TEST 1 Flashcards
(126 cards)
1
Q
Geography
A
-writings about the Earth
-the study of the Earth’s surface
-the bridge between the social and physical sciences
2
Q
Four historical traditions of geography
A
-Spatial analysis
-Geoscience
-Area studies
-Human-environment interactions
3
Q
human geography
A
-The study of human activity and its relationship to the Earth’s surface
-Focus on economic and cultural aspects of human settlement and distribution on the landscape
4
Q
cultural landscape
A
-The features of the Earth’s surface altered or created by human activity
5
Q
physical geography
A
-The spatial study of natural phenomena that make up the Earth’s surface
-Focus on rivers, mountains, landforms, weather, climate, soils, plants, etc.
-View of geography as a geoscience or a natural science which includes geomorphology, glaciology, costal geography, climatology, biogeography
6
Q
mapping sciences
A
-cartography
-remote sensing
-global positioning system (GPS)
-geographic information sciences (GIS)
7
Q
physical landscape
A
physical environmental features that make up the Earth’s surface
-effected by erosion, weather, tectonic plate action, etc.
8
Q
relative location
A
A position on Earth’s surface relative to other places
9
Q
absolute location
A
An exact point on Earth’s surface identified by latitude and longitude
10
Q
latitude
A
lines determining degrees North or South of the equator
11
Q
longitude
A
Lines determining degrees West or East of the Prime Meridian
12
Q
equator
A
0 degrees latitude, divides Northern and Southern hemisphere, largest line of latitude
13
Q
prime meridian
A
0 degrees latitude, divides Western and Eastern hemispheres
14
Q
international date line
A
180 degrees longitude, opposite the Prime Meridian, indicates the start of each day
15
Q
north and south hemispheres
A
-Warmer climates receive more direct sunlight, cooler climates receive more reflected sunlight
-Tropic of Cancer is the furthest North point receiving direct sunlight during Northern hemisphere Summer
-More sunlight is direct during Summer, and reflected during Winter, in a given hemisphere (N or S)
16
Q
solstice
A
Longest day during Summer, shortest day during Winter in a given hemisphere (N or S)
17
Q
equinox
A
Days and nights are equal length, occur in Spring and Fall
18
Q
time zone
A
-Universal Time (UT), Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Zulu Time (Z)
-Local time at 0 degrees latitude (the Prime Meridian, passing through Greenwich, England
-Earth rotates on its axis once ever 24 hours, at 15 degrees per hour
-Time zones are set (roughly) every 15 degrees
-There are (roughly) 24 time zones around the world
-The sun is (roughly) overhead at noon in any time zone
-Ex.) Central Standard Time (CST) is six hours earlier than local time at the Prime Meridian because CST is about 90 degrees W of 0 degrees (6x15=90)
-Recognized time zone boundaries for states and nation are not necessarily set every 15 degrees
19
Q
region
A
Basic unit of study in Geography
20
Q
formal region
A
-Area with specific agreed upon administrative, governmental, or political boundaries
-Physical features can be included within or form the borders of formal regions
21
Q
functional region
A
Area defines by boundaries related to a function
22
Q
vernacular region
A
Area defined by boundaries based on people’s perceptions or thoughts
23
Q
world regional geography
A
Study and comparison of physical and cultural landscaped in different regions of the world
24
Q
climate
A
-Long-term average weather patterns evident in a particular region of the world
-Frequently considered over 30-year periods of time
25
weather
Environmental conditions observed on a short-term, or even daily basis
26
climate types
-Long term weather patterns based on environmental conditions, including temperature and precipitation
27
type A
o Tropical equatorial climates
Warm temperatures year round
High level or precipitation
Usually, found in the tropics
o Subgroups bason on precipitation variability:
A.) dry season and wet season (monsoon)
B.) consistent precipitation year round
28
type B
o Dry or arid climates
High temperatures during the day, cooler temperatures at night and during winter
Low rainfall, fewer trees that most other climates
Sand deserts, prairie grasslands, steppes
o Rain shadow effect
29
type C
o Moderate or temperate climates
Seasonal temperature variation
• Cool to cold winters, usually warm summers
Low to high level of precipitation, based on location
Contain the largest human populations
Abundance of forests, farmland, and fresh water
30
type D
o Cold or continental climates
Colder winters, cool to hot summers
Snow in the winter and rain in the summer
Usually inland and further north
o ex.) Great Lakes, Canada, Russia
31
type E
o polar or extreme climates
cold temperatures year round, permanent ice or permafrost
precipitation as snow
minimal vegetation, no trees
o ex.) North of Arctic Circle, south of Antarctic Circle
32
type H
o (Unclassified) Highland climates
o Often considered a subgroup of Type E climates
Highland and mountains
Variations in climate based on location and relief
• Relief
o Elevation of a land surface
33
rain shadow effect
-type B
Mountains or high elevation relief restrict precipitation from reaching the other side, resulting in arid or desert-like conditions
Ex.) Death Valley, California; Nevada; Himalayas and western China
34
deforestation
removal of trees at an unsustainable rate
35
climate change
constant activity in the planet’s evolution
36
tectonic plates
Sections of Earth’s crust that move independently from and collide with each other, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity
37
subduction
A collision of tectonic plates where one plate slides under and adjacent plate
38
tsunami
a series of large waves
39
demography
the study of how human populations change over time and space
40
population geography
The examination of the spatial distribution of human populations
41
carrying capacity
the number of humans that the planet can support
42
urbanization and family size
The number of children raised in a household
o Fertility Rate
The number of children born to a woman in her lifetime, whether they reach adulthood or not
43
rural-to-urban shift
Migration from rural to urban parts of a region in search of opportunities and advantages
44
culture
Aspects of life or societal norms that people learn after they are born
45
ethnicity
The traits, attributes, or national identity that people are born with
46
languages of the world
o New languages form when populations live in isolation
o There are nine dominant language families with over 100 million speakers
47
universal religions
Global reach, appeal to all types of people, actively seek converts (ex. Buddhism, Christianity, Islam)
48
ethnic religions
Appeal to a single ethnic group or culture, do not actively seek converts (ex. Confucianism, Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Taoism)
49
traditional religions
Ancestor worship, spirits of nature, animism
50
globalization
o An integration of systems between multiple countries that creates interdependencies
o Economic
Corporations
o Social
United Nations
o Cultural
Media, sports
o Technological
Internet
51
colonialism
o The development of colonies outside the home country, usually for economic gain or expansion of the empire
52
neocolonialism
o The ability of powerful countries to economically exploit the labor and resources of weaker countries without taking political control
53
opportunity and advantage
o Individuals seek to increase their education, learn new skills that can increase earning power, or migrate to a place with more job opportunities
54
have and have-nots
Those who have opportunities and advantages and those who do not
55
core-periphery spatial relationships
Urban core areas hold the economic, political, educational, cultural, and industrial power; rural peripheral regions provide food and raw materials but have little power over the markets where these goods are sold
56
brain drain
The loss of educated people or professionals from a peripheral are to a core area
57
national debt
The amount of money owed by a country’s government
58
budget deficit
A government’s excess spending vs. revenues collected during a given discal year
59
europe: location and climate
o Europe is a northern continent bordered on three sides by water
o Maritime climates are often milder than continental climates, so coastal Europe tends to be more moderate than might be expected
o Interior Europe (type D climate) has colder winters than coastal Europe (type C climate)
60
gulf stream
Ocean current that carries warmer water from the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic to the North Atlantic and moderates the temperature of Western Europe
61
four main european landforms
o Europe has four main landforms, many islands and peninsulas, and various climate types
1. Alpine region
2. Central Uplands
3. Northern Lowlands
4. Western Highlands
62
alpine region
o High mountain ranges provide mineral and ores and also can separate people into culture groups
o The Alpine region encircles the Mediterranean coastline where hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters allow for cultivation of olives, citrus fruit, figs, apricots, and grapes.
63
central uplands
o Foothills north of the High Alps including much of eastern France and southern Germany
o Good sources of timber and coal
o Good location for dairy farming and cattle raising
o Mixed deciduous-coniferous forest
o Four distinct seasons with moderate precipitation year round
64
northern lowlands
o Extend from southern France, northern Germany, and east to the Ural Mountains in Russia
o Excellent farmland allows for large0scale agriculture
o Contains prairies, grasslands, bogs, heaths, and lakes
o Eastern area in Ukraine is a steppe biome
65
western highlands
o Short, rugged mountains from Norway, through parts of Great Britain, and into Portugal and Spain
o Lower populations, less agriculture, livestock grazing
o Scotting Highlands produce wool and cattle
o Coal mining in England and Wales
o Northern Scandinavia includes tundra biome
66
steppe
Temperate grasslands in a semiarid region that does not receive enough rainfall for forests but is not dry enough to be a desert
67
tundra
Short growing seasons and cold temperatures that is usually found in northern latitudes near the Arctic
68
mercantilism
o Economic principle to gain wealth through the control of trade
69
agrarian revolution
o Post-Renaissance agricultural transformation that introduced new technology, crops, and land reforms that greatly enhances agricultural production in Europe
70
industrial revolution
o Late-1700s shift to coal for energy, the steam engine for power, the smelting of iron, and the concept of mass production that changed how goods were produced
71
four motors of europe
o The postindustrial core area of activity and innovation in Western Europe
1.) Stuttgart in southern Germany
2.) Lyon in southeastern France
3.) Milan in northern Italy
4.) Barcelona in northeastern Spain
72
central business district
The core area of a city with a high concentration of business and commerce that was developed in early industrial cities to provide access to labor, factories, and the market.
73
primate city
A country’s largest city that is usually twice the size of the next largest city and is exceptionally expressive of the national culture and persona.
Most are ports or are located on a major river.
74
political revolution
Actions focused on ending warfare for the control of territory and recognizing sovereignty of territories ruled by representative governments.
75
nation-states
People (the nation) are unified via a similar heritage or culture under a common government (the state).
76
devolution
Regions within a country demand autonomy at the central government’s expense.
77
centripetal forces
Cultural forces that hold or bind a political unit together.
78
centrifugal forces
Cultural forces that divide or separate people in a political unit.
79
religion and language in europe
o Three main religious traditions
1.) Roman Catholic Christianity
2.) Protestant Christianity
3.) Orthodox Christianity
o Three main language groups
1.) Germanic (English, Dutch, German)
2.) Romance (French, Italian, Spanish)
3.) Slavic (Polish, Russian, Czech) .
80
european union
Structure for a common economic system with a central governing body.
It was designed as an economic trading bloc that could compete with the United States and Japan.
81
supranationalism
The voluntary association of three or more independent states willing to yield some measure of sovereignty for mutual benefit.
82
common currency
the euro
83
free travel
____ ______ over borders
84
regions of western europe
o 1.) Northern Europe
o 2.) Southern Europe
o 3.) Central Europe
o 4.) The British Isles
85
northern europe
o Nordic States
Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark
o Viking heritage
o Protestant religion
o Colder climates
o Semi-peripheral region: some industrial base, provides raw materials
o Danish colonization
Greenland, Faeroe Islands
Officially part of Denmark, but largely autonomous
o Baltic States
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia
Considered part of Eastern Europe during Cold War
o Becoming more economically aligned with Western Europe
86
nordic states
Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark
87
jutland peninsula
Jutland is a large peninsula that contains the mainland regions of Denmark
88
danish colonization
Greenland, Faeroe Islands
Officially part of Denmark, but largely autonomous
89
southern europe
o Iberian Peninsula:
Portugal, Spain
o Italian Peninsula:
Italy
o Balkan Peninsula:
Greece
o Islands:
Cyprus, Malta
o Independent states:
Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Vatican City
o larger populations than Northern Europe
o Mediterranean climate:
hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
o less rural-to-urban shift in Southern Europe
o periphery vs core economic disparity
o Italy
Urban north vs rural south
Ancona Line:
• An imaginary line that cuts across Italy from Rome to Ancona and divides northern Italy and southern Italy
• romance language, Roman Catholic religion
o Spain
o Portugal and Greece
90
iberian peninsula
portugal, spain
91
italian peninsula
italy
92
balkan peninsula
greece
93
italy
Urban north vs rural south
Ancona Line:
• An imaginary line that cuts across Italy from Rome to Ancona and divides northern Italy and southern Italy
• romance language, Roman Catholic religion
94
spain
urban northeast vs rural south
romance language, Roman Catholic religion, varied culture groups
95
portugal
periphery regions, much lower GDP
romance language, Roman Catholic religion in Portugal
96
greece
periphery regions, much lower GDP
Greek language, Eastern Orthodox religion in Greece
