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

Key Concepts in Agricultural Production

• Arable farming: Comprises the economic activities and techniques relating to the treatment of soil and cultivation of land for food production.
• FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organization is an agency that leads international efforts to stop hunger.
• Open fields: These are made up of regular plots without boundaries.
• Bocage: This refers to irregular plots separated by walls or hedges.
• Irrigation system: Used as an alternative to rainfed farming, part of the water is brought to fields by artificial means.
• Rainfed farming: This is a type of farming that relies solely on rainfall for water.
• Intensive agriculture: Characterized by maximum productivity, reduced space, and large investment in fertilizers, special seeds,

Global Transformations: 1870–1991 Historical Dynamics

Population Growth and Urbanization (1870–1914)

Between 1870 and 1914, the European population accelerated its growth, rising from approximately 300 million to 400 million people.

Emigration Abroad: Emigration was favored by improved and less expensive means of transport. It initially originated from:

• The United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Scandinavia

The main destinations for these migrants were the United States, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Urbanization: Cities significantly increased their population. By the late 19th or early 20th century, cities were home to a third or half of the population, and some major centers, like Paris or London, held over one million people.

Imperialism and Colonialism:

Environmental Movement

A social and political movement that seeks to protect and improve the quality of the environment.

Environmental Value System

A worldview that shapes the way an individual or group of people perceive environmental issues. This will be influenced by cultural, religious, economic and socio-political context.

• Conservationist: Their emphasis was on the sustainable use of the environment and the management of its resources to allow for future development.

• Preservationist: They advocate for the preservation of land and its resources in pristine untouched condition.

EVS Main Approaches

• Ecocentric (nature centred): They say that humans need to work within natural systems to conserve the ecological processes on which all life depends.

Feudalism in Europe

Political Changes in Europe

England

A civil war for the throne, known as the War of the Roses, raged between the Houses of York and Lancaster. The monarchy grew stronger during the reign of Henry VIII.

Spain

The Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, unified all of the Iberian Peninsula except for Portugal.

Characteristics of Authoritarian Monarchy

• National Territory: Considered the patrimony of the royal family.
• Bureaucracy: Managed by civil servants who controlled the territory.
• Permanent Court: Ended the tradition of traveling courts from the Middle Ages.
• Permanent Army: Established a standing army.
• Diplomatic Service: Utilized ambassadors for international relations.
• Taxation System: Implemented a system for collecting

The first cities began around 3000 BC at the end of the Neolithic period and the beginning of the Copper Age, in areas of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. The main reason for cities to appear...

Greek Cities

• The importance of the city for the Greeks.
• Chora (surrounding area that provides food to the city)
• Astý (where people live) and the Acropolis
• Agorá (an open area where the market is located. We also find the Ekklesía, which is an assembly)

Roman Cities (The City of the 17)

• The cities were divided by two main streets: the Cardo and the Decumanus.
• The Forum (where we find the market, religious buildings, and most important buildings)
• Gates (across the gates, we can see the beautiful Roman causeways leading to the Forum)

Medieval Cities

• In 476

Hierarchy of Settlements

The hierarchy of settlements:

Hierarchy = order / importance.

Key concepts: Range, Threshold and Order

Settlements Hierarchy:

1. Range: the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel for a good or service.
2. Threshold: the minimum number of people required for a good or service to stay in business.
3. Low-order goods: necessity or convenience goods bought frequently (e.g., bread, newspaper).
4. High-order goods: luxury or shopping goods bought or used less frequently (e.g., watches, cars).
5. Sphere of influence: the area served by a settlement (hinterland).

Settlement types

Hamlet

Hamlet: a small collection of farms and houses. Low-order functions are found in a hamlet.

Villages and market towns

Villages and market towns support similar... Continue reading "Urban Settlement Hierarchy and Megacity Impacts" »

Entertainment

Movies

Saban’s Power Rangers

The world is in danger and five children turn into superheroes.

Beauty and the Beast

Fans of Emma Watson will love her in the role of the Beauty.

The Boss Baby

He must destroy an organization called Puppy Co. which thinks families need pets more than babies.

Prison Break Season 5

A new season is here!

Music

Shakira

Her first album was released when she was 13 years old. With 23 albums, including her first English album, her latest single is "Chantaje".

Goodbye Stranger

Seventh grade for New Yorkers at Bridge.

Clean Bandit

Mixes electronic music with classical pieces.

Rag’n’ Bone Man

Old jazz/soul and blues music.

Animals

Interview with Huan Huan (the Panda)

They are timid. It likes swimming and is a good climber.... Continue reading "Recycling, Animals, and Entertainment: A Compilation of Fun Facts" »