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

Feudalism: The Foundation of Medieval Europe

Feudalism emerged as the dominant system of social, political, and economic organization in Medieval Europe.

Political System

The political landscape was shaped by the disintegration of the Roman Empire and the decline of public law following the invasions. Large landowners assumed functions previously reserved for the state, such as coinage, tax collection, justice, and defense. After the invasions, new kingdoms organized according to the feudal scheme, forming patrimonial monarchies where the king was considered primus inter pares (first among equals). Within each territory, powerful lords exercised strict control over public administration.

Social System

Feudal law, characterized by concepts of entrustment,... Continue reading "Early Medieval Society: Feudalism, Demography, and Economy" »

Economic Sectors

Economic activities can be categorized into three main sectors: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Let's explore each sector in detail:

1. Primary Sector

The primary sector involves the extraction and production of raw materials from the earth. This sector forms the foundation for all other economic activities. Examples of primary sector activities include:

• Farming
• Fishing
• Forestry
• Mining

2. Secondary Sector

The secondary sector encompasses activities that transform raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods. This sector is closely associated with industrial activity. Examples of secondary sector activities include:

• Manufacturing sugar from sugarcane
• Producing bricks from earth for construction

3. Tertiary Sector

The tertiary sector,... Continue reading "Understanding Economic Sectors: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary" »

Tourism poses a serious threat to the environment. Tourism is defined as the activities that people do during their trips in places other than the ones they live. Tourism activities have negative economic, socio-cultural, and ecological consequences.

Negative Effects of Tourism

• Less work affecting the economy of its citizens
• Social discrimination
• Pollution
• Wastewater treatment
• Waste management
• Resource depletion
• Soil erosion due to the impact of visitors
• Deterioration and destruction of the local fauna and flora

Positive Effects of Tourism

On the other hand, tourism brings the improvement of health care, greater tolerance and well-being, and the rehabilitation of monuments, buildings, and historical places.

Sustainable Tourism

All countries should work... Continue reading "The Environmental Impact of Tourism: Negative Effects and Sustainable Solutions" »

Globalization

Markets and companies tend to spread around the world, reaching a dimension that overtakes the national borders, and that is globalization. It is achieved through the exchange of goods, services, information, knowledge, and culture. Due to technology and its advances, communications, science, transports, and industry, globalization has grown faster in the last few years.

According to the World Bank, it is important to know that economic globalization is not a new tendency, but it has always existed in the history of humanity. In fact, what we currently know as developed countries was formed at the end of the nineteenth century.

According to the World Bank, the international economic integration pace sped up in the 80s and 90s decades,... Continue reading "Understanding Globalization: Impact, History, and Future" »

Total Costs/SMH = (Fixed Costs) + (Variable Costs * UT%) + (Labor Cost)

Economist Robert Lucas argues that cities would be economically unviable were it not for the productivity effects associated with endowments of human capital.

National growth studies find a clear link between the economic success of cities and their human capital, measured by the level of education.

The Perspective of Creative Capital

From the perspective of the theory cited above, economic growth will occur in places where the population has a high level of education.

Through interviews conducted by the author, we can see that people were not following jobs or places, but that highly educated people were attracted to places that were inclusive and diverse. Creative people drive regional economic growth, and these people prefer innovative, diverse,... Continue reading "The New Geography of Creativity: Technology, Talent, and Tolerance" »

The Secondary Sector

The secondary sector transforms raw materials and natural resources into semi-finished or processed products.

The Tertiary Sector

The tertiary sector provides services to people and other economic sectors.

Balance of Payments

The balance of payments includes all the country's monetary transactions, such as goods, services, and capital.

Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the difference in value between the goods that the country exports and the goods it imports.

Energy Sources

Non-renewable energy sources:

• Coal: fossil rock currently used for thermal production
• Natural Gas: it is used as fuel, for electricity and thermal generation, and in the chemical industry
• Oil: fossil material with important uses, such as electricity generation
• Nuclear

Seagrass Ecological Contributions

Seagrasses release pollen for cross-pollination, produce seeds for propagation, and spread through rhizomes, colonizing seafloors.

Fauna of Seagrass Beds

Turtles

Green sea turtles graze on seagrass, similar to deer pruning shrubs, stimulating growth and adding nitrogen to the ecosystem.

Manatees

Manatees forage in estuaries and seagrass beds, consuming large quantities of seagrass and using their bristles to clear and uproot plants.

Seagrass Habitat Preferences

Turtle Grass

Dominant below low tide mark to ten feet.

Shoalweed

Dominant closest to shore; best tolerance for freshwater.

Manateegrass

Mixed with Turtle grass; Dominant below ten feet.

Caribbean Seagrass

Mixed with Turtle grass and Shoalweed.

Sponge, Rock, and Reef