AP Human Geography 5 Themes & Examples – Flashcards

Shows position on earth's surface and answers the question, "where on earth is it?" Absolute location shows exactly where something is located on earth while Relative location establishes an approximate location in relation to a known place. An example of absolute location is Salt Lake City, Utah is located at 40 degrees N latitude and 111 degrees W longitude. An example of relative location is that the ice cream parlor is located three blocks west and two blocks south of the movie theater.

Shows physical and human characteristics at a location. Each place has a set of characteristics which makes it different or similar to other places. Examples of physical characteristics include landforms, wildlife, climate, and water supply. Examples of human characteristics are religion, languages, and economic activities. An example of a place is China, which is known for the Great Wall, Mandarin, Buddhism, and high population. Another example of a place is New York City, which is known for its large quantity of skyscrapers and office buildings.

Mental constructs designed to organize and help to understand spatial characteristics on earth. A region is determined by similar characteristics in the people residing there, such as language and religion. Regions tend to vary greatly in size. A Uniform region is defined by some physical or cultural characteristic. A Functional region is a region with a focal point, such as a radio station or city and its surrounding area. An example of a uniform region is Latin America, which is known for the Spanish language and Catholicism. An example of a functional region is the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area. The node, or main point of the functional region, is the city of Atlanta. All major highways branch off of the city, making it the center point of these roads.

Examines links of transportation and communication and includes physical movement as well as the movement of ideas such as language and religion. Technology has had a gargantuan impact on movement because it has made much of this information easily accessible. For example, someone could learn Spanish through Youtube, rather than having to visit Spain or take classes. Technology is increasing movement of several things, for example, languages. People can now find information instantaneously. The movement of ideas is being heightened by technology. An example of movement is the movement of the pioneers across the Great Plains to find cheap, fertile land for farming. Another example of movement is the rapid spread of the Catholic religion through the Roman Empire.

Investigates the interaction between humans and their environments. All environments offer limitations and perks. Humans are known as, "the most adaptable creatures on earth." As humans adapt to their environments, they modify them. Human-Environment Interaction describes how humans effect their environments, how the environment effects people, and how people modify their environments. A negative example of humankind's effect on the earth is the desertification of the Fertile Crescent, which was a once prosperous area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. A positive example of humankind's effect on the earth is the creation of wildlife conservation parks and programs.