97
central europe
o Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein
o Core economic region
o High standard of living
o Industrial activity along the Rhine River
o Benelux Countries
o France
o Germany
o The Alpine Center
98
benelux countries
Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg
Densely populated
Belgium
• Dutch, French, and German language
Netherlands
• Dutch language
Luxembourg
• French, German, Luxembourgish language
Industry, agriculture, banking, insurance
99
the alpine center
Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein
Landlocked countries
Mountainous landscape
Switzerland
Austria
100
germany
Largest economy in Europe, exports of manufactured goods
Banking, green energy tourism
Higher unemployment and worse infrastructure in eastern Germany
German language, Protestant religion
Free education
101
france
Varies physical landscape
Highest agricultural production in Europe
• Cheese and wine
Industry, technology, military production
Issues with job opportunities, class divide, terrorism
French language, Roman Catholic religious majority
102
switzerland
• German, French, Italian, Romanian language
• Political neutrality, banking, Red Cross, international organizations
103
austria
• German language, Roman Catholic religion
• Arts, music, market economy
• Danube River
104
lichtenstein
small city-state in switzerland, part of alpine center
105
the british isles
o Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain
o Separated from mainland Europe by the English Channel
o Gulf Stream keeps temperatures moderate
o English language, Welsh in Wales, Gaelic in Scotland and Ireland
o Ireland
o United Kingdom of Great Britain
106
ireland
Does not include Northern Ireland, a point of contention
Agriculture, tourism, information technology, communications
Freedom from Britain in 1921
Remains a member of the European Union
107
united kingdom of britain
England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Connected to mainland Europe by the Channel Tunnel
London is capital city and a primate city
Immigrants from former British Empire colonies
Banking in London, manufacturing, extraction, tourism elsewhere
Periphery vs core economic disparity
Wales and Scotland seek to become independent nation-states
Votes to leave the European Union
108
england
London, capital of UK
109
northern ireland
not part of UK, point of contention
110
scotland
part of UK, gaelic
111
wales
part of UK, welsh
112
eastern europe
• Countries bordering Russia declared independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
• Influenced by Chinese communist government crackdown on protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
• Shift from USSR, communists, planned economy to EU, democratic government, open markets.
113
iron curtain
o The physical barrier in the form of walls, barbed wire, or land mines that divided Eastern Europe and Western Europe during the Cold War (1945-1991).
114
collapse of the soviet union
• Shift from USSR, communists, planned economy to EU, democratic government, open markets.
115
baltic states
o Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia
o Moldova
o Belarus
116
moldova
Poor, landlocked, agrarian country
Not yet admitted to the European Union
117
belarus
Poor, landlocked, agrarian country
Increased economic ties with Russia
Fewer freedoms than other former Soviet Union countries
Retains authoritarian government
118
ukraine
o Largest country in Europe by area
o Was the second most important economic are in the USSR
o Longer transition to free elections and democratic government
o Not yet admitted to the European Union
119
romania
o Large forests, half the country reserved from logging
o 1989 revolution overthrew and killed former communist dictator
o Tourism, Transylvanian Alps
o Admitted to the European Union in 2007
120
bulgaria
o Midler climate than Northern Europe
o Mining, industry, agriculture, tourism
o Danube River passes through to the Black Sea
o Admitted to the European Union in 2007
121
albania
o Poor, peripheral country
o Variable data on ethnicity, religion, Albanian language
o Repeated occupation by other entities
o Tourism, Transylvanian Alps
o Not yet admitted to European Union
122
poland
o Polish language, Roman Catholic religion
o Coastal lowlands in the north, mountains in the south
o Does not use the Euro for currency, rather the Polish zloty
o Admitted to the European Union in 2004
123
hungary
o Hungarian language, Christian religion
o Warm, rainy summers and cold, snowy winters
o Capital city is Budapest on the Danube River
o Manufacturing, tourism admitted to the European Union in 2004
124
the czech republic
o Part of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1983
o Relatively high standard of living under USSR
o Czech language
o Czech Republic are traditionally known as Bohemia
o Admitted to the European Union in 2004
125
the slovak republic
o Part of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1983
o Relatively high standard of living under USSR
o Slovakian language
o Less industry in Slovak Republic, greater unemployment
o Admitted to the European Union in 2004
126
former yugoslavian states
o Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo
o Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (1918), Yugoslavia (1929)
o Dictator Marshal Tito (aka Josip Broz) led from 1945 to death in 1980
o Slobodan Milosevik formed Greater Serbia in 1991, ethnic warfare
o European Union membership: Slovenia (2004), Croatia (2013)
o Not admitted to EU: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo
