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

Latitude: Temperature increases as you go south. Precipitation is higher in the north. Relief: Altitude causes temperature to fall and precipitation to rise. Mountain ranges are barriers that block air masses. The influence of the sea makes coastal temperature milder and increases the contrast in temperature in the interior.

Oceanic Climate: Galicia to País Vasco

Temperature is mild with no great contrasts, cool winters, and mild summers. There is abundant and regular precipitation with very few dry months. Vegetation is characterized by deciduous forests of oaks and beeches, meadows, and grasslands.

Mediterranean Climate: Mediterranean coast and interior

Precipitation is moderate (800-300) and irregular with droughts in summer. Temperature doesn'... Continue reading "Climate and Vegetation Types in Spain" »

The Colonization of Africa

Causes of Colonization

• Finance capitalism: The rise of finance capitalism during this period led to the need for new markets and sources of raw materials and energy outside of Europe.
• White supremacy: White people felt superior to the indigenous people of Africa and believed it was their duty to bring their culture and religion to them.
• Overpopulation and unemployment: The growth of the population in Europe and the use of machinery in factories had caused high levels of unemployment, leading people to seek new opportunities abroad.

Steps of Colonization

1. Occupation: The land was occupied by conquest, thanks to the military advantage of the colonizers.
2. Administration: Political and administrative control was established by

Globalization: A Closer Look

Advantages of Globalization

Globalization allows countries to specialize in what they do best. For example, if a country imports cheap steel, it can focus on other industries like technology.

It expands market reach, enabling businesses to sell more goods, generate higher profits, and create more jobs.

Consumers benefit from lower prices and faster access to new products.

Disadvantages of Globalization

Globalization can lead to job losses in developed countries as companies relocate factories to countries with cheaper labor.

It may exacerbate environmental problems as companies seek locations with less stringent regulations.

Globalization can create financial instability. The emerging markets crisis of the 1990s demonstrates... Continue reading "Globalization: Advantages, Disadvantages, and the Future" »

The Rise of Suburbia: A Post-War Haven

In the aftermath of two devastating world wars and the looming threat of nuclear conflict, American families sought stability and refuge within the suburban home. Suburban developments lured buyers with promises of verdant open spaces and a sense of peace unattainable in urban environments. Historian Kenneth Jackson described the post-World War II single-family tract house as a"private haven in a heartless world" despite its aesthetic shortcomings.

The Construction of Levittown

However, not all Americans could access this suburban tranquility. A severe housing shortage, fueled by the baby boomer generation and plummeting construction, left many families struggling for shelter. The Levittowns in Long Island,... Continue reading "The Rise and Controversies of Suburbia: From Post-War Haven to Levittown's Exclusionary Practices" »

China: Economic Reforms

Ruled by Xiaoping, China has implemented a mix of Communism and Capitalism. The country has distributed land among farmers, allowed them to sell and export cheap products, and opened up to foreign trade and investments. Other Asian countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan have become competitive in electronics. India has seen advancements in industry, IT, automotive, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Conflicts in Asia

Internal and external conflicts in Asia stem from ethnic and religious tensions, particularly in Kashmir. The region has Hindu-majority populations facing Muslim leaders. Post-WW2, the liberation of British India led to conflicts over joining Pakistan or India. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and... Continue reading "Global Economic and Political Developments in Asia and the Muslim World" »

Europe Around the Year 1000

Around the year 1000 AD, Europe was a mosaic of small kingdoms and states. Life was hard. Life expectancy was around 40; wars and diseases made the mortality rate rise, and droughts and floods often caused terrible famines.

Christianity was practiced throughout the continent and Latin was the common written language, but most people did not read or write.

The Second Wave of Invaders

During the 9th and 10th centuries, a new population came to Europe to settle down. It was the second wave of invasions, after the Germanic invasions in the 5th century which ruined the Roman Empire. Vikings, Magyars, Saracens, and Slavs terrified the people of Europe.

• Vikings were excellent travelers and traders, but also fierce pirate raiders.

Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Science is the study of humans and the effects their actions have on the environment.

Domains of the Environment

List four domains which would be considered part of the environment:

• Air
• Water
• Land

Natural Resources

List 5 items that would be considered a natural resource:

• Fossil fuels and minerals
• Natural vegetation
• Animals
• Sunlight
• Timber
• Water

Ecology and Environmental Science

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and with their non-living environment.

Ecologists vs. Environmental Scientists

What is the difference between an ecologist and an environmental scientist?

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and with their non-living environment, whereas... Continue reading "Environmental Science Principles and Scientific Methods" »

A New Historical Period

Changes in the 15th and 16th Centuries

Fishing activity in Spain

• - Spain has traditionally been a major fishing nation, although the physical environment was not very favorable due to its small continental platform. Today, fishing remains important, though not as much as in the past.

Characteristics of the fishing industry

• - The fishing fleet has undergone a profound transformation. It includes small ships and a high-seas fleet composed of modern ships equipped with the latest technologies.
• - The majority of the species caught are fish (tuna and sardine). Other species of great market value are the mollusks, crustaceans (prawns and crabs), and cephalopods (octopus).
• - Fishing production is used for human consumption of fresh fish. However, some of the fish caught are used for industrial

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a historical period that began with the Fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 A.D. (the 5th century) and ended with the Fall of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire in 1453 (the 15th century). This period is divided into three stages: The Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, and the Late Middle Ages.