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

Visigoths in Hispania

The Visigoths in Hispania were a Germanic tribe from eastern Europe. In 410, they invaded Rome under their leader Alaric. Nevertheless, they became allies of the Romans. They established a kingdom in the Roman province of Gaul, with the capital at Toulouse.

Next, the Visigoths attacked and defeated the Germanic tribes in the Iberian Peninsula: the Vandals, the Alans, and the Suevi. This gave them control of the Iberian Peninsula. In 507, the Franks forced them out of Gaul.

The Muslim Conquest of Hispania

The Muslim invasion of Hispania began in 711. The Umayyad general Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed the Strait of Gibraltar with a small army. At the Battle of Guadalete, together Tariq and Musa conquered most of Hispania.

Al-Andalus:

7am: time to get up; 7:09: breakfast time; 8:01: off 2 school, off 2 work; 8:30: the eggs were schriveled and the toast was like stone; 9:15: time to clean; 10: the sun rise; 10:15: the garden sprinklers whirled up in golden founts; 12noon: the house lets the dog in; 2pm: the regiments of mice hummed; 2:15: the dog was gone; 2:35: bridge tables sprouted from patio walls; 4: the tables folded; 4:30: the nursery walls glowed; 5: the bath filled with clear hot water; 6-8: the dinner dishes manipulated like magic tricks; 9: the beds warmed their hidden circuits; 9:05: the house plays the poem "twcsr"; 10: the house began to die

Victorian England (1837–1901): Society and Politics

The first phase of Victorian England featured free-market trade, characterized by the law of supply and demand and competition among traders.

Britain possessed one of the world's best merchant marine fleets.

Politically liberal, the system awarded more power to the bourgeoisie (the wealthy class), who were instrumental in setting the laws and Acts between 1832 and 1885.

Key Parliamentary Reform Acts

• The Reform Act of 1832 (First Reform): Rural seats were removed, and Parliament was divided into two main groups: Conservatives and Liberals.
• The Reform Act of 1867 (Second Reform): New sectors, such as doctors and lawyers, were added to the electorate.
• The Reform Act of 1884 (Third Reform): Established

The Second Industrial Revolution: A New Era

The late 19th century marked a period of profound transformation, often referred to as the Second Industrial Revolution. This era brought significant advancements that reshaped economies and societies across the globe.

Timeline and Global Impact

• When: Primarily by the end of the 19th century.
• Where: Its influence spread across Europe, Japan, and North America.
• What Happened: New industrial changes dramatically improved Western economies and global production capabilities.

Key Innovations and Changes

This period was characterized by several groundbreaking developments:

• New Energy Sources: A shift from coal and steam to more efficient sources like oil and electric energy.
• Highly Developed Industrial Sectors:

Oceania

Oceania is made up of Australia, New Zealand, and many small Pacific Islands. Australia is by far the largest landmass in the continent.

Australia

Capital: Canberra (although the largest city is Sydney).
Divided into eight states.
Population: 21.2 million people.
Population density: 2.6 people per km².
80% of the population lives on the coast.
95% of the population lives in urban areas (towns/cities).

Australia's Climate

Factors that affect climate:

• Latitude: As you move away from the Equator, temperatures fall.
• Distance from the sea: The sea moderates the temperatures of places near the coast (e.g., the sea cools coastal places in summer and warms coastal places in winter).
• Ocean currents: Either warm (from the equator) or cold (from the poles)

Item 10: Greek Civilization Basics

Greek civilization: basic features

The Greeks spread and diffused across the Mediterranean, bringing cultural advances to neighboring peoples such as the Cretans, Phoenicians and the peoples of the Fertile Crescent. Their cultural legacy highlights a productive economy, writing, and slavery. Important Greek contributions include democracy, philosophy, and theater.

Geography, Climate and Polis Formation

The Greek world occupied the southern Balkans, the coast of Asia Minor, the Aegean and Ionian islands. This region was characterized by rugged mountains, deep valleys and generally poor vegetation due to a dry, hot climate. These physical features inhibited large-scale agricultural development and encouraged the... Continue reading "Ancient Greek Civilization: Origins, Polis, Trade and Society" »

FROM CHIEF TECUMSEH, ADDRESS TO GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON (1810)

During the nineteenth Century, there was increasing expansion west.

The American Frontier

The West was characterized by Jefferson’s grid systems.

The demographic character of the frontier society was that it was made up of all classes from all regions and of all ethnic groups. What they had in common was that they were all young.

Migration Patterns

• Northern farmers moved first to Vermont and western areas of New York, then into the Upper Northwest Territory to the border of the Great Plains.
• Southern planters migrated to Kentucky and Tennessee, which for them was the new land of milk and honey.

The migration has been described as a bit-by-bit process and not some great wave.

Usually,... Continue reading "Westward Expansion and Frontier Society in 19th Century America" »

The Significance of Global Tourism

Tourism encompasses travel for recreational, leisure, or business purposes and has become a prominent global activity. It is vital for many nations, as recognized in the Manila Declaration on World Tourism (1980), which defined it as "an activity essential to the life of nations because of its direct effects on the social, cultural, educational, and economic sectors of national societies and on their international relations.”

Tourism generates significant income through the sale of goods and services, accounting for 30% of the world's service exports and 6% of overall exports. It also creates extensive employment opportunities within the service sector, including:

• Transportation services
• Hospitality services
• Entertainment

Human Factors in Agriculture

• Population: Size leads to larger areas of cultivation and competition for land.
• Farming techniques: In developed countries, modern techniques, which include mechanization and fertilizers, have increased production. In less developed countries, traditional techniques keep production lower.
• Final destination of production: In subsistence agriculture, the farm family cultivates all they can; production is intended for their consumption. In contrast, commercial agriculture often specializes in one crop, and production is intended for sale. To minimize the cost of transportation and keep products fresh, cultivation should be near markets.
• Globalization: Economic globalization means countries can sell their production to

Angling and Recreational Fishing Practices

Angling involves using a hook with a wide range of baits or lures, such as artificial flies, to catch fish. This practice sometimes requires fish to be returned to the water, a method known as catch and release. Recreational or sport fishermen often log their catches or participate in fishing competitions.

The Global Fishing Industry

The fishing industry encompasses any activity related to taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing, or selling fish and fish products. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines it as including recreational, subsistence, and commercial fishing, along with the harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors. Commercial activities within... Continue reading "Fishing Practices: Angling, Commercial, and Aquaculture" »