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

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" »

Analysis of the Map

The dark colors—green, orange, and red—represent the kingdoms of Castilla and León, the Crown of Aragón, and Portugal in 1150. Lighter tones of these same colors reflect the territories reconquered by these kingdoms by 1270. The Kingdom of Navarre (in yellow) remained blocked between Castilla and Aragón, which halted its expansion. The tributary Kingdom of Granada (in rose), a vassal of Castile, constituted the final Muslim redoubt. The symbol of crossed swords indicates Christian victories (in black) and Muslim victories (in red).

Historical Commentary

Following the Muslim invasion in 711, several pockets of resistance formed in the peninsular north. These did not take the offensive until the disintegration of the Caliphate... Continue reading "The Reconquista: Christian Expansion and Medieval Iberia" »

Imperialism in the 19th and 20th Centuries

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of developed countries took control of other regions and lands all over the world.

The Causes of Imperial Expansion

Imperial expansion was mainly a result of the rise of finance capitalism.

• For European countries, colonies were a symbol of international prestige; it was also important to control strategic locations.
• The growth of the population in Europe and the use of machinery in factories caused high levels of unemployment, and many people emigrated to the colonies to look for work.
• Scientific progress required geographic expeditions to unknown areas of the world, such as the African continent, or expeditions to discover new plants, animals, and

Changes in Rural Areas

Demographic and Social Shifts

Because the rural population is aging and there are not enough workers to perform agricultural work, many areas have contracted foreign workers to fill the labor gap.

Evolution of Agricultural Landscapes

• Fields with low productivity have been abandoned.
• Small plots have been joined to create large ones that are easier to cultivate.
• The use of greenhouses has increased significantly.
• Crops grown for personal use have been replaced by cash crops.

Diversification of Economic Activities

Many rural areas have developed other activities besides agriculture and livestock farming:

• Industry: Until recently, industries established in rural areas were mainly dedicated to the transformation of agricultural products.

Cold War Power Struggles and the Third World

During the Cold War, the USSR (Communist) and the US (Capitalist) attempted to convince the Third World to become part of their respective blocs, each highlighting their own advantages. The USA wanted to demonstrate strength by controlling and exploiting Latin America. While the US promoted free trade, it was difficult to implement in Latin America because governments desired total control, resisted economic integration, and faced challenges with product pricing and difficult geography.

Geopolitical Triangulation and Strategic Shifts

The US intended to leverage the poor relationship between China and the USSR, known as Triangulation. This was complicated because Khrushchev criticized Stalin, the USSR... Continue reading "Cold War Dynamics: The Third World and Dependency Theory" »