question

Anthropogenic

answer

human-induced changes on the natural environment.

question

Cartography

answer

theory and practice of making visual representations of the earth's surface in the form of maps.

question

cultural ecology

answer

the study of the interactions between societies and the natural environments they live in.

question

cultural landscape

answer

the human-modified natural landscape specifically containing the imprint of a particular culture or society.

question

earth system science

answer

Systematic approach to physical geography that looks at the interaction between the earth's physical systems and processes on a global scale.

question

Environmental geography

answer

The intersection between human and physical geography, which explores the spatial impacts humans have on the physical environment and vice versa.

question

Eratosthenes

answer

The head librarian at Alexandria during the third century B.C.; he was one of the first cartographers. Performed a remarkably accurate computation of the earth's circumference. He is also credited with coining the term "geography."

question

fertile crescent

answer

Name given to crescent-shaped area of fertile land stretching from the lower Nile valley, along the east Mediterranean coast, and into Syria and present-day Iraq where agriculture and early civilization first began about 8000 B.C.

question

geographical information systems

answer

A set of computer tools used to capture, store, transform, analyze, and display geographic data.

question

global positioning system

answer

A set of satellites used to help determine location anywhere on the earth's surface with a portable electronic device.

question

idiographic

answer

Pertaining to the unique facts or characteristics of a particular place.

question

George Perkins Marsh

answer

Inventor, diplomat, politician, and scholar, his classic work, Man and Nature, or Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action, provided the first description of the extent to which natural systems had been impacted by human actions.

question

natural landscape

answer

The physical landscape or environment that has not been affected by human activities.

question

nomothetic

answer

Concepts or rules that can be applied universally

question

W.D. Pattison

answer

He claimed that geography drew from four distinct traditions: the earth-science tradition, the culture-environment tradition, the locational tradition, and the area-analysis tradition.

question

physical geography

answer

The realm of geography that studies the structures, processes, distributions, and change through time of the natural phenomena of the earth's surface

question

ptolemy

answer

Roman geographer-astronomer and author of Guide to Geography which included maps containing a grid system of latitude and longitude.

question

qualitative data

answer

Data associated with a more humanistic approach to geography, often collected through interviews, empirical observations, or the interpretation of texts, artwork, old maps, and other archives.

question

quantitative data

answer

Data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques used to analyze spatial location and association.

question

region

answer

A territory that encompasses many places that share similar attributes (may be physical, cultural, or both) in comparison with the attributes of places elsewhere.

question

regional geography

answer

the study of geographic regions

question

remote sensing

answer

Observation and mathematical measurement of the earth's surface using aircraft and satellites. The sensors include both photographic images, thermal images, multispectral scanners, and radar images.

question

carl sauer

answer

Geographer from the University of California at Bed defined the concept of cultural landscape as the fundamental un graphical analysis. This landscape results from interaction betwee and the physical environment. Sauer argued that virtually no land escaped alteration by human activities.

question

sense of place

answer

feelings evoked by people as a result of certain experiences and memories associated with a particular place

question

spatial perspective

answer

An intellectual framework that looks at the locations of specific phenomena, how and why that phenomena is , and, finally, how it is spatially related to phenomena in other place

question

sustainability

answer

The concept of using the earth's resources in such they provide for people's needs in the present without diminishing ability to provide for future generations.

question

systematic geography

answer

The study of the earth's integrated systems instead of focusing on particular phenomena in a single place.

question

thematic layers

answer

Individual maps of specific features that are overlaid on one another in a Geographical Information System to understand and analyze a spatial relationship.

question

perceptual regions

answer

regions that reflect human feelings and attitudes

question

absolute distance

answer

The distance that can be measured with a standard unit length, such as a mile or kilometer.

question

absolute location

answer

exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates

question

accessibility

answer

the relative ease with which a destination may be reached from some other place

question

azimuthal projection

answer

a map projection in which the plane is the most developable surface

question

breaking point

answer

The outer edge of a city's sphere of influence, used in the law of retail gravitation to describe the area of a city's hinterlands that depend on that city for its retail supply

question

cartograms

answer

a type of thematic map that transforms space such that the political unit with the greatest value for some type of data is represented by the largest relative area

question

choropleth map

answer

A thematic map that uses tones or colors to represent data as average values per unit area.

question

cognitive map

answer

a mental representation of the layout of one's environment

question

complementarity

answer

The actual or potential relationship between two places, usually referring to economic interactions.

question

connectivity

answer

the degree of economic, social, cultural, or political connection between two places

question

contagious diffusion

answer

The spread of a disease, innovation, or cultural traits through direct contact with another person or another place.

question

coordinate system

answer

a standard grid, composed of lines of latitude and longitude, used to determine the absolute location of any object, place, or feature on the earth's surface.

question

distance decay effect

answer

The decrease in interaction between two phenomena, places, or people as the distance between them increases.

