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

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.

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" »