Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Geography for Baccalaureate

Agricultural Landscapes of Spain: Defining Characteristics

We define agricultural landscapes as featuring rural areas. They result from the natural combination of factors, giving an overview of the farming practiced there.

Wet Spain Agricultural Landscape

Includes the north and northwest of Spain. It has a rugged terrain, with low, flat surfaces and a wet oceanic climate. Traditionally, it has had a very large population. The population is predominantly scattered. The peasants are owners of small landholdings. Land uses are principally for farming. Agriculture occupies a slightly extended area, currently specializing in garden crops and fodder for livestock. Cattle ranching is the most important economic activity, favored by weather conditions....

The Plateau

The Plateau is a high-altitude morphostructural unit that constitutes half of the peninsular relief units. Extensive plains alternate with hilly areas. The Alpine Orogeny caused the slope of the plateau towards the Atlantic Ocean. The Central System divides the plateau into two: the Northern Sub-Plateau and the Southern Sub-Plateau. These subunits were formed during downhill movement.

The Northern Sub-Plateau

It is situated within the northern half of the peninsula. Bordered to the northwest by the Galician-Leonese Massif, on the north by the Cantabrian Mountains, east by the Iberian System, and west by the gorges of the Douro and its tributaries. Its average altitude is 750m and it is crossed by a network of rivers, primarily the...

Key Geographical and Agricultural Terms

Asylum: Protection granted by a state to a foreigner who cannot return to their country of origin due to a well-founded fear of persecution.

Real Growth: The balance of population change, considering net migration.

Emigration: The act of people leaving one place to settle in another, often due to compelling reasons.

Rural Exodus: The movement of population from rural areas to urban centers.

Immigration: The arrival of people into a particular place to live.

Migration: A change of residence from one municipality to another, either within the same country or across international borders.

Swings: Daily population movements from a place of residence to work or other activities.

Refugee: A person persecuted for reasons...

7/ España Romana — Romanization and Management Concept of Roman Spain
We call the process of Romanization of Hispania the introduction (by peaceful means or by force) of elements of Roman social, political, and cultural life. These elements came into contact with indigenous societies while Roman artifacts and institutions were imposed. This process was most intense in the east and south and was weak in the mountainous north, especially the Basque Country and Navarre.

Vehicles of Romanization were:

• The spread of Latin.
• The military, Roman officials, and traders who arrived in Hispania.
• The foundation of many cities (we note Emerita Augusta, Hispalis, Caesaraugusta, Tarraco, or Barcino; these cities used an orthogonal plan and were surrounded by

Absolute Monarchy in 17th-Century Europe

During the 17th century, the system of government known as absolute monarchy was imposed throughout Europe, with the exception of Great Britain and a few small states. This system recognized the divine origin of the monarchy, meaning the king received power directly from God. For this reason, there were no restrictions on the king's power; he held absolute authority over the nation.

European monarchs gained total control over the state throughout the 16th and 17th centuries by weakening the power of the nobility. They achieved this by abolishing the nobles' political privileges while maintaining their economic feudal privileges. The submission of the nobility to the king led to the political and administrative...

The Spanish Fishing Sector: Characteristics and Production

The Spanish fishing space is divided into 8 regions, plus the major northwest zone.

Fish production has these features:

• Species caught are categorized in three parts: by their whitefish value, and by tonnage (sardines and anchovies).
• The primary destination of fishing products is human consumption.
• Landings experienced strong growth through 1976.

Challenges and Crisis in the Spanish Fishing Sector

The Spanish fishing sector is currently experiencing a crisis, characterized by:

• A decrease in the active population employed in the sector.
• A decline in its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• A foreign trade deficit, largely due to high domestic consumption.

Problems in Fishing Grounds

Fishing...

Atlantic Coast Rivers of the Iberian Peninsula

The Atlantic Coast river system consists of rivers that empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The water volume and surface area are greater than that of the Mediterranean rivers due to climate, westward tilt during the lithologic oro-alpina period, and more permeable materials. It comprises two sectors:

• Southern Sector: Located in the depression of the short rivers and Guadalquivir. These include rivers with a pluvial regime such as Guadalete and Tinto.
• Galician Rivers: These rivers form estuaries and are fast-flowing due to high humidity and short, impermeable river rocks. They originate at low altitudes, resulting in a pluvial regime. Examples include Miño, Tambre, and Ulla.

Miño River

The Miño's main...

The Industrial Revolution and Labor Origins

The labor movement emerged during the Industrial Revolution due to the lack of rights granted to workers in factories. It began in England, where, in the absence of regulation, workers were exposed to shifts exceeding twelve hours in unhealthy environments. They faced strict discipline, no security against illness, accidents, dismissal, or retirement, and received very low wages. Child labor was particularly prevalent, as children were attractive targets for employers because their wages were substantially lower.

Luddism and the Shift to Organized Resistance

The first manifestations of the labor movement were reflected in Luddism (the destruction of machines), which was blamed for the loss of purchasing...

America's Roaring Twenties: Uneven Prosperity

Who Benefited from the 1920s Economic Boom?

While the 1920s are often remembered as a period of widespread prosperity, the economic boom did not benefit all Americans equally. Certain groups and industries experienced significant gains:

• The Rich and Middle Classes: These groups saw substantial increases in wealth and living standards. By 1929, a staggering one-third of all income was earned by just 5% of the workforce, highlighting the concentration of wealth.
• New Consumer Industries: Sectors like automobiles and electrical goods (e.g., refrigerators, washing machines, radios, vacuum cleaners) thrived. There was massive demand for these new, exciting products. The adoption of the assembly line enabled