question

dot maps

answer

Thematic maps that use points to show the precise locations of specific observations or occurrences, such as crimes, car accidents, or births.

question

expansion diffusion

answer

The spread of ideas, innovations, fashion, or other phenomena to surrounding areas through contact and exchange.

question

friction of distance

answer

A measure of how much absolute distance affects the interaction between two places.

question

fuller projection

answer

A type of map projection that maintains the accurate size and shape of landmasses but completely rearranges direction such that the four cardinal directions-north, south, east, and west-no longer have any meanmg.

question

geoid

answer

The actual shape of the earth, which is rough and oblate, or slightly squashed; the earth's circumference is longer around the equator then it is along the meridians, from north-south circumference.

question

gravity model

answer

A mathematical formula that describes the level of interaction between two places, based on the size of their populations and their distance from each other.

question

hazards

answer

anything in the landscape, real or percieved, that is potentially threatening. usually avioded in spatial behavior

question

hierarchial diffusion

answer

a type of diff. in which something is transmitted between places because of something the 2 places have in common

question

international date-line

answer

an imaginary line on the surface of the earth following (approximately) the 180th meridian

question

intervening opportunities

answer

The idea that one place has a demand for some good or service and two places have a supply of equal price and quality, then the closer of the two suppliers to the buyer will represent an intervening opportunity, thereby blocking the third from being able to share its supply of goods or services. Intervening opportunities are frequently utilized because transportation costs usually decrease with proximity.

question

isoline map

answer

map line that connects points of equal or very similar values

question

large scale

answer

A relatively small ratio between map units and ground units. Large-scale maps usually have higher resolution and cover much smaller regions than small-scale maps.

question

latitude

answer

the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself

question

law of retail gravitation

answer

Law that states that people will be drawn to larger cities to conduct their business because larger cities have a wider influence on the hinterlands that surround them.

question

location charts

answer

On a map, a chart or graph that gives specific statistical information of a particular political unit or jurisdiction.

question

longitude

answer

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

question

map projection

answer

a mathematical method that involves transferring the earth's sphere onto a flat surface. This term can also be used to describe the type of map that results from the process of projecting. All map projections have distortions in either area, direction, distance, or shape.

question

mercator projection

answer

A true conformal cylindrical map projection, the Mercator projection is particularly useful for navigation because it maintains accurate direction. Mercator projections are famous for their distortion in area that makes landmasses at the poles appear oversized.

question

meridian

answer

an imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the equator

question

parallel

answer

any of the imaginary circles around the earth parallel to the equator, marking degrees of latitude

question

peters map projection

answer

A cylindrical map projection that attempts to retain the accurate sizes of all the world's landmasses

question

preference map

answer

A map that displays individual preferences for certain places.

question

prime meridian

answer

An imaginary line passing through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, which marks the 0° line of longitude.

question

proportional symbols map

answer

A thematic map in which the size of a choseR symbol-such as a circle or triangle-indicates the relative magnitude of some statistical value for a given geographic region.

question

reference map

answer

a map type that shows reference information for a particular place, making it useful for finding landmarks and for navigating

question

relative distance

answer

A measure of distance that includes the costs of overcoming the friction of absolute distance separating two places. Often relative distance describes the amount of social, cultural, or economic, connectivity between two places.

question

relocation diffusion

answer

the spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another

question

resolution

answer

a maps smallest discernible unit. E.G. an object has to be one km long in order to show up on a map, then the map's resolution is one km.

question

robinson projection

answer

Projection that attempts to balance several possible projection errors. It does not maintain completely accurate area, shape, distance, or direction, but it minimizes errors in each.

question

scale

answer

the ratio between the size of an area on a map and the actual size of that same area on earths surface

question

site

answer

the absolute location of a place, descrbed by local relief, landforms, and other cultural or physical characteristics

question

situation

answer

physical position in relation to the surroundings

question

small-scale

answer

Map scale ratio in which the ratio of units on the map to units on the earth is quite small. Small-scale maps usually depict large areas.

question

spatial diffusion

answer

Spatial diffusion refers to the ways in which phenomena, such as technological innovations, cultural trends, or even outbreaks of disease, travel over space.

question

stimulus diffusion

answer

when a trait of one culture prompts invention or innovation in another

question

thematic map

answer

A type of map that displays one or more variables-such as population, or income level-within a specific area.

question

time-space convergence

answer

the idea that distance between some places is actually shrinking as technolgy enables more rapid communication and increased interaction between those places.

question

topographic maps

answer

Maps that use isolines to represent constant elevations. If you took a topographic map out into the field and walked exactly along the path of an isoline on your map, you would always stay at the same elevation.

question

topological space

answer

The amount of connectivity between places, regardless of the absolute distance separating them.

