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

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.

Latin

Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Indigenous Cultures Worldwide

Five percent of the world's population belong to indigenous cultures. They have deep roots in their stories, languages, and the places they live. Most indigenous cultures are learning to change. These changes help them to live with bigger changes in the world, but some of them are too big, and indigenous peoples cannot adapt to them. They are moving away from the land of their ancestors to the poor areas of large cities. There are about 4000 languages alive, but they are disappearing, and indigenous peoples fight for them.

The Penan People of Malaysia

The Penan people of the forest, who live in Malaysia, are very connected to their nomadic traditions, and they are fighting to keep their culture alive. The government... Continue reading "Cultural Survival and Folk Heroes" »

From Ireland's gently rolling hills to Iceland's icy glaciers and fiery volcanoes, Northern Europe is a land of great variety. Because of this variety, the physical geography of Northern Europe changes greatly from one location to another.

Two regions—the British Isles and Scandinavia—make up Northern Europe. To the southwest lie the British Isles, a group of islands located across the English Channel from the rest of Europe. Northeast of the British Isles is Scandinavia, a region of islands and peninsulas in far northern Europe. The island of Iceland, to the west, is often considered part of Scandinavia.

Hills and Mountains

Rough, rocky hills and low mountains cover much of Northern Europe. Rugged hills stretch across much of Iceland, northern... Continue reading "Physical Geography of Northern Europe: Hills, Mountains, Farmland, Glaciers, and Natural Resources" »

Demographic and Economic Recovery

Major epidemics disappeared and the birth rate increased, leading to a population rise. Agricultural surplus was generated and sold. Improvements in shipping gave rise to trade. This increased the production of hand-made goods and manufacturing, and the growth of cities. Bills of exchange were created to facilitate trade and payments.

Rise of the Bourgeoisie

The economic power of the bourgeoisie did not come from the land. They made their money from capital, investing in profitable activities such as trade, manufacturing, and banking. The first capitalist companies emerged, laying the groundwork for merchant capitalism. Commercial exchanges represented a major source of wealth.

The Strengthening of the Monarchy

In... Continue reading "European Transformation: 15th-16th Century Social and Religious Shifts" »

MEAT

We divide meat into two groups: RED MEAT, like beef or lamb, which is red before and dark after you cook it; or WHITE MEAT, such as poultry, which keeps its light color after you cook it.

TYPES OF MEAT

Els anglesos per referir-se a la carn d'un animal no utilitzen la mateixa paraula que defineix l'animal, exepte algunes exepcions:

• CALF (vadell petit) - VEAL
• COW - BEEF
• PIG - PORK
• SHEEP - MUTTON
• YOUNG SHEEP (xai) - LAMB
• YOUNG GOAT (cabra petita) - KID or KID GOAT

El HORSE, DONKEY and RABBIT, el nom per referir-se a la carn d'aquests animals és la mateixa.

Quan ens referim a la carn de caça:

• DEER or WILD BOAR - VENISON
• HARE: Llebre

TYPES OF MEAT (2)

• - LAMB: Young sheep, provides very tender meat and can be roast, grilled or barbecued. Aromas like mint,

The consequences of colonialism were devastating for some native populations:

• The local government was eliminated or subjected to foreign control.
• The native economy was altered as the colonies replaced traditional crops with plantations of products for exportation.
• Commerce was mainly beneficial for the metropolitan state, and the infrastructures were built based on private interest.
• Industrial development did not take place in these territories, and territorial frontiers were not clearly marked, which would bring later conflicts.

Society was divided between a foreign dominating minority that controlled the government and lived in luxurious villas, and the native majority that lived apart. The native cultures were marginalized, and western culture... Continue reading "Consequences of Colonialism: Devastation and Conflict" »

1. Causes of Colonialism

A) Political and Strategic

• Colonies were symbols of prestige.
• Control of strategic areas for security and trade.

B) Demographic

• Colonies absorbed excess European population to mitigate social conflicts and unemployment.

C) Economic

• Demand for raw materials for industry.
• Need for new markets for industrial products.
• Capitalism stimulated investment in other territories.

D) Geographical and Technical

• Scientific expeditions explored unknown areas to discover new plants, animals, and minerals.
• New means of transport facilitated exploration.

E) Cultural and Ideological

• The belief in the supremacy of white people and their duty to "civilize" inferior peoples.
• Nationalism drove the desire for large nations to rule over less "civilized" people.