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

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,

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.

Single-Crop (Monoculture)

Monoculture, or single-crop farming, is an agricultural system that consists of growing just a single plant species in a field for many years.

Multiple-Crop (Polyculture)

Polyculture, or multiple-crop farming, involves cultivating more than one plant species in the same field.

Agriculture with Irrigation

Irrigated agriculture involves the artificial application of water to the land or soil.

Agriculture without Irrigation

Rainfed agriculture is a system based on the natural use of water, primarily rainfall.

Intensive Farming

Common in the Atlantic regions, intensive farming involves the use of pesticides and new technologies to maximize land productivity.

Extensive Farming

Extensive farming involves cultivating a large area of... Continue reading "Farming Systems and Agricultural Practices" »

Corporate & Individual Climate Action

The Role of Big Companies in Addressing Global Warming

People with financial resources should be encouraged to invest in new methods of producing clean, renewable, ecological energy. The Government should sponsor these initiatives so that green jobs can be created for the many unemployed people in Spain and all over the world. America is attempting this on a great scale, and perhaps this could be the beginning of a pollution-free Planet Earth.

Harnessing Natural Resources

We must remember that the sun, the wind, the sea, and the ocean are available for us to investigate. We need to develop effective, renewable energy sources to help us maintain a similar lifestyle, integrated with the technology we, as... Continue reading "Corporate Investment in Clean Energy Solutions" »

The Old Regime (15th-18th Centuries)

The Old Regime, or *Ancien Régime*, refers to the period before the French Revolution. It was characterized by a stratified society, an agricultural economy, and, primarily, absolute monarchy.

Population Dynamics

• High birth and death rates.
• Slow population growth.
• Frequent demographic crises (wars, epidemics, crop failures).
• Life expectancy around 40 years.
• Predominantly rural population.

A Stratified Society

Society was divided into rigid social groups:

• Privileged: Nobility and Clergy.
• Non-privileged: The Third Estate (everyone else).

Nobility

• Status by inheritance.
• Extensive land holdings.
• Tax exemptions.
• Special courts and legal treatment.
• Held high political positions.
• Internal hierarchy: High Nobility (e.g., Dukes,