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

Disentailment (First Half 19th Century)

Historical Context

Beginning in 1836, the disentailment was driven by Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, Minister of Finance in the liberal government. This reform aimed to modernize the Spanish economy and reduce the power of the Church.

Objectives

• Debt Reduction: Obtain revenue to reduce the massive public debt.
• Agrarian Modernization: Modernize agriculture by transferring lands from dead hands to private owners for exploitation.
• Weakening Church Power: Reduce the economic and social power of the Catholic Church, which owned vast tracts of land.

Consequences

• Economic: Public debt was reduced and state resources increased, but land distribution favored the wealthy, worsening inequalities.
• Social: Many peasants and small

Agriculture in Slovakia

Agriculture, encompassing forestry, mining, and fishing, is a primary sector of the economy. It produces:

• Food for the population
• Raw materials for industry

Historical Development

• Beginning of the 20th century: 60% of the population made a living by agricultural production.
• 1949: Collectivization of agricultural production (state property).
• 1970s: Agricultural cooperatives (poľnohospodárske družstvá) were established.
• 1989: Dissolution of agricultural cooperatives – land and property began to be returned to original owners (or descendants).
• Joining the EU: European agricultural policy – quotas.

Current State of Agriculture

• Agriculture employs less than 1.5% of the workforce.
• Contributes 0.9 – 1.5% to GDP.
• Agricultural land

Slovakia's Transport Infrastructure

Types of Transport

• Road Transport: The most common mode.
• Railway Transport: Essential for goods and raw materials.
• Water Transport: Primarily via the Danube River.
• Air Transport: Supports tourism and business.
• Pipeline Transport: Crucial for energy infrastructure.

Road Network

Major Highways (D-series)

• D1: Bratislava – Košice
• D2: Connecting Hungary and the Czech Republic
• D3
• D4

Expressways

Slovakia also features a network of expressways complementing its highway system.

Economic Importance of Road Transport

• Significantly supports the automotive industry.

Railway Transport

Role in the Economy

• Primarily used for the transport of goods and raw materials such as coal and sand.

Types of Railway Companies

• ZSSK: Public passenger transport

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Global Systems

Distinguish space from place and explain why these concepts matter to geographers
Space – The physical locations of events and phenomena. Where things can occur often represented on maps
Place – Space is organized into places often thought of as bounded settings in which social relations and identity are constituted.
- For environmental invasive projects, such as pipelines it is important to consider the place and what social relations are ongoing in that space.

Role of population, consumption (affluence) and technology as drivers of environmental change – including the consequences of prioritizing one over others

More people, more resources needed, therefore more pollutants
Consumption(Affluence) – Consumption per person

Panama

• Panama also has the world's second largest free trade zone, the COLON Free Trade Zone at the mouth of the Atlantic side of the canal.
• The trip through the Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean will take a little less than one DAY.

Haiti and Mexico

• Haiti is classified as a(n) LOW economy by the UN.
• Mexico is classified as a(n) UPPER MIDDLE economy by the UN.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• By 2050, the population of Latin America and the Caribbean is estimated to reach about 725 million.
• Humid subtropical climates are found in areas of Brazil and URUGUAY.
• Peru has large deposits of silver, tin, lead, and COPPER.
• Coffee and maize (corn), fruit trees, and vegetables are typical crops grown in Latin America's altitudinal life zone

Growth of International Trade

Increased due to the growth in industrial production, the improvement of transport systems, and construction of tunnels and canals. Dynamite enabled the construction of large tunnels through mountainous areas and also made it possible to build huge canals.

Industrial Development in Spain

It was slower than in the rest of Europe. Foreign companies invested capital in mining. The most industrialized areas continued to be Catalonia and the Basque Country. The expansion of the railway network helped the growth of the iron and steel industry.

Anti-Colonial Protest

In some colonies, indigenous people revolted against European exploitation and the disregard for their traditional cultural values. In colonizing countries, socialist... Continue reading "Growth of International Trade and Industrial Development in Spain" »

Industrial Revolution

Several influences fueled the Industrial Revolution: Britain's industry, wealth, labor force, a greater demand for goods, new power sources, and improved transportation.

Increased food production made it possible to feed a large population. This created an opportunity to manufacture and sell goods, and a demand for people to produce those goods.

Machines were invented for basic jobs, which introduced the idea of division of labor. One invention led to another. Other countries bought British uniforms, equipment, and weapons, particularly after the invention of a cloth-making machine. Ultimately, Britain was exporting all of this to Europe.

Workers' Rights

Workers tried to join together to protect themselves against powerful... Continue reading "The Impact of Revolutions and the Evolution of English" »

The Crown of Aragón

Institution

The Crown of Aragón was made up of the Catalan counties and the kingdoms of Aragón, Valencia, and Mallorca. Each territory maintained its own laws, institutions, and customs. The king had less power than in Castile. Each territory had its own parliament, and the king needed its approval to raise taxes or pass laws. In Catalonia and Valencia, a Generalitat had an administrative role. An official called the Justícia defended people's rights in Aragón. City councils developed considerable autonomy in the Crown of Aragón. The city council of Barcelona was especially important.

Expansion Across the Mediterranean

Aragón expanded on the Iberian Peninsula, although less than Castile.

• Alfonso I conquered the Ebro Valley.

- Serf: A person who serves a lord and works in exchange for protection.

- Lord: A noble who provides protection and rules the land.

- Vassal: Lesser nobles/peasants who provide a service for protection.

- Arabs: The dominant social group who owned large states (latifundia).

- Berbers: They had converted to Islam and worked as livestock farmers, agricultural workers, or soldiers. They felt discriminated against.

- Muladíes: Natives of the peninsula who had converted to Islam. Most of them worked in agriculture.

- Mozarabs: Natives of the peninsula who had not converted to Islam and maintained their Christian beliefs.

- Bellatores: Those who wage war and defend the rest of society in times of war.

- Oratores: Those who pray and guarantee the salvation... Continue reading "Feudalism and Social Groups in Medieval Times" »