaty of Versailles (1919).
Claiming, Negotiating, or Capturing Borders
Delimitation Process
Definition: The act of defining borders on a map.
Demarcation Process
Definition: The placement of physical markers (e.g., signs, fences) on the ground to define borders.
Physical Border
Definition: Natural boundaries such as rivers, lakes, mountains, or deserts.
Cultural Border
Definition: Boundaries based on cultural divisions, like those between nations or ethnic groups.
Geometric Border
Definition: Boundaries defined along lines of latitude and longitude.
Definitional Dispute
Definition: Disputes over the interpretation of border treaties.
Example: Russian-Japanese Kuril Islands under Soviet control (1945).
Locational Dispute
Definition: Disputes arising when physical borders change (e.g., rivers changing course).
Example: India-Bangladesh territory along the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta.
Operational Dispute
Definition: Disputes over border passage or use.
Example: U.S. passport requirements after September 11, 2001.
Allocational Dispute
Definition: Disputes over resources straddling borders.
Example: Water allocation between Mexico and the U.S. for irrigation from the Colorado River and Rio Grande.
Frontier: Open, undefined territory (e.g., Antarctica).
Definition: The shape of a country, which affects its society and external relations.
TypeDescriptionExamples | ||
Compact | Shape without irregularity | Nigeria, Colorado |
Fragmented | Broken into pieces; archipelagos | Philippines, Newfoundland |
Elongated | Appears long and stretched-out | Chile, Tennessee |
Prorupt | Has a panhandle or peninsula | Italy, Michigan |
Perforated | Has a hole (e.g., another country) | South Africa, Utah |
Landlocked | No sea or ocean borders | Switzerland, Wyoming |
Annexation: The addition of territory through purchase or incorporation.
Example: U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.
Capital Cities: Seat of government, often where political power is centered.
Example: Washington, D.C. is the U.S. national capital.
Planned Capital Cities: New cities built specifically to serve as capitals.
Example: Canberra replaced Sydney as Australiaâs capital.
Suffrage: The right to vote, varying by state.
Example: Women gained voting rights in the 1900s.
Gerrymandering: Manipulation of district boundaries for political gain.
Example: Irregularly shaped districts in the 1990 and 2000 U.S. elections.
Aristocracy: Nobles control the majority of land and wealth, while peasants work the land.
Debt Peonage: Peasants pay rent and are taxed, keeping them in a cycle of debt.
Absolute Monarchy: A ruler holds all political power.
Example: French monarchy pre-Revolution.
Constitutional Monarchy: Monarch retains ceremonial powers while parliament holds legislative power.
Example: The United Kingdom.
Republics: Democratically elected governments free from aristocratic control.
Example: France post-Revolution.
Planned Economy: Central government plans production and distribution.
Example: Soviet Union under Marxism.
Communism in Practice: Failed to achieve Marxâs utopia.
Example: Soviet Unionâs Five-Year Plans.
Centripetal Forces: Factors that unify a state.
Examples: Nationalism, strong leaders, productive economy.
Centrifugal Forces: Factors that divide a state.
Examples: Ethnic/religious conflicts, political corruption.
Balkanization: The fragmentation of a larger state into smaller ones.
Example: The dissolution of Yugoslavia.