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

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Key Historical and Economic Terms Defined

Credit

A banking and financial instrument. New commercial techniques were very expensive, and long-distance trade expeditions were financed through credit.

Exchange Letters (Bills of Exchange)

These were created to avoid the need for merchants to travel with large sums of money, thereby reducing the risk of theft.

Local Market Fair

A weekly gathering where local farmers would go to town to sell their products.

Major Trade Fair

A larger, often annual, event that lasted for extended periods. Foreign merchants would attend, facilitating significant trade and profit.

Hanseatic League

A powerful community of merchants operating across the Atlantic and Baltic Sea regions, whose success depended heavily on their established... Continue reading "Medieval & Early Modern Economic and Social Terms Defined" »

Metropolis

Used by geographers and urban sociologists, referring to very large cities that serve as regional capitals and major business centers, whose influence extends over more or less close satellite towns. Within this sphere of influence, American authors apply the term 'metropolitan area', which tends to identify with an area of extra-municipal administrative competence. Depending on circumstances and the geographical structure of the affected urban complex, the metropolitan area corresponds to a cluster, a metropolitan area, or an urban area.

Shanty

Designates spontaneous and uncontrolled urbanization, characterized by crowded areas lacking minimal conditions of hygiene and habitability. Slums are fairly common in the suburbs of large cities... Continue reading "Key Urban Geography Terms Defined" »

Industrial Location: Historical Factors and Modern Dynamics

Classic Factors of Industrial Location

Historically, the most influential factors in industrial location (often referred to as "Classic Factors", and potentially referenced in older texts between pages 855-875) included:

• Proximity to raw materials and energy sources
• Amplitude of the consumer market
• Availability of cheap labor
• Abundant and efficient transport systems
• High capital availability and strong management ability
• Presence of robust support sectors (e.g., services, equipment)

Industrial development plans in earlier periods often led to a concentration of industry in key urban centers such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao.

Shifting Paradigms: Industrial Location Since the 1980s

Since the... Continue reading "Industrial Location Dynamics: Historical Factors & Modern Trends" »

Key Economic and Political Terminology

Core Economic Concepts

Market

The area where sellers and buyers act as trading partners.

Capital

The money and infrastructure needed to start a business or enterprise.

Yield

Production divided by the land surface area.

Productivity

The relationship between labor input and time spent.

Overproduction

Occurs when market demand is less than production, generating stored surpluses, often referred to as "stock."

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

The total monetary value of goods and services produced within a country in a specific period.

Major Organizations and Acronyms

• CNT: Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (Confederation of Work).
• UCD: Unión de Centro Democrático (Union of Democratic Centers).
• ECSC: European Coal and

... Continue reading "Essential Economic and Political Terminology Defined" »

Population Distribution: Influencing Factors

Physical Factors

Weather patterns, elevation, land relief, soil fertility, aridity, humidity, and land accessibility all influence population distribution.

Historical Factors

Historically, populations have concentrated near rivers due to fertile land and access to resources.

Economic Factors

Population tends to concentrate where resources are abundant, such as productive land, water sources, and established businesses.

Evolution of Population in Rich Countries

Long Phase of Demographic Stability

• Families typically had an average of 5 children, but many died young.
• Unsafe crops, hunger, epidemics, and wars were prevalent.

Phase of Population Increase (Demographic Revolution)

• The disappearance of famines due to

... Continue reading "Population Distribution: Factors, Evolution, and Trends" »

The Revolution of Transportation

Navigation:

1. Warships with steam engines (Fulton)
2. Iron vessels and propeller propulsion
3. Refrigeration
4. New infrastructure such as the Suez Canal (1869)

Railways:

Stephenson: 1830 - 1st steam locomotive passenger line between Liverpool and Manchester.

Implications:

1. Specialization in the global economy
2. Growth of trade
3. Diversification of diet
4. Facilitation of national and international migration
5. Integration and broader knowledge of the world

New Energy and Industry

1. New energy sources: electricity and oil
2. Key sectors: Steel, electricity, and chemicals
3. New transportation: automobile and aircraft
4. United States and Germany as new industrial powers

New Business Practices

1. New business structures: creation of the SA (Société Anonyme) and

... Continue reading "The Revolution of Transportation: Impacts and Social Classes" »

The primary sector encompasses activities related to obtaining raw materials and food. This includes agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, and forestry (the production of usable forest products).

Agriculture: Foundation of Food Production

Feeding the public depends significantly on agriculture. Agricultural activities are heavily influenced by the physical environment, including climate, topography, and soil conditions.

Soil Characteristics for Farming

• Texture: The measurement of soil particles, which determines its ability to retain water.
• Acidity: Measured by an index called pH. A pH of 7 indicates neutral soil.

The Agricultural Landscape

The agricultural landscape is a human-modified environment designed to produce natural products. Key elements... Continue reading "Understanding Primary Sector Economic Activities" »

Antonio Guzmán Blanco's First Septennium (1870-1877)

Initial Conflict and Dictatorial Declaration

The acting executive manager, Dr. Guillermo Tell Villegas, attempted to communicate with Antonio Guzmán Blanco's forces. A commission was sent on April 22, 1870, to Los Teques with a list of propositions. These propositions included:

• The removal of Guzmán Blanco.
• The appointment of a plenipotentiary of the states to determine the fate of the republic.
• The recognition of loyal states, rebels, and political parties.

Naturally, Guzmán Blanco did not accept any of these points and advanced to Caracas on April 27, 1870, declaring himself dictator that same day.

Key Events of the Septennium (1870-1877)

1. Total Control: Total control of the situation was

... Continue reading "Antonio Guzmán Blanco's Septennium: Venezuelan Reforms (1870-1877)" »

Agriculture

Intensive Agriculture

Intensive agriculture is an agricultural production system that makes extensive use of the means of production.

Extensive Agriculture

Extensive agriculture is an agricultural production system that does not maximize short-term productivity.

Lease

Lease: To use and produce fruit in exchange for a good or compensation.

Sharecropping

Sharecropping: A lease in which the economic compensation is a part of the fruits or harvest.

Fallow

Fallow: Earth that is not planted in a given time so that it recovers its fertility through natural agents.

Bocage

Bocage: Fields of irregular and closed plots.

Exploitation

Exploitation: A set of plots of land that a farmer cultivates.

Erial

Erial: Fallow land or fields to farm.

Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration:... Continue reading "Agriculture, Fishing, and Economic Terms: A Glossary" »