Human Geo 11.1 Questions Flashcards
Tech was the catalyst of the Industrial Revolution, and several inventions made a big impact. What is an example of one?
The most important one to the development of factories was the steam engine (1769 by James Watt in Scotland). The large supply of steam power available from his engines made firms concentrate all their process steps in one building (1 single power source). Watt’s engine and others enabled the UK to become the world’s dominant industrial power in the 19th century.
In what ways (2) is the term ‘Industrial Revolution’ somewhat misleading?
- The transformation was far more than industrial; it led to new social, economic, and political inventions, not just industrial ones.
- The changes involved a gradual diffusion of new ideas/techniques over DECADES, not just an instantaneous revolution.
What are 4 of the first industries impacted by the Industrial Revolution?
- Iron: The first industry to benefit from Watt’s steam engine. Iron’s uses had been known for a while, but it was hard to produce bc ovens had to be constantly heated
- Textiles: Textile production turned from a dispersed cottage industry to a factory system in the late 18th. In the UK, 1768, Richard Arkwright invented machines to untangle cotton before spinning. The frames were placed in factories near sources of water, supplying power.
- Chemicals: The chemical industry was made to bleach/dye cloth. In 1746. John Roebuck & Samuel Garbett made a factory to bleach cotton with sulfuric acid from coal, & that (+ more) made vitriol (dying clothing)
- Food Processing: In 1810, French confectioner Nicholas Appert canned food in glass bottles put in boiling water. It helped feed factory workers.
Describe the importance of transportation and industrial clusters in the industrial revolution:
- Transportation improvements helped diffuse the Industrial Revolution from its hearth. First canals & then railroads attracted workers to factories, and brought in bulky raw materials, & ship finished goods to consumers.
- Industry is clustered in 3 of the 9 world regions: Europe, North America, & East Asia. 1/2 of the world’s industrial output is in China, US, Japan, & Germany.
What are the 3 Industrial Regions?
- Europe: The first region to industrialize (in the 19th century). Numerous industrial centers emerged in Europe as states competed for supremacy.
- North America: Industry grew much faster in the 19th. North America’s manufacturing was traditionally concentrated in the NE US and SE Canada, but recently it has relocated to the South, lured by lower wages and legislation that makes it hard for workers to organize.
- East Asia: It became important in the 2nd 1/2 of the 20th, starting with Japan. In the 21st, China has emerged as the world’s leading manufacturing country.
Compare average wages for manufacturing workers around the world:
$35/hr in developed countries (higher in parts of Europe). They also get health-care, retirement pensions, and other benefits. In China/India, wages are less than $2/hr with little benefits. The difference (2-35) between paying workers is critical for some manufacturers. A labor-intensive industry is different than a high-wage industry (motor-vehicle workers are payed high wages but the auto industry isn’t labor-intensive).
What is capital and why is it important to industry?
Manufacturers borrow capital (funds to establish/modernize factories). The US Motor Vehicle industry (concentrated in MI in the early 20th bc that region’s financial institutions were the most willing to lend money). Most important factor in the clustering of high-tech industries in CA’s Silicon Valley has been capital. Financial institutions have long been willing to provide money (even with risky tech). 1/4 of all US capital is spent on industries there.
What has become critical in the distribution of industry in developing countries?
The ability to borrow money. Financial institutions are often short of funds, and industries must seek loans from developed countries (but may not get them if they’re in an unstable, high-debt, or poor economic state)
What is land and why is it important in industry?
If considered to encompass energy & other natural resources, “land” is a critical site factor. Early factories located inside cities, and were usually multistory. Raw materials were hoisted to the upper floors to make small parts, which were sent downstairs for final assembly and shipment. Modern factories operate most efficiently when in one-story buildings. Raw materials are delivered at one end and moved through the factory, products are assembled in a logical order, & shipped out the other end.
Explain key characteristics about location of industry:
Land is much cheaper & more available in suburban & rural locations (which are also attractive because they facilitate delivery of inputs and shipments; with trucks now transporting more products; and industries want to be near major highways). The proximity to the junction of a long-distance route and the ring road that circles most cities is attractive.
Most of the steps in the production of copper illustrate the location decisions of a bulk-reducing industry. What are the steps (5)?
- Mining: Heavy, bulky ore extracted from mines is mostly waste (known as gangue)
- Concentration: Ore is crushed, ground, mixed, filtered, & dried. Concentration mills are near copper mines because concentrations transforms it to be lighter.
- Smelting: Concentrated copper goes to smelters, which remove more impurities. Located near concentration mills
- Refining: Refineries treat purified copper, producing copper cathodes. Located near smelters.
- Manufacturing: Copper that is ready for use in other products is produced in foundries.
What are minerals and why are they important to industry?
They are important inputs for many industries. Earth has 92 natural elements (but 8 of them compose 99% of the crust, and combine with less abundant elements to form 3,000 different minerals, many with important industrial uses). Mineral resources aren’t distributed uniformly across earth. Few important ones are found in Europe, Central, Asia, and Southwest Asia & North Africa.
What’s the difference between nonmetallic and metallic minerals?
- Nonmetallic: 90% of minerals used by humans. Ex. building stones, gemstones like diamonds, and minerals used in producing fertilizers
- Metallic: Properties that are valuable for fashioning machinery, vehicles, and other elements of modern society. They are to varying degrees malleable (able to be hammered into thin plates) and ductile (able to be drawn into a fine wire) and are good conductors of heat/electricity.
Many metals can combine with other metals to form alloys (important for industry). What are the 2 types of alloys?
- Ferrous alloys: Iron is extracted from iron ore (most widely used ore). Humans began making tools/weapons from it 4,000 years ago. Important metals used to make them: Chromium, nickel, tin, titanium.
- Nonferrous allows: Important metals utilized to manufacture products without iron/steel: aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, precious metals, etc.
What’s an example of a bulk-gaining industry?
Beverage bottling, where the product gains weight. Because water is the main ingredient in beer/cola, a filled container is heavier than an empty one. shipping filled containers is more expensive, so bottlers locate near their customers to minimize shipping costs.
