Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Geography

The Age of Exploration: 1400-1750

The Age of Exploration, spanning from 1400 to 1750 A.D., marked a transformative period in European history. During these years, European perceptions of the world underwent a dramatic shift as explorers ventured into previously uncharted territories. Before this era, European understanding of the world was limited, with prevailing beliefs that the Earth was flat, the southern seas were boiling, and the world was smaller than it actually is. Additionally, religious motivations played a role, with the spread of Christianity against Islam being a significant factor.

The Quest for Spices

During the Middle Ages, the Crusades, religious wars between Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land, fostered an exchange of goods,... Continue reading "The Age of Exploration: Discoveries, Innovations, and the Quest for Spices" »

1.5. Enlightened despotism

Economic Activities and Goods

• Economic Activities: These are activities carried out by humans in order to acquire goods that satisfy consumer needs.
• Economic Goods: These are products and services generated by economic activity.

Composition

• Consumable: Computers
• Non-durable: Pizza
• Capital Goods

Function

• Intermediate Goods: Wool from sheep
• Finished Goods: Shirt made with wool

Ownership

• Private: Belonging to an individual or entity
• Public: Belonging to everyone

Economic Systems

1. Capitalist: Characterized by a free market, private property, freedom to work and hire, and state intervention (on a small scale).
2. Communist: Controlled by the state.
3. Subsistence Economy: Based on self-consumption, typically found in the poorest and most isolated areas of the world.

Economic

GLOBAL WARNING:

The increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases. Global warming will change the patterns of the weather worldwide.

DEFORESTATION:

It is the effect of massive cut down of trees, usually a man-made action that damages the ecosystem. Reducing deforestation is one way to mitigate the impact of climate change.

URBAN SPRAWL:

Physical spread or growth of a city into outlying regions. Low growth prices and urban sprawl are all contributing factors.

SCORCHED EARTH:

Burnt ground or land with the aim of getting more or increasing crop areas. We have gone from settlement to scorched earth.

SOIL EROSION:

It is the wear of the ground that produces different processes on the Earth's surface because of the... Continue reading "Global Warning, Deforestation, Urban Sprawl, Scorched Earth, Soil Erosion" »

SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (1880-1914)

-New energy sources: electricity and oil.

-Gramme’s industrial Dinamo (1869): generation of Electricity in hydropower plants.

-Light bulb (Humphry Davy).

-Alternator and Transformer (1897): to transport Electricity current.

-Oil and the Combustion engine: fuel for cars (1885).

-New industrial Sectors: chemical, aluminium, automotive, aviation.

-Traditional Industries continued to develop: textiles, steel and coal and mining.

-The development of New weapons was key to subdue the Indians.

- Industrial development Is also increasing in different branches:

>Transportation:                  >Communications:                                      

- Plane: Brothers Wright.-Telegraph:... Continue reading "Aviation" »

Left-Wing Ideologies

Two new left ideologies emerged in the mid-nineteenth century:

Socialism and Anarchism

These two movements:

• They believed that inequality and injustice were due to private property, defended by the bourgeoisie.
• They proposed the disappearance of the State and Private Property.

Socialism

Founders: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Its objective is to end private property (bourgeoisie), through a revolution of the proletariat to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat and abolish private property, disappearing the classes of the societies and thus the State would disappear.

Main works: The Capital, The Communist Manifesto

Anarchism

Founder: Mikhail Bakunin

His goal was to achieve maximum individual freedom by eliminating everything... Continue reading "Left-Wing Ideologies: Socialism and Anarchism in the 19th Century" »

Buenos Aires: A City of History and Diversity

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the South American continent's southeastern coast. The name 'Buenos Aires' can be translated as 'fair winds' or 'good airs', but the former was the meaning intended by the founders in the 16th century, by the use of the original name 'Real de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre', named after the Madonna of Bonaria in Sardinia. The Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, which also includes several Buenos Aires Province districts, constitutes the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas, with a population of around 15.6 million.

Autonomous City

The... Continue reading "Buenos Aires: History, Culture, and Diversity" »

Territories of Charles I

From his father Philip: The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and part of France. From his mother Joanna of Castile: Castile. From his grandfather Ferdinand of Aragon: Crown of Aragon, Balearic Islands, Kingdoms of Naples, and Sicily. From his grandfather Maximilian of Austria: Austria. Territories of Holy Roman Empire: The Netherlands, Luxembourg, part of France, Austria, and Milan.

Changes in Philip II Territories

Inherited most of Charles I's territories, except Austria and the title of Emperor. In 1580, Philip incorporated Portugal into the Crown of Castile. In 1561, he made Madrid the capital.

Characteristic of Government of Philip II

Philip centralized government by making Madrid the capital. He never convened the Cortes and... Continue reading "Territories and Conflicts of Charles I and Philip II" »

HENRY VIII (1491-1547)

England from 1509. 2nd Tudor monarch.

Henry VIII had 6 marriages, including Catherine of Aragon (annulled) and Anne Boleyn. As England was a Catholic country, the Pope, as head of the Church, would not allow divorce, as Catholic marriage is for life. Henry VIII made Church officials swear that he was the leader, allowing him to arrange his own divorce. This process, called the Reformation, was confirmed by the Act of Supremacy (1534), which declared Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He declared any monks who spoke against him traitors and had them executed, leading to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During this time, Thomas More was beheaded for refusing to support Henry VIII.

ELIZABETH I (1533-

Global Ocean: Covers 71% of the Earth's Surface

There are 5 major oceans:

• Pacific:

  Largest and deepest, reaching 4.3 km

• Atlantic:

  Second largest, reaching 3.9 km

• Indian:

  Third largest, reaching 3.9 km

• Southern:

  Located along the coast of Antarctica, at 60° south latitude

• Arctic:

  Smallest and often covered in ice

Latitude: Horizontal Lines from East to West

They measure the position north or south. The lines are parallel slices.

Longitude: Vertical Lines from North to South

They measure the position east or west. The lines run through both poles.

Some Animals that Live in the Open Ocean

Dolphins, sharks, whales, jellyfish, carcass, among others. They survive by adapting to their environment.

Main Gyres

• North Gyres:

  Clockwise rotation. Includes the North