Ap Human Geo

Key Concepts for AP Human Geography

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.

Key Concepts for AP Human Geography: Cultural Patterns & Processes

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.

Boundaries and Borders

Types of Boundaries

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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).

Boundary Processes

1. Claiming, Negotiating, or Capturing Borders

2. Delimitation Process

   • Definition: The act of defining borders on a map.

3. Demarcation Process

   • Definition: The placement of physical markers (e.g., signs, fences) on the ground to define borders.

Types of Boundaries

1. Physical Border

   • Definition: Natural boundaries such as rivers, lakes, mountains, or deserts.

2. Cultural Border

   • Definition: Boundaries based on cultural divisions, like those between nations or ethnic groups.

3. Geometric Border

   • Definition: Boundaries defined along lines of latitude and longitude.

Border Disputes

1. Definitional Dispute

   • Definition: Disputes over the interpretation of border treaties.

   • Example: Russian-Japanese Kuril Islands under Soviet control (1945).

2. Locational Dispute

   • Definition: Disputes arising when physical borders change (e.g., rivers changing course).

   • Example: India-Bangladesh territory along the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Delta.

3. Operational Dispute

   • Definition: Disputes over border passage or use.

   • Example: U.S. passport requirements after September 11, 2001.

4. 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.

Other Terms

• Frontier: Open, undefined territory (e.g., Antarctica).

Territorial Morphology

State Morphology

• Definition: The shape of a country, which affects its society and external relations.

Territorial Change

• Annexation: The addition of territory through purchase or incorporation.

  • Example: U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.

Capitals and Political Structures

• 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 Australia’s capital.

Electoral Politics

• 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.

Political Economy

Feudalism

• 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.

Monarchies and Democracies

• 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.

Communism and Marxism

• Planned Economy: Central government plans production and distribution.

  • Example: Soviet Union under Marxism.

• Communism in Practice: Failed to achieve Marx’s utopia.

  • Example: Soviet Union’s Five-Year Plans.

Geopolitics

Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Forces

• 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.