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

South Africa: The Rainbow Nation's Origins

The first people to live in South Africa were the Khoikhoi and San people. They lived a quiet, peaceful life as hunters and farmers until the Dutch arrived in 1652.

Why Did the Dutch Settle in South Africa?

The Dutch arrived with explorer Jan van Riebeeck. They needed a place where they could resupply, get fresh provisions, and receive medical care on their long sea journeys between Europe and Asia.

What Was the Dutch East India Company (VOC)?

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was a powerful trading company. It imported enslaved people from Asia and Africa to help build a fort and establish a settlement at the Cape of Good Hope.

Reflecting the "Rainbow Nation": Piet, Samuel, and Adam

The concept of a "Rainbow... Continue reading "South Africa's Journey: History, Culture, and the Rainbow Nation" »

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" »

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" »

The Evolution of Received Pronunciation (RP)

Origins of RP in Public Schools

During Victorian times in the 19th century, boys from different regions were brought together in public schools and taught a uniform accent. These boys were destined for influential positions, which elevated the perceived status of their accent, associating it with the upper class. This system significantly influenced the dissemination of one particular accent of English: Received Pronunciation (RP), spoken by approximately 1 in 50 people.

RP's Dissemination and Shifting Authority

The radio and television, particularly the BBC, adopted RP, especially during World War II. Non-standard accents were often perceived as deficient. Today, RP holds less authority than it once... Continue reading "The Evolution and Global Influence of the English Language" »

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" »

Mayoral Powers and Limitations

The veto power helps distinguish between cities with strong and weak mayors. Another distinction between strong and weak mayors is determined by their powers of administration. Weak mayors have limited appointing powers and even more limited removal powers. They have little control over separately elected boards and commissions or separately elected offices such as clerk, treasurer, tax collector, and attorney. A mayor’s ability to provide strong leadership in many cities is limited by fragmented authority, multiple elected officials, limited jurisdiction over important urban services, and civil service.

Metropolitan Area Classifications

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget divides the nation's metropolitan... Continue reading "Urban Dynamics: Mayoral Authority, Suburban Growth, and Governance" »

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-

From the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period

The term modern is used to describe innovative or novel concepts. The Early Modern Period should therefore be considered a period of significant changes with respect to the previous era. However, while the Early Modern Period began at the end of the Middle Ages (between the 15th and 18th centuries in Europe), there was also substantial continuity with the medieval period, particularly regarding social and economic structures.

Continuity: Feudal Economics and Society

The structure of society remained largely the same as it was during the Middle Ages. Social groups were rigidly divided based on inherited privileges.

The Three Estates of the Realm

The king was at the top of the social system. However,... Continue reading "Social Structure Continuity: Middle Ages to Early Modern Period" »