EXAM REVEIW AP HUMAN GEO

• Human geography


  a branch of geography that focuses on the study of patterns and processes that shape human interaction with the built environment, with particular reference to the causes and consequences of the spatial distribution of human activity on the Earth's surface
• Physical geography


  the study of physical features of the earth's surface
• Absolute location


  The exact position of a place on the earth's surface.
• Relative location


  the location of something in relation to something else
• Spatial perspective


  they way geographers look at everything-- in relation to space
• Map


  a 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
• Mental map


  A map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an area
• Distribution


  the frequency or occurrence of something
• Pattern


  a consistent or characteristic arrangement
• Formal region


  a region marked by uniformity
• Functional (nodal) region


  a group of places linked together by some function's influence on them
• Perceptual (vernacular) region


  a region defined by people's beliefs
• Remote sensing


  technique of obtaining information about objects through the study of data collected by special instruments that are not in physical contact with the objects being analyzed
• Geographic Information Systems


  a computer program that stores geographic data and produces maps to show those data
• Diffusion


  the spread of a culture element or some other phenomena
• Expansion diffusion


  a form of diffusion in which the cultural component spreads outward to new places while remaining strong in its original hearth
• Relocation diffusion


  a form of diffusion that involves the actual movement of the original adopters from their point of origin to a new place
• Acculturation


  occurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts traits from the more dominant culture
• Assimilation


  in cultural convergence, this occurs when the original traits of the weaker culuter are completely erased and replaced by the traits of the more dominant culture
• Transculturation


  occurs when two cultures of just about equal power or influence meet and exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in acculturation and assimilation
• Contagious diffusion


  a form of expansion diffusion in which numerous places or people near the point of origin become adopters
• Hierarchical diffusion


  occurs when the diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a place or person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled pattern
• Independent invention


  in which many hearths invent similar innovations without knowing about each other
• Environmental determinism


  the idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical environment
• Possibilism


  the idea that the natural environment places limits on the set of choices available to people
• Culture


  the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns shared and transmitted by the members of society
• Cultural diffusion


  the spread of culture
• Cultural landscape


  tangible result of a human group's interaction with its environment
• Culture hearth


  area where innovations in culture began and from which such cultural elements spread
• Culture trait


  a single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
• Culture complex


  a unique combination of culture traits for a particular culture group
• Culture realm


  A cluster of regions in which related culture systems prevail.
• Culture region


  A region within which common culture charecteristics prevail
• Culture system


  collection of culture complexes that shaper a group's common identity
• Sequent occupance


  theory that a place is occupied by different groups of people, each group leaving an imprint on the place from which the next group learns
• Folk culture


  isolated group that has had long-lasting culture traits that have not changed substantially over time
• Popular culture


  mass culture that diffuses rapidly
• Commodification


  the process though which something is given monetary value
• Stimulus diffusion


  expansion diffusion in which the innovative idea diffuses from its hearth outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
• adaptive strategies


  the unique way in which each culture uses its particular physical environment