question

transferability

answer

the costs involved in moving goods from one place to another

question

visualization

answer

Use of sophisticated software to create dynamic computer maps, some of which are three-dimensional or interactive.

question

arithmetic density

answer

The total number of people divided by the total land area.

question

baby bust

answer

fertility rates in the states dropped

question

census tract

answer

Small country subdivisions, usually containing between 2,500 and 8,000 persons, delineated by the US Census Bureau as areas of relatively uniform population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions.

question

cohort

answer

A population group unified by a specific common characteristic, such as age, and subsequently treated as a statistical unit.

question

cotton belt

answer

The term by which the American South used to be known, as cotton historically dominated the agricultural economy of the region. The same area is now known as the New South or Sun Belt because people have migrated here from older cities in the industrial north for a better climate and new job opportunities.

question

demographic accounting equation

answer

An equation that summarizes the amount of growth or decline in a population within a country during a particular time period taking into account both natural increase and net migration

question

doubling time

answer

Time period required for a population experiencing exponential growth to double in size completely.

question

generation x

answer

A term coined by artist and author Douglas Coupland to describe people born in the United States between the years 1965 and 1980. This post-baby-boom generation will have to support the baby boom cohort as they head into their retirement years.

question

maternal mortality rates

answer

Number of deaths per thousand of women giving birth.

question

neo-malthusians

answer

a belief that the world is characterized by scarcity and competition in which too many people fight for few resources. Pessimists who warn of the global ecopolitical dangers of uncontrolled population growth

question

population density

answer

number of individuals per unit area

question

zero population growth

answer

Proposal to end population growth through a variety of official and nongovernmental family planning programs.

question

acculteration

answer

the modification of the social patters, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant bled

question

artifact

answer

An object produced by human work, esp. one of historical or archaeological interest

question

creole

answer

a pidgin language which evolves to become the primary language

question

cultural imperialism

answer

the dominance of one culture over another

question

diaspora

answer

a dispersion of people from their homeland

question

esperanto

answer

a constructed international auxiliary language incorporating aspects of numerous linguistic traditions to create a universal means of communication

question

ghetto

answer

area of a city where an ethnic or racial group lives or is contained

question

indo-european family

answer

Language family including the Germanic and Romance languages that is spoken by about 50% of the world's people.

question

isogloss

answer

A boundary that separates regions in which different language usages predominate

question

lingua franca

answer

a common language used by speakers of different languages

question

polygot

answer

a person who knows several languages well

question

race

answer

Identity with a group of people descended from a common ancestor.

question

shaman

answer

A religious or mystical expert (male or female) who in FIRST NATIONS and INUIT societies undergoes initiation experiences in altered states of consciousness.

question

pidgin

answer

an artificial language used for trade between speakers of different languages

question

sino-Tibetan family

answer

Language area that spreads through most of Southeast Asia and China and is comprised of Chinese, Burmese, Tibetan, Japanese, and Korean.

question

syncretic

answer

Traditions that borrow from both the past and present.

question

transculturalation

answer

the expansion of cultural traits through diffusion, adoption, and other related processes.

question

antecedent boundaries

answer

A boundry line established before an area is populated

question

colonialism

answer

the expansion and perpetuation of an empire

question

commonwealth of independent states

answer

confederacy of independent states of the former soviet union that have united because of their common economic and administrative needs

question

confederation

answer

a union of political organizations

question

domino theory

answer

The idea that political destabilization in one country can lead to collapse of political stability in neighboring countries, setting off a chain reaction of collapse.

question

east/west divide

answer

Geographic separation between the largely democratic and free-market countries of Western Europe and the Americas from the communists and socialists countries of Eastern Europe and Asia

question

electoral college

answer

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

question

enclaves

answer

any small and relatively homogenous group or region surrounded by another larger and different group or region

question

exclave

answer

a part of a country that is seperated from the rest of the country and surrounded by foreign territory.

question

federalism

answer

a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

question

imperialism

answer

the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.

question

north atlantic treaty organization

answer

1949 alliance of nations that agreed to band together in the event of war and to support and protect each nation involved

question

reapportionment

answer

a new apportionment (especially a reallotment of congressional seats in the United States on the basis of census results)

question

relic boundaries

answer

old political boundaries that no longer exist as international borders, but that have left an enduring mark on the local cultural or enviromental geography

question

rimland theory

answer

Nicholas Spykman's theory that the domination of the coastal fringes of Eurasia would provided the base for world conquest.

question

theocracy

answer

a political unit governed by a deity (or by officials thought to be divinely guided)

question

subsequent boundaries

answer

Boundary line established after an area has been populated that considered the social and cultural characteristics of the area.

question

animal husbandry

answer

An agricultural activity associated with the raising of domesticated animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep, and goats.

