Cultural Geography Test 1 Prep

Question 1

Geography

Answer 1

“to describe the Earth.” Academic discipline in an outgrowth of both our curiosity about lands and people other than our own and our need to come to grips with the place-centered element of our world

Question 2

Topophilia

Answer 2

Coined by the geographer Yi-Fu Tuan Literally means “love of place” Describes the characteristics of people who exhibit a strong sense of place and the geographers who are attracted to the study of such places and peoples.

Question 3

Possibilism

Answer 3

A school of thought based on the belief that humans, rather than the physical environment, are the primary active force shaping the culture; that any environment offers a number of different possible ways for a culture to develop; and that the choices among these possibilities are guided by cultural heritage. Some believe that the higher the technological level of a culture, the greater the number of possibilities and the weaker the influences of the physical environment.

Question 4

Placelessness

Answer 4

Concept proposed by geographer Edward Relph A spatial standardization that diminishes regional variety; may result from the spread of popular culture which can diminish or destroy the uniqueness of place through cultural standardization on a national or even worldwide scale.

Question 5

ITK (indigenous technical knowledge)

Answer 5

Highly localized knowledge about environmental conditions and sustainable land-use practices Detailed local understanding of the land, often superior to Western scientific knowledge

Question 6

HDI

Answer 6

Human development Index Used by the United Nations to measure quality-of-life. It combines measures of literacy, Life expectancy, education, and wealth.

Question 7

Thomas Malthus vs. Cornucopius **

Answer 7

Thomas Malthus - English economist who published “An Essay on the Priniples of Population” known as the “dismal essay” in 1798. He believed that human ability to multiply far exceed her ability to increase food production. He contended that this condition acted as a natural control on population numbers. Malthus regarding famine, disease, and war as the inevitable outcome of the human populations outstripping the food supply. Followers of Malthus’ views are called “Malthusians” and believe that overpopulation is the root cause of poverty, illness, and warfare. Cornucopians - Malthus’ critics, cornucopians, note that scientific innovations such as the green revolution have led to food increases that have far outpaced population growth. Cornucopians are those who believe that science and technology can solve resource shortages. In this view, human beings our greatest resource rather than a burden to be limited.