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

When was the UN Charter Adopted?

The charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26th, 1945, and came into force on October 24th, 1945.

Which Organ of the UN is an Impartial Legal Body?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) serves as an impartial body for settling legal disputes among states in accordance with international law.

Which UN Organ Provides Leadership and Prepares the Budget?

The Secretary-General provides leadership, prepares the budget, submits an annual report to the General Assembly, and presents issues to the Security Council.

Which Two Institutions Were Created at Bretton Woods in 1944?

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were created at Bretton Woods in 1944.

What Does the Acronym GATT Stand For?

GATT... Continue reading "Key Facts on International Organizations and Treaties" »

Early Middle Ages

The Break-up of the Roman Empire

In AD 324, the emperor Constantine I founded the city of Constantinople on the site of Ancient Byzantium.

All people living beyond Roman borders were considered Barbarians.

• The Huns were nomadic animal herders who traveled across the Asian steppe. They attacked Germanic people.
• The Germanic peoples lived in the north and east of Europe. Many eastern tribes were nomadic. They were organized into tribes, each tribe had an assembly that elected a chieftain.

Romans built fortifications along the Rhine and Danube rivers.

Germanic tribes became a real threat in the 3rd century AD, when the Roman Empire suffered a serious economic and social crisis.

Some Germanic tribes carried out violent attacks on Roman... Continue reading "The Fall of the Roman Empire: Germanic Invasions and the Rise of New Kingdoms" »

Population Pyramid Description (2000)

Question: Describe the population pyramid of the country in the year 2000.

Answer Guidelines

• The pyramid exhibits a broad base, a youthful structure, or a broad base and a narrow top.
• It has a tapering or concave shape, showing a significant decline in numbers for each successive age group.
• Further observation or quantification is necessary for the award of full marks, such as: gender differences, fewer 0–4 year old children, similar sizes for 0–19 age groups (or some recent regression), or identifying a high youthful dependency ratio.

Reasons for Gender Imbalances (2025)

Question: Suggest reasons for the gender imbalances in the population pyramid in the year 2025.

Answer Guidelines

The strongest responses... Continue reading "Population Pyramids, Gender Imbalance, and Disease Economics" »

In 2001, James O’Neill of Goldman Sachs authored a paper titled “Building Better Global Economic BRICs.” The BRICs acronym in the title referred to:

• Brazil
• Russia
• India
• China

These nations are reshaping the international economy with the potential to transform global trade and capital flows. BRICs are large economies, ranking among the world’s top 10 in population and top 11 in GDP. They have undergone reforms that have transformed them, making them more internationally integrated and central to the future of the world economy.

In 2010, these countries accounted for approximately 41 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of world GDP when measured in PPP terms.

21st Century Growth

China (Post-1978)

• Prior to 1978, private enterprise

Technological Progress in Pre-Industrial Europe

Ancient Innovations and Stagnation

In comparison to ancient times, the Middle Ages seem to have been more innovative and fruitful for technological development benefiting the population at large. While there were significantly more innovations in China than in Europe during certain periods, why did conditions stagnate in Europe initially?

Pre-Roman and Transitional Innovations

Various mechanical innovations were established in pre-Roman times, such as salt extraction and domestic tools. Innovations dating to the pre-Roman transition include the harvester, barrel, and soap.

Roman Era Developments and Limitations

In ancient times, developments included central heating, cement, and various architectural... Continue reading "Pre-Industrial European Technology: Ancient Roots, Medieval Rise" »

Ideologies

Socialism

• Private property accepted
• Parliamentary system with powerful state
• Economy led by state
• Proletarians control political power (peacefully)

Communism

• No ownership
• Transition based on revolution
• Economy and means of production controlled by the state
• Classless society
• Proletarians control political power (using violence)

Anarchism

• No property
• Disappearance of state and political parties
• Self-management of free associations without obligations
• Rejection of all types of authority

Liberalism/Capitalism

• Individualism based on guaranteed private property
• Economic freedom regulated by market demand
• Class-based society
• Bourgeoisie controls economy and political power

French Revolution

Key Events

• National Assembly in the Jeu de Paume
• Bastille Day, the beginning

Imagen Escaleras

• Promulgation of the Constitution
• Recognize individual rights like equality before the law
• Established national sovereignty and the separation of powers
• Cortes of Cadiz
• Liberal system

Ej 11: Industrial Revolution

• Around 1830
• Two main characteristics: slow and partial
• Five causes of industrialization: low demand for industrial articles, lack of entrepreneurial spirit among the bourgeoisie, technological gap, shortage of raw materials, political instability
• Basic industrial sectors: mining, iron and steel industry, textile sector
• Concentrated in Catalonia: textile sector
• Transport: thanks to the law of highways
• First railways: Barcelona-Mataro, Madrid-Aranjuez
• Scarce due to reduced international demand
• Badly affected by the loss of American

The Founders of American Colonies

The people who created the first colonies are considered the founders, establishing the customs to which later arrivals and immigrants had to adjust. The English Crown legalized companies that undertook the colonization of America as private enterprises.

Southern Colonial Settlements

One such company established the first English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Tobacco provided a profitable export, and to meet the demand for labor, in 1619, the first African laborers were imported as indentured servants (free contracted people hired for 5 to 7 years of servitude). Virginia imported 1,500 free laborers a year, and by 1700, it had a population of 7,500 white Americans and 10,000 Africans.

In 1630, Lord... Continue reading "Founding of America's First Colonies" »

Activity 6:

Type of settlement: In a dispersed Settlement, farmers dwelling are separated from one another and surrounded by The land they farm. In a concentrated settlement, dwellings are grouped into a Village or hamlet. Meanwhile in interspersed settlements some dwellings are Grouped together, while others are isolated

Habitat: includes dwellings and Agricultural buildings, such as barns, stables and wine cellars. Are usually Made from local materials.

Farmland: In terms of size, fields Can be small (less than 10 hectares), medium-sized (between 10-100 hectares) or Large (+100 hectares).  Their shape can Be regular or irregular. With regard to their location, they can be open (if They are separated from one another by a furrow or boundary

Port Realities and Potential

The port encompasses various aspects:

• Part of the coast
• An urban space
• An industrial zone
• An intermodal connection point
• A logistics and storage area
• A recreational space for citizens
• A commercial zone
• An element of the landscape
• An access point for berthing and unloading ships

The logistics function significantly impacts a country's foreign trade competitiveness. Modern ports should integrate into the production, transport, and distribution logistics chain, rather than operating as an independent link. Integration is achieved by offering a wide range of services, enhancing the capture and loyalty of the port's primary client: "the cargo." This underscores the importance of port specialization.

Economic Impact and the Logistics