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

Colonial Empires of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Major British Colonies

• Canada
• Australia
• Egypt
• Sudan
• Nigeria
• Kenya
• Rhodesia
• South African Union
• India
• Burma
• New Guinea
• Cochinchina

Major French Colonies

• America and Oceania: No colonies
• Morocco
• Algeria
• French West Africa
• French Equatorial Africa
• Somalia
• Madagascar
• Indochina

Other European Empires

Spanish Colonies

• Rio de Oro
• Equatorial Guinea
• Northern Morocco

German Colonies

• Kamerun
• Tanganyika
• South West Africa

Dutch Colonies

• The Guianas
• Indonesia
• Malaysia

Belgian Colonies

• Belgian Congo
• New Guinea

Portuguese Colonies

• Angola
• Mozambique

Danish Colonies

• Iceland
• Greenland

Italian Colonies

• Libya
• Somalia
• Eritrea

Non-European Empires

Japanese Colonies

• Korea

US Territories and Protectorates

• Cuba
• Panama Canal Zone
• Philippines
• Alaska
• Puerto Rico

Russian Territories

• Turkestan
• Manchuria
• Kuril

Refugee Movements: The Syrian Crisis

The Worst European Humanitarian Crisis Since WWII

The current situation of Syrian refugees is the worst European humanitarian crisis since World War II. Thousands of people are fleeing the war in the Middle East, crossing the Mediterranean Sea, and seeking refuge in Europe. Many have died trying to reach European shores, and those who have arrived now face a lack of aid from the EU.

The Origins of the Conflict

The conflict's origin can be traced back to the Arab Spring of 2010, when numerous conflicts erupted between populations and dictators in several countries. While Tunisia and Egypt saw changes in their governments, the dictators of Libya and Syria refused to relinquish power.

The Wars in Libya and Syria

This... Continue reading "Syrian Refugee Crisis: Impact on Europe" »

The Client: Dramatic Dialogue Script

• Dianne: He doesn't hear you, Doctor.
• Doctor: A very bad case.
• Dianne: What's next?
• Doctor: We wait. He'll wake up, and when he does, it's very important that you are in this room... Do you understand?
• Dianne: I'm not leaving.
• Doctor: You can go and eat, but it's best to stay as much as possible.
• Dianne: Have you seen cases like this?
• Doctor: Not quite this bad. But I'm not worried... it will take some time. There's my number. If Ricky wakes up... okay?
• Doctor: Have you seen this? Well, you'd better... It's about Mr. Clifford. It seems that Mr. Clifford... They want to talk to Mark. It's a big case... Then you can talk to them.
• Mark: I don't want to talk to them. I might get like Ricky... talk about it.
• Dianne: Keep

Characteristics of International Trade

Traditionally, the large commercial areas of the world have been the European Union, the US, and Japan. However, emerging countries such as China have begun to play a key role in international trade and the economy. Different regions of the world specialize in the production of different goods:

• Developed countries (mainly North America, Japan, and Europe) export manufactured and high-quality products, which provide high income.
• Less developed countries contribute to international trade with raw materials, agricultural products, and some basic manufactured goods, like textiles and craft products, which provide low income.

Moreover, many poor countries owe money to foreign financial institutions (external debt)... Continue reading "Global Trade, Transport, and Tourism Dynamics" »

This document presents a collection of key geographic, demographic, and historical facts spanning various continents. Each point offers insights into the physical landscapes, population trends, and historical developments of different regions around the globe.

North American Geography and Demographics

• The Great Plains are located to the east of the Rocky Mountains in Canada.
• Canada's population reached 30 million by the year 2000.
• The Colorado River flows through Mexico.
• The Industrial Revolution first took hold in the United States in the Northeast, not the South.
• Most of the U.S. population presently lives east of the Mississippi River.
• Canada has significant coal mining areas in the west, particularly in British Columbia and Alberta.
• In 2010, approximately

Key Economic Terms and Definitions

Economy

System that organizes the use of a country's resources.

Economic system

Way a society organizes its economy.

Economic agent

Person or institution that participates in economic activity.

Globalization

A process of integration that affects economic, political, and cultural systems across geographical boundaries.

Resource

Thing a person or country has that can be used for economic benefit.

Goods

Objects that have a use or value for the person who possesses them.

Factor of production

Resource used to produce goods or offer services.

Supply

Goods and services that are available for sale.

Demand

Goods and services that consumers want to buy.

Unemployment benefit

Money unemployed people receive from the government.

Teleworking

Working... Continue reading "Key Economic Terms for Global Trade, Industry & Resources" »

Flex Response Strategy

The US utilized a Flex Response strategy involving nuclear deterrence, a 15% military increase, covert operations (Green Berets), the Alliance for Progress ($2 billion in economic aid to Latin America), and diplomacy (Peace Corps in Ghana and Tanzania).

The Cuban Revolution and Early Tensions

• 1953: Fidel Castro initiates the revolution against Fulgencio Batista.
• 1959: Castro successfully overthrows the government.
• 1960: Khrushchev strikes a deal for 5 million tons of sugar in exchange for oil, grain, and credit.
• Ike's Response: President Eisenhower imposes an embargo on sugar, oil, and weapons.
• Operation Success: Cuban exiles train in Guatemala to overthrow Castro, but the operation fails.
• 1961: Castro seizes $1.5 billion in

Key Historical and Economic Concepts

Balance of Power

Parity or stability between competing forces. It represents a 'just equilibrium' between the members of the family of nations, designed to prevent any one nation from becoming strong enough to enforce its will upon the rest.

Demographic Metrics

• Birth rate: Nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year.
• Mortality rate: A measure of the number of deaths per population.
• Life expectancy: Average number of years of life remaining at a given age.

Agricultural Systems

Fallow System of Farming

Fallow refers to land that is plowed and tilled but left unseeded during a growing season. The practice of alternating wheat and fallow assumes that by clean cultivation, the moisture received during the fallow... Continue reading "Essential Terms in History and Agriculture" »

Unit 10: The New World Order

1. The New World Order and Its Problems

1.1. Multipolarity of Power

The end of communism in 1991 brought a new world order, with the USA as the sole world superpower. Its hegemony is evident in the influence of its diplomacy, the presence of its military around the world, and its intervention in several conflicts since the 1990s.

Last Decade: A tendency towards greater multipolarity due to the opposition towards USA hegemony. Some emerging countries are establishing themselves on the international scene with political and economic growth. In the future, countries like China, India, or Brazil will be ready to compete with the USA.

1.2. The Problems of Today's World

Democracies need to:

• Find ways of giving equal opportunities

Fundamentals of Geography: Core Concepts

Geography is the study of the Earth's surface, focusing on the spatial distribution of phenomena and their relationships.

Key Geographical Concepts

• Location: Where a geographical phenomenon is situated.
• Scope: The extent of its location in time and space.
• Causality: The factors that cause or influence the phenomenon.
• Relationships: How the phenomenon relates and connects to other phenomena.

Three Branches of Geography

• Physical Geography: The study of the causes and development of natural phenomena on Earth (e.g., water, climate, flora).
• Human Geography: The study of the causes and consequences of human activity on the Earth or the anthropic environment (e.g., economics, urbanization).
• Regional Geography: The study