AP Human: Unit 1 Flashcards
place
a specific point on Earth, distinguished by a particular characteristic; occupies a unique location, or position, on Earth’s surface
region
an area of Earth defined by one or more distinctive characteristics
scale
the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole; local and global
space
the physical gap or interval between two objects
connection
refers to relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space
map
a two-dimensional model of Earth’s surface, or a portion of it; both a reference tool and a communication tool
cartography
the science of map-making
map scale
the relationship of a feature’s size on a map to its actual size on Earth
projection
the scientific method of transferring locations on Earth’s surface to a flat map
meridian
an arc drawn between the North and South poles
longitude
a numbering system that identifies the location of each meridian on Earth’s surface
parallel
a circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians
latitude
the numbering system to indicate the location of a parallel
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
The time at the prime meridian (0 degrees longitude); master reference time for all points on Earth
International Date Line
follows 180 degrees latitude (for the most part); when you cross it you must turn your clocks forward or backward (depending on which way you’re heading)
location
the position that something occupies on Earth’s surface
toponym
the name given to a place on Earth
site
the physical character of a place
situation
the location of a place relative to other places
formal region/uniform region
an area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics
cultural landscape
a combination of cultural features such as language and religion, economic features such as agriculture and industry, and physical features such as climate and vegetation.
functional/nodal region
an area organized around a node or focal point
vernacular/perceptual region
an area that people believe exists as a part of their cultural identity
culture
the body of customary beliefs, material traits, and social forms that together constitute the distinct tradition of a group of people
spacial association
occurs within a region if the distribution of one feature is related to the distribution of another feature
globalization
a force or process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope
transnational corporation
conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries, not just where its headquarters and principle shareholders are located
concentration
the extent of a feature’s spread over space
pattern
the geometric arrangement of objects in space
poststructuralist geography
examines how the powerful in a society dominate, or seek control, less powerful groups, hoe the dominated groups occupy space, and confrontations that result from the domination
humanistic geography
a branch of human geography that emphasizes the different ways that individuals form ideas about place and give those places symbolic meanings
behavioral geography
emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychological basis for individual human actions in space
uneven development
the increasing gap in economic conditions between regions in the core and periphery that results from the globalization of the economy
assimilation
the process by which a group’s cultural features are altered to resemble those of another group
acculturation
the process of changes in culture that result from the meeting of two groups
syncretism
the combination of elements of two groups into a new cultural feature
hearth
a place from which an innovation originates
relocation diffusion
the spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
expansion diffusion
the spread of a feature from one place to another in an additive process
hierarchical diffusion
the spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places
contagious diffusion
the rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population
stimulus diffusion
the spread of an underlying principle even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse
network
a chain of communication that connects places
distance decay
the farther two people are from one another, the less likely the to are to interact
space-time compression
the reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place
