6 - Human Geography Flashcards
This deck delves into spatial patterns, cultural influences on people and places, migration trends, factors affecting human development, and the geopolitical dynamics of contemporary states.
Define:
spatial pattern
Arrangement or distribution of various phenomena across geographical space.
Identify:
5 type of spatial patterns.
- Population distribution - clustered or dispersed settlements
- Economic Activity - industrial belts
- Cultural Landscape - land use patterns
- Political Geography - state borders
- Environmental Impacts - pollution patterns
Define:
demographic pattern
Trends and variations in population characteristics over time and space.
Identify:
Characteristics of demographic patterns.
- Population size and density
- Age structure
- Sex ratio
- Fertility rate
- Mortality rate
- Migration
Define:
culture
A complex web of shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors.
Culture is a powerful force that shapes the characteristics and perspectives of individuals, communities, and nations.
Explain:
4 ways culture impacts society.
- Provides individuals with a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose.
- Dictate appropriate behavior in various social situations.
- Language shapes how we think, express ourselves, and understand the world.
- Art and music reflect the values, beliefs, and experiences of a particular group.
Explain:
How does culture shape places and regions?
- Built Environment: Cultural influences shape the physical landscape, including architecture, urban planning, and infrastructure.
- Cultural Landscapes: Cultural landscapes, such as historic sites, sacred places, and traditional settlements, embody the cultural heritage of a region.
- Economic Activities: Cultural factors influence economic activities, such as agriculture, industry, and tourism.
Example: the distinctive architectural styles of different cultures reflect their values and aesthetic preferences. Gothic cathedrals in Europe and traditional Japanese pagodas are distinct and iconic.
Explain:
How does culture drive change and adaptation in society?
- Diffusion: The spread of cultural traits, such as language, religion, and customs, can lead to cultural exchange, hybridization, and innovation.
- Change: Cultures are dynamic and constantly evolving. Changes in technology, globalization, and migration can lead to cultural shifts and adaptations.
Example: K-Pop has rapidly spread across the globe, influencing fashion trends, music tastes, and even language.
Identify:
4 major types of migration.
- Internal Migration
- International Migration
- Forced Migration
- Voluntary Migration
Explain:
Patterns of migration.
- Step Migration: A series of smaller migrations, often from rural to urban areas, with each step bringing the migrant closer to their final destination.
- Chain Migration: Migration of people to a specific location because relatives or members of the same nationality previously migrated there.
- Rural-to-Urban Migration: The movement of people from rural areas to urban centers, often driven by economic opportunities.
- Counterurbanization: The movement of people from urban areas to rural areas, often in search of a quieter lifestyle or to escape urban problems.
Identify:
Causes of migration.
- Job opportunities, higher wages, and better living standards.
- Family reunification, education, and cultural experiences.
- Persecution, conflict, and instability.
- Natural disasters, climate change, and resource scarcity.
Explain:
Two types of internal migration.
- Interregional Migration: Movement between regions within a country, often from rural to urban areas.
- Intraregional Migration: Movement within a region, such as from suburbs to city centers or vice versa.
Identify:
What scales do geographers use to analyze migration?
- Local: Migration within a city or region.
- National: Migration within a country.
- International: Migration between countries.
- Global: Large-scale migration flows across continents.
Describe:
Effects of migration.
- Demographic Impact: Changes in population size, age structure, and diversity.
- Economic Impact: Remittances, labor shortages, and skill gaps.
- Social Impact: Cultural exchange, integration challenges, and social tensions.
- Political Impact: Shifts in voting patterns, changes in social policies, and international relations.
Explain:
Economic factors that impact human development.
- Income Inequality: Unequal distribution of wealth can limit access to essential services and opportunities.
- Economic Growth: A strong economy can provide jobs, improve living standards, and fund social programs.
- Infrastructure: Adequate infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and utilities, is essential for economic development and social progress.
Explain:
Social factors that impact human development.
- Education: Access to quality education empowers individuals and promotes social mobility.
- Healthcare: Adequate healthcare ensures physical and mental well-being, reducing mortality rates and improving quality of life.
- Gender Equality: Equal opportunities for women and men contribute to social and economic development.
- Social Security: Social safety nets, such as pensions and unemployment benefits, can protect vulnerable populations.
Define:
Human Development Index
Composite index used to rank countries by level of human development.
Identify:
3 aspects of the HDI.
- Life expectancy at birth.
- Expected years of schooling for children and mean years of schooling for adults.
- Standard of living measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
Explain:
How has economic development reshaped the global landscape?
- As economies develop, people migrate from rural to urban areas in search of jobs and opportunities, which leads to rapid urbanization, often resulting in the growth of megacities and urban sprawl.
- To support economic growth, countries invest in infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, and airports, which leads to improved connectivity and accessibility, but also environmental impacts like deforestation and habitat loss.
- Results in regional disparities, with wealth and opportunities concentrated in certain areas.
Define:
state
Context of geography
Independent, sovereign political entity that exercises control over a specific territory.
Identify:
4 characteristics of a contemporary state.
- Territory: A defined geographical boundary that separates it from other states.
- Population: A permanent population residing within its territory.
- Government: A sovereign government that has the authority to make and enforce laws within its territory.
- Sovereignty: The supreme power or authority to govern a territory independently.
Identify:
Forces that drive cooperation between states.
- Global trade
- Collective security concerns
- Cultural exchange
Examples: World Trade Organization, UNESCO, United Nations, NATO, USMCA, BRICS
Describe:
political entity
- Distinct governmental body that engages in political activities.
- Can be either independent or dependent.
An independent political entity is sovereign, meaning it is self-ruled and self-regulated. Dependent political entities are controlled to some extent by other political entities.
Another term for a political entity is polity. A country is a political entity on a larger scale, with its own governmental body conducting political activities.
What is the difference between federal and unitary systems of government?
- In a federal country, the power and sovereignty is constitutionally divided and shared between the national (federal) government and units (states).
- In a unitary country, the power and sovereignty belongs to the national government, which might transfer some of it to territorial units.
Great Britain, France, and Italy are examples of a unitary government. The U.S. is an example of a federal government.
Explain:
Physical and cultural boundaries.
- Physical Boundaries: Natural barriers that divide regions. Examples include mountains and ridges forming the boundary between Chile and Argentina.
- Cultural Boundaries: Divisions based on cultural differences such as religion, ethnicity, language, or social interaction. Examples include the language boundary between French and English speakers in Canada.
Identfy:
constituency
Body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
Explain:
morphology
(in human geography)
- Study of the shape, structure, and layout of human settlements and landscapes.
- Examines how physical forms, such as cities, towns, and villages, are organized and how they develop over time in relation to social, economic, and environmental factors.
Human geography is the branch of geography that studies the effects of physical features and the atmosphere on humans and vice versa.
Identify:
5 shapes of states in state morphology.
- Compact states
- Elongated states
- Prorupted states
- Fragmented states
- Perforated states
State morphology is the shape and form of state boundaries.
Define:
supranationalism
It is the idea or practice of separate entities or governments voluntarily coming together or forming associations to create policies that provide some mutual benefit to all involved.
These alliances often transcend national boundaries and involve decision-making related to legal and economic policies, politics, conflict, and military issues.
An example of supranationalism is the World Trade Organization (WTO), an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade. The organization makes trade rules, negotiate trade agreements, and settles trade disputes between nations.
How do centripetal and centrifugal forces play a part in politics?
- Centripetal forces pull people together, creating national unity and holding a country together.
- Centrifugal forces push people apart, promoting regional identities and discouraging national unity.
Describe:
demography
Study of the size, density, and distribution of human population.
Identify:
3 periods of population growth in demography.
- The pre-agricultural period
- The agricultural period
- The industrial period
Explain:
Difference between a highly developed country and a developing country.
- A highly developed country - highly industrialized and has high per capita income levels.
- A developing country - has limited industrialization and has low per capita income levels.
Explain:
2 theories of global population.
- Malthusian Theory: It said that at some point in the future, the world’s population will hit a wall and collapse.
- Expanding Technology Theory: It says that humanity has always managed to innovate when properly incentivized to do so.
Describe a minority and give examples.
- Someone who is classified by their distinctive identity, either culturally, ethnically, racially, or by another subordinate characteristic.
- A minority may have less access to resources than the majority or may be viewed as a weaker person because of his or her distinctive characteristics.
- A racial minority is a group of people who share distinguishable biological traits; an ethnic minority is a group of people who share a cultural background; both are subordinated by society.
Explain:
Difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality.
- Race is a division of people based on physical characteristics.
- Ethnicity is a categorization based on language or common ancestry.
- Nationality refers to citizenship in a particular nation.
What is ethnic cleansing and what are its impacts?
- Forcible removal of a certain ethnic, racial, or religious group, usually to create an ethnically homogeneous area.
- Conducted by official government forces, militias, insurgent groups, or civilians.
- Considered a crime against humanity.
What is the difference between behavioral and humanistic geography?
- Behavioral geography studies how experiences, beliefs, and assumptions influence human decision-making and behavior in different spaces and places.
- Humanistic geography examines people’s relationships with places and spaces.
Define:
cultural diffusion
It refers to when certain cultural values, ideas, or even cultures are adopted by different cultures.
These other cultures then either blend or merge with the adopted culture depending on circumstances such as level of influence or geographical proximity to the adopted culture.
Identify:
3 types of cultural diffusion.
- Stimulus diffusion
- Expansion diffusion
- Relocation diffusion
Define:
cultural geography
Study of how people and their environment interact.
What are pull and push factors that attract and force people to migrate?
- Pull: Better employment opportunities in another country.
- Push: War, famine, threat on personal life, and political instability.
