Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geography

Key Population Concepts

Census of Population

The process of collecting data on the number of individuals within a given population and their main characteristics (demographic, socioeconomic, socio-cultural, etc.). Censuses are typically conducted periodically.

Real Growth

The change in a population's size over a specific period, resulting from the balance between natural growth and net migration. It can be represented as: CR = CV + SM = (TN - TM) + (I - E), where CR is Real Growth, CV is Natural (Vegetative) Growth, SM is Net Migration, TN is Birth Rate, TM is Death Rate, I is Immigration, and E is Emigration.

Vegetative Growth (Natural Growth)

Measures the population change during a period due solely to the balance between births and deaths. Formula:... Continue reading "Key Population and Demography Definitions" »

Modernization of Spanish Farming (1960s)

• Mechanization
• Selection of seeds and livestock breeds
• Chemical fertilizers
• Plant protection products
• Intensification of production
• Increased yields

Rural Settlement and Habitat in Spain

The Rural Settlement

Rural settlements comprise villages with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants:

• Rural: Less than 2,000 inhabitants
• Semi-Rural: 2,000 to 10,000 inhabitants

Factors Influencing Rural Sites

The location of rural sites is related to:

• Natural factors: Topography and water availability
• Economic factors: Resource availability
• Historical factors: Such as the Reconquista

Types of Rural Settlement

Dispersed Settlement

Characterized by houses separated from each other by fields.

• Examples: Northern Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia,

Transportation and Tourism

Passenger Transportation

Passenger transportation primarily relies on cruise and ferry services.

Air Transport

The Airplane's Role

The airplane is a crucial mode of transport, especially for medium and long-distance passenger travel and express freight delivery of valuable and compact goods.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Air transport offers speed and efficiency. However, it contributes to environmental problems, including air pollution (CO₂ emissions) and noise pollution, particularly affecting areas near airports.

Tourism

Definition

Tourism involves travel from one's residence to another location for a limited time, primarily for leisure. It typically includes spending at least one night away from home.

Features and Factors

Metropolitan Area

Metropolitan Area: An urban area surrounding a central city, administratively encompassing several towns. These towns share economic relations, necessitating joint planning. In Spain, metropolitan areas were formally created in the twentieth century.

Peri-urban Area

Peri-urban Area: The zone where urban sprawl makes it difficult to determine the precise limits of the city. It features mixed land uses and a blend of urban and rural lifestyles.

Old Quarter (Historic Center)

Old Quarter (Historic Center): The part of a city urbanized from its origin until the period of industrialization. It typically occupies a small area but holds significant symbolic and cultural importance.

CBD (Central Business District)

CBD (Central Business District)

Spain's Economic Boom: 1960s-1970s

During this period, the Spanish economy experienced unprecedented growth in the 20th century, leading Spain to join the group of industrialized countries. This stage of "development" was based on several key aspects:

• Stabilization Plans & Development Programs

  The Stabilization Plan marked the permanent abandonment of autarky and the beginning of the final stage of industrialization in Spain. International agencies provided loans to compensate for the lack of foreign exchange reserves. This program also incorporated economic and social liberalization plans. Three four-year plans were approved from 1964 to 1975, primarily focusing on the industrial sector and stimulating private sector actions. Key lines of

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... Continue reading "Absolute Monarchy and Mercantilism in 17th-Century Europe" »

The Impact of Meat Consumption on Health and Environment

The choices we make about our diet have profound implications for both our personal health and the global environment. Understanding these impacts is crucial for fostering a sustainable future.

Common Misconceptions About Meat Consumption

• Claim: Many believe that reducing meat consumption would have minimal impact on public health or the environment.
• Claim: Some assert that red meat is inherently beneficial for human health and should be consumed regularly.

Facts on Dietary Choices and Their Consequences

• Health Benefits: Health experts assert that over 45,000 lives annually could be saved if individuals limited meat consumption to no more than two or three times per week.
• Disease Prevention:

Natural population movements refer to the growth or decline in the number of people based solely on births and deaths. To understand this, we calculate the birth rate, mortality rate, and vegetative growth.

Birth Rate

The birth rate indicates how many people are born per thousand inhabitants in a given population.

Crude Birth Rate = (Births / Population) x 1000

It is considered high if above 30‰, moderate between 15 and 30‰, and low if below 15‰. Currently, in Spain, the rate is below 15‰.

Mortality Rate

The mortality rate indicates the number of deaths per thousand in a population.

Crude Mortality Rate = (Deaths / Population) x 1000

It is considered high if above 30‰, moderate between 15 and 30‰, and low if below 15‰. In Spain, the mortality... Continue reading "Understanding Population Dynamics: Births, Deaths, and Growth" »

1. The Impact of Post-War Scientific Investment

The current development would not have been possible without the significant investments in research after World War II. The war revealed the immense power of science, leading to increased funding since 1945. However, this has widened the gap between rich and poor countries, as nations like Japan, the USA, Germany, France, and Britain invest more in research than others.

2. Key Areas of Scientific Research

• Chemistry: New materials, plastics, dyes, etc.
• Nuclear Physics: Initially applied to military purposes (atomic bomb), later to energy production.
• Computer Science: Simplifying and accelerating tasks. The invention of the microprocessor in the 1970s led to the personal computer. Applying computer

Brazilian Baroque: Key Figures & Literary Context

Gregorio de Matos Guerra: The Mouth of Hell

Gregorio de Matos Guerra was born in Salvador in 1663. He studied at Coimbra and held a senior magistracy in Portugal until 1681, when he returned permanently to Brazil, likely fleeing enemies provoked by his satirical poems. In Bahia, he again suffered persecution due to his satires. Thus, he earned the nickname Boca do Inferno, or "Mouth of Hell."

The Baroque Period in Brazil

The Baroque movement, emerging as a counter-reform movement of the Catholic Church against Protestantism, profoundly influenced Baroque thought, contributing to the period's inherent duality.

Defining Characteristics of Baroque Thought

• The Baroque sought to reconcile human and