question

biotechnology

answer

the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments

question

capital-intensive agriculture

answer

Form of agriculture that uses mechanical goods such as machinery, tools, vehicles, and facilities to produce large amounts of agricultural goods-a process requiring very little human labor.

question

domestication

answer

accommodation to domestic life

question

intensive cultivation

answer

Any kind of agricultural activity that involves effective and efficient use of labor on small plots of land to maximize crop yield.

question

labor-intensive agriculture

answer

Type of agriculture that requires large levels of manual labor to be successful.

question

mechanization

answer

the act of implementing the control of equipment with advanced technology

question

pastoralism

answer

A type of agricultural activity based on nomadic animal husbandry or the raising of livestock to provide food, clothing, and shelter.

question

salinization

answer

Process that occurs when soils in arid areas are brought under cultivation through irrigation. In arid climates, water evaporates quickly off the ground surface, leaving salty residues that render the soil infertile.

question

shifting cultivation

answer

A form of subsistence agriculture in which people shift activity from one field to another; each field is used for crops for relatively few years and left fallow for a relatively long period.

question

specialty crops

answer

Crops including items like peanuts and pineapples, which are produced, usually in developing countries, for export.

question

swidden

answer

A patch of land cleared for planting through slashing and burning.

question

action space

answer

The geographical area that contains the space an individual interacts with on a daily basis.

question

beaux arts

answer

This movement within city planning and urban design that stressed the marriage of older, classical forms with newer, industrial ones. Common characteristics of this period include wide thoroughfares, spacious parks, and civic monuments that stressed progress, freedom, and national unity.

question

central place theory

answer

A theory that explains the distribution of services, based on the fact that settlements serve as centers of market areas for services; larger settlements are fewer and farther apart than smaller settlements and provide services for a larger number of people who are willing to travel farther.

question

colonial city

answer

City established by colonizing empires as administrative centers. Often they were established on already existing native cities, completely overtaking their infrastructures.

question

concentric zone model

answer

A model of the internal structure of cities in which social groups are spatially arranged in a series of rings.

question

gateway city

answer

Cities that, because of their geographic location, act as ports of entry and distribution centers for large geographic areas.

question

ghettoization

answer

A process occurring in many inner cities in which they become dilapidated centers of poverty, as affluent whites move out to the suburbs and immigrants and people of color vie for scarce jobs and resources.

question

hinterland

answer

The market area surrounding an urban center, which that urban center serves.

question

inner city decay

answer

Those parts of large urban areas that lose significant portions of their populations as a result of change in industry or migration to suburbs. Because of these changes, the inner city loses its tax base and becomes a center of poverty.

question

islamic cities

answer

Cities in Muslim countries that owe their structure to their religious beliefs. Islamic cities contain mosques at their center and walls guarding their perimeter. Open-air markets, courtyards surrounded by high walls, and dead-end streets, which limit foot traffic in residential neighborhoods, also characterize Islamic cities.

question

latin american cities

answer

cities in latin america that owe much of their structure to colonialism, the rapid rise of industrialization, and continual rapid increases in population. similar to other colonial cities, they also demonstrate distinctive sectors of industrial or residential development radiating out from the central business district, where most industrial and financial activity occurs

question

megacities

answer

Cities, mostly characteristic of the developing world, where high population growth and migration have caused them to explode in population since World War II. All megacities are plagued by chaotic and unplanned growth, terrible pollution, and widespread poverty.

question

megalopolis

answer

an extensive concentration of urbanized settlement formed by a coalescence of several metropolitan areas. The term is commonly applied to the urbanized northeastern seaboard of the U.S. extending from Boston, MA to Washington, D.C.

question

metropolitan area

answer

a major population center made up of a large city and the smaller suburbs and towns that surround it

question

multiple nuclei model

answer

A model of the internal structure of cities in which social groups are arranged around a collection of nodes of activities.

question

modern architecture

answer

point of view, wherein cities and buildings are thought to act like well-oiled machines, with little energy spent on frivolous details or ornate designs. efficient, geometrical structures made of concrete and glass dominated urban forms for half a century while this view prevailed

question

postmodern architecture

answer

A reaction in architectural design to the feeling of sterile alienation that many people get from modern architecture. Postmodernism uses older, historical styles and a sense of lightheartedness and eclecticism. Buildings combine pleasant-looking forms and playful colors to convey new ideas and to create spaces that are more people-friendly than their modernist predecessors.

question

segregation

answer

a social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups

question

squatter settlements

answer

Residential developments characterized by extreme poverty that usually exist on land just outside of cities that is neither owned nor rented by its occupants.

question

urban growth boundary

answer

geographical boundaries place around a city to limit suburban growth within that city

question

urban morphology

answer

the study of the physical form and structure of urban places

question

world city

answer

Centers of economic, culture, and political activity that are strongly interconnected and together control the global systems of finance and commerce.

AP human geography chapter 1-7 – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards