Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Geography

Margaret Thatcher

was a British stateswoman who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to have been appointed.

Apartheid

(in the Republic of South Africa) a rigid former policy of segregating and economically and politically oppressing the nonwhite population. Any system or practice that separates people according to color, ethnicity, caste, etc.

Baby boomers

are the demographic cohort following the Silent Generation. There are no precise dates for when this cohort starts or ends; demographers and researchers typically use starting birth years ranging from the early-to-mid 1940s and... Continue reading "Key Events and Figures of the 20th Century" »

Germanic Peoples

Definition and Origins

The Germanic peoples (Latin: Germani), sometimes referred to as "Germans," were a group of ethnicities from continental Northern Europe. Roman-era authors distinguished them from neighboring Celtic peoples. They are also referred to as Teutonic, Suebian, or Gothic peoples in older literature, although the latter two terms now primarily refer to specific Germanic groups.

Language and Culture

The Germanic peoples are closely associated with "Germanic languages" as defined in modern linguistics. However, some historians argue against the idea that early Germanic peoples shared a single core culture or language before interacting with Romans. During the Roman era, the migrating Suebian-related "Elbe Germans"... Continue reading "Germanic Peoples: History, Culture, and Influence" »

Agricultural Landscapes of Spain

-Oceanic or Atlantic agricultural landscape: north, west of the Peninsula .agricultural fields: small, polyculture, natural pasture ·livestock: Cantabria, Asturias, Basque country- cattle:milk, Galicia- cattle: meat. ·silviculture: forests are exploited intensively to obtain wood ·agricultural structure: smallholdings, owned by families or small businesses ·settlement: dispersed into small villages

-Mediterranean a.l: coastal areas in the east and south ·agriculture: rainfed cr.(cereals, olive trees, almonds)/irrigated cr.(garden vegt. citrus fruit) ·l: sheep, goats-extensively/cattle, pigs-intensive ·s: not economically profitable ·a.s: medium size ·s: densely populated, dispersed

-Inland a.l: Meseta,... Continue reading "Agricultural Landscapes of Spain: Oceanic, Mediterranean, Inland, Mountainous, and Subtropical" »

Colonial Empires of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Major British Colonies

• Canada
• Australia
• Egypt
• Sudan
• Nigeria
• Kenya
• Rhodesia
• South African Union
• India
• Burma
• New Guinea
• Cochinchina

Major French Colonies

• America and Oceania: No colonies
• Morocco
• Algeria
• French West Africa
• French Equatorial Africa
• Somalia
• Madagascar
• Indochina

Other European Empires

Spanish Colonies

• Rio de Oro
• Equatorial Guinea
• Northern Morocco

German Colonies

• Kamerun
• Tanganyika
• South West Africa

Dutch Colonies

• The Guianas
• Indonesia
• Malaysia

Belgian Colonies

• Belgian Congo
• New Guinea

Portuguese Colonies

• Angola
• Mozambique

Danish Colonies

• Iceland
• Greenland

Italian Colonies

• Libya
• Somalia
• Eritrea

Non-European Empires

Japanese Colonies

• Korea

US Territories and Protectorates

• Cuba
• Panama Canal Zone
• Philippines
• Alaska
• Puerto Rico

Russian Territories

• Turkestan
• Manchuria
• Kuril

Refugee Movements: The Syrian Crisis

The Worst European Humanitarian Crisis Since WWII

The current situation of Syrian refugees is the worst European humanitarian crisis since World War II. Thousands of people are fleeing the war in the Middle East, crossing the Mediterranean Sea, and seeking refuge in Europe. Many have died trying to reach European shores, and those who have arrived now face a lack of aid from the EU.

The Origins of the Conflict

The conflict's origin can be traced back to the Arab Spring of 2010, when numerous conflicts erupted between populations and dictators in several countries. While Tunisia and Egypt saw changes in their governments, the dictators of Libya and Syria refused to relinquish power.

