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

In the second half of the 15th century, Europe entered a period of demographic and economic recovery. During this time, the bourgeoisie prospered and the monarchy became a more powerful force.

Environmental Issues

Nuclear Waste Management

1. Managers of nuclear plants are irresponsible about nuclear waste.
2. Managers of nuclear plants are not satisfied with the disposal of nuclear waste.

B.Answer the following questions in your own words.1. What happens when nuclear waste is buried in the ground?
They damage the soil for a long time......................................................................

2. Why is the air polluted in London?

For the amount of smoke produced by factories and cars...........................................

3. What is happening to wildlife as a result of the destruction of the rain forests?

Its natural environment is destroyed and many species become extinct........................

C.Rewrite the following sentence

Machines, Steam, and Factories

Another essential element in this change was technological innovation.

Machines substituted human labor. Each technical progress meant a rise in productivity and a decrease in production costs, which allowed goods to be sold cheaper, increasing demand and generating greater profits.

The first machines were driven by human force and then hydro-electric power. But the source of energy that revolutionized production was steam. The steam engine, invented by James Watt in 1769, used coal as fuel. It became the symbol of the Industrial Revolution.

Mechanization and the introduction of new energy sources caused the spread of the factory system of production. This system consists of concentrating workers and machines in large... Continue reading "Key Innovations of the Industrial Revolution" »

England

England - London, Oxford, Liverpool, plains and moors, 60 million dense, 36 countries, industrialized since 18th century. Biggest growth in computing and banking. Many cathedrals and churches, small villages, old market towns, long coastline. Lake District inspired romantic poems.

Scotland

Scotland - Full of traditions, 5 million inhabitants. Part of GB since 1707 but still remains independent. Hills, lakes (lochs), fast-flowing rivers, deep valleys. Big cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh are international centers of music, festival of music and drama, engineering, printing, legal and educational systems.

Wales

Wales - Mountainous country. English monarch has the title Prince of Wales. Long rivers, wide lakes, high hills. Highest peak is... Continue reading "The United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland" »

The natural movement of the Spanish population has experienced three stages in its history, called demographic systems.

Ancient Demographic System

This system refers to pre-industrial societies. In Spain, this system was maintained until the beginning of the 19th century.

Death rates and birth rates were both high and fluctuated rapidly according to natural events, such as drought and disease, to produce a relatively constant and young population.

• Birth rates: Family planning and contraception were virtually nonexistent; therefore, birth rates were essentially only limited by the ability of women to bear children. Children contributed to the economy of the household from an early age. There were no education or entertainment expenses. In addition,

1. Minerals and Mining

A mineral is an organic natural substance with a specific chemical composition. There are different types of mining: surface mining, underground mining, underwater mining, and drilling mining. However, mining has negative impacts such as landscape destruction and water and soil pollution. It also depletes deposits and exhausts the land.

2. Fossil Fuels

Oil is a non-renewable fossil fuel formed by the decomposition of living organisms in the ocean over millions of years. It causes major environmental problems. Uranium, on the other hand, originates from a process called fission, which involves the disintegration of uranium atoms.

3. Renewable Energy

There are various forms of renewable energy:

• Hydroelectric Power (HP): Uses

The Autonomous Communities of Spain

The Spanish Constitution of 1979 led Spain to be organized into different autonomous communities. Between 1980 and 1985, the 17 autonomous communities that exist today were established. In 1995, the statutes of autonomous cities were approved for the two Spanish cities in North Africa: Ceuta and Melilla.

Spain's Provincial Organization

Spain has 50 provinces belonging to the different autonomous communities according to their geography, cultural characteristics, and common history. There are also the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

For historical reasons, some of these provinces are not located within the autonomous communities they belong to. For example, Condado de Treviño belongs to Burgos, but it... Continue reading "The Autonomous Communities and Administrative Divisions of Spain" »

The Secondary Sector

Industry and Construction

The secondary sector consists of construction and industry. It utilizes raw materials, which are resources that need to be transformed into finished or semi-finished products. Energy sources are crucial to power the machines used in this sector.

Human Resources

Developed Countries:

• Controlled working hours
• Right to strike
• Unemployment benefits
• Social protection and health insurance

Developing Countries:

• Minimum health and safety standards

Capital

Capital is provided by private companies, the state, or both. Companies can be owned by individuals or collectives.

Main Industrial Areas in the World

Europe:

• EU: Steel, aeronautics, aerospace
• Russian Federation: Energy sources and mineral resources

Asia:

• Japan, China,

- INDUSTRIAL CAPITALISM : Capitalism is an economic system in wich the means of production are predominantly privately owned. Capitalism appears in various forms with various degrees of governmental control, bur its basic theoty is that of a free market. Economic activities respond to the free initiative of individuals, whose objectiveis the persuit of maximum profit.