The Wars in Libya and Syria

This... Continue reading "Syrian Refugee Crisis: Impact on Europe" »

Unit 10: The New World Order

1. The New World Order and Its Problems

1.1. Multipolarity of Power

The end of communism in 1991 brought a new world order, with the USA as the sole world superpower. Its hegemony is evident in the influence of its diplomacy, the presence of its military around the world, and its intervention in several conflicts since the 1990s.

Last Decade: A tendency towards greater multipolarity due to the opposition towards USA hegemony. Some emerging countries are establishing themselves on the international scene with political and economic growth. In the future, countries like China, India, or Brazil will be ready to compete with the USA.

1.2. The Problems of Today's World

Democracies need to:

• Find ways of giving equal opportunities

Independence of United States:

Between 1756 and 1763, England and France fought the Seven Years War. England won, leading to measures affecting the 13 colonies:

• It prohibited the advance of the French towards conquered lands.
• It reimplemented the commercial monopoly.

Towards an Independence State:

The British measures outraged the colonists, leading to boycotts and street disturbances. In 1774, the Continental Congress of Philadelphia met, followed by a second Congress in 1775, which decreed popular mobilization. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was passed.

French Revolution:

Clergy: The state was divided into high and low clergy. The high clergy were mostly nobles, while the lower clergy came from common sectors. Nobility: Nobles... Continue reading "Struggle for Independence in United States, French Revolution, and Latin America" »

2.3. THE INFLUENCE OF THE EU The European Union is an economic world power and is ranked first in international commerce. 

It is allied to the USA, even though it has criticized some of its military interventions. It has regularly participated in UN peace missions.

 Europe’s international political influence is weakened because its members are sometimes in disagreement.  A common international policy would help to solve this problem. 5. RUSSIA AND THE OLD COMMUNIST BLOC 5.1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION After the dissolution of the URSS, Russia became a regional power. However... : It retained most of its nuclear weapons, It remained a permanent member of the UN Security Council AND It was accepted in international organizations.... Continue reading "Expedite the economic, cultural and social development of ACP States" »

ANCIENT REGIME

17-18 CENT. POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS TOOK PLACE. START MODERN AGE.

FEUDAL SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS:

• EUROPEAN MONARCH + POWERFUL.
• NEW FORMS SKILLED CRAFTSMANSHIP/INCREASE TRADE (OPEN ECONO.)
• BOURGEOISE BECOME WEALTHIER, + POWERFUL DUE CONTROL CRAFT PRODUCT. AND TRADE.
• HUMANISM DEVELOPED: NEW WAY THINKING REPLACE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.
• ADVANCES SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OVERCOME DESIRE KEEP KNOWLEDGE SECRET.
• NEW ARTISTIC STYLES EMERGED DISTINCT FROM CATHOLIC CHURCH.

POLITICS OF ANCIENT REGIME

17 CENT. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY PREDOMINATE WESTERN EUROPE. CONSIST CROWN UNLIMITED AUTHORITY.

MODEL ABSOLUTE MONARCHY: LOUIS XIV FRANCE (1643-1715) HE NOT CALL ESTATES GENERAL, CONTROLLED GOVERNMENT, INTERVENE IN ECONO..

SPAIN POWER DECLINE IN 17... Continue reading "Ancient Regime: Political, Economic, and Social Transformations" »

Radical Islam

Radical Islam, or Islamic fundamentalism, advocates a strict and radical application of Islamic principles, including:

• Observance of Sharia, or Islamic law, which imposes strict moral and religious ideas.
• The grouping of Muslim countries into a political union.

To achieve its objectives, proponents believe Muslims should:

1. Confront Western culture, especially that of the USA.
2. Depose governments in Arab countries allied with the West and replace them with Islamic governments.
3. Eliminate Western influence from these countries.
4. Some use terrorism.

In recent decades, Islamic fundamentalism has directly influenced governments such as Iran and increased its influence in others, for example, Afghanistan, Egypt, Algeria, Palestine, and Lebanon.

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