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

Defining Developed and Developing Countries

Developed countries experience relatively high economic growth and security, often measured by GDP and industrialization. Examples include the United States, Canada, Japan, and most European nations.

Developing countries lack the same level of economic growth and security. Many African, Asian, and South American countries fall into this category.

Globalization and its Effects

Globalization connects countries, facilitates cultural exchange, enables global production, and expands job opportunities. It involves the free transfer of capital, goods, and services across borders.

Advantages of Globalization

• Spreads technology
• Increases corporate profitability
• Promotes cultural exchange
• Expands markets for goods

18th Century Economic Policies

The Old Regime had imposed mercantilism, an economic policy which considered that wealth came from accumulating precious metals by means of trade. The state had to control the economy: forbid the export of precious metals, promote trade, boost exports and hinder imports, and gain colonies that would trade their products.

In the 18th century, the birth of new economic policies displaced mercantilism:

• Physiocracy: Proposed by François Quesnay, who believed that the wealth of a nation was on the land (agriculture and mining) because it provides food and items for trade. It defended economic freedom.
• Economic Liberalism: Proposed by Adam Smith. He claimed that individual work was the true source of wealth. The way to

VOCABULARY

UNIT 1

• Technological park
• Global warming
• Outskirts of the city
• Rainforests
• Young people
• Glaciers
• Pedestrianised area
• Sea ice
• Quality of life
• Sea levels
• New Projects
• Coral reefs
• Temperature
• Drought
• Extreme weather

UNIT 2

• Gateways
• Bottle
• Box
• Tin
• Carton
• Jar
• Packet
• Pot
• Tube
• Aluminium
• Cardboard
• Glass
• Metal
• Paper
• Plastic

UNIT 3

• International hub
• Specialised pole
• Regional pole
• Established capitals
• Re-invented capitals
• Knowledge hubs
• Profit
• Unemployment
• Poverty
• Famine
• War social situation
• Common sense
• Writing lines
• Detention
• Exclusion
• Swearing
• Suspension
• Hitting
• Not doing homework
• Bullying

A habit

Skill

A reminder

To delete

Terrible

To divide

A backup

and 5.2: Privileged Estates and the Commoners

During the century, the nobility lost part of its power to the absolute monarchs and became tied to the court, where they sought to gain access to the monarch and win favor from him or her. As they lived off the income earned from their properties, they suffered from the frequent agrarian crises over the course of the century. To compensate for this, they increased their demands on the rural peasants. In Spain, the number of nobles increased due to the high volume of aristocratic titles sold by the junior branch of the House of Austria in order to sustain their high levels of expenditure.

The Condition of the Peasantry

The peasantry in Western Europe were free from feudal conditions, unlike those in... Continue reading "17th Century Social Hierarchy and the Thirty Years' War" »

Population Dynamics

Key Population Concepts

Population: The number of people inhabiting a particular place, influenced by physical environment, settlement patterns, economic activities, and history.

Population Density: The total number of inhabitants in a territory (absolute population) divided by the area it occupies in square kilometers.

Natality: The number of births in a population over a year.

Mortality: The number of deaths in a population over a year.

Birth Rate: The ratio of live births in a year to the average total population of that year.

Death Rate: The ratio of deaths to the population of a particular area during a specific period.

Life Expectancy: The average period a person may expect to live.

Migratory Change: Population movements to... Continue reading "Understanding Population Dynamics: Distribution, Growth, and Composition" »

What is the Primary Sector? The primary sector is concerned with the extraction of raw materials. Which Activities Are Part of the Primary Sector? These include fishing, farming, and mining. Differences in the Primary Sector Across Countries In developed countries, between 1% and 6% of the active population works in the primary sector. In developing countries, about 50% of the population is involved, while in underdeveloped countries, around 80% of the active population works in this sector. Definition of Arable and Pastoral Farming Arable: Land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops. Pastoral: Fields that could be used for livestock but not farmland. Factors that affect farming include population size, which leads to larger areas... Continue reading "Understanding the Primary Sector: Key Activities and Impacts" »

2 Core Elements of industrial activitie (I). Raw materials

2.1. Industrial raw materials

According To their origin they can be classified as plant animal or geological matter.

-Plant sourced Raw materias; They are obtained from agriculture and silviculture.

-Animal Sourced raw materials; They are provide by livestock farming also from the Fishing industrie.

-Geological Raw materials; they are extracted from the Earth´s crust, Minerals from which Metals can be obtained and non-metalic materials, minerals represent the Largest quantity and variety of industrial raw materials. Rocks suchs as Granite, which are used directly or for manufacturing construction materials. Energy products, such as coal, crude oil, natural gas and uranium from which Energy

The Incas

The region where the Incas developed featured high mountains rising from the sea, deserted coastlines, coastal waters rich in fish, a lack of rainfall, well-preserved arid soil, and short rivers flowing from high snowfields. Although there was little arable land, certain valleys supported a wide variety of crops. The lower lands were used to grow maize, while higher lands were used to raise llamas and alpacas for meat and wool.

Origins and Early Development

The origins of the Incas date back to 2500 BCE. The life of Archaic Peruvians developed along the coast, where they fished, gathered food, and cultivated squash and lima beans. Following a long period of simple living, a strong cultural advancement began. Between 900 and 500 BCE,... Continue reading "The Rise and History of the Inca Civilization" »

Britain's Industrial Revolution: Why First?

The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the mid-18th century due to several converging factors:

• A political system where the power of the monarchy had been limited by Parliament since the 17th century.
• Significant population growth, which led to a rise in demand for goods and services.
• An abundance of natural resources and raw materials, including coal and iron.
• An extensive transport network of rivers and canals, facilitating trade and movement of goods.
• A vast colonial empire that provided easy access to raw materials and new markets.

Impact of the Enclosure Acts

A series of laws known as the Enclosure Acts were passed by the British Parliament to authorize the consolidation of scattered landholdings... Continue reading "Britain's Industrial Revolution: Key Drivers & Impacts" »

The Roots of the Spanish Economic Crisis

Spain has been in a significant economic recession since the end of 2007. The primary causes of this economic downturn are the housing bubble and the banking sector.

The Impact of the Housing Bubble

The housing bubble is the most critical cause of the Spanish economic crisis. It occurred due to speculation that property prices would continue to rise, allowing people to earn significant profits through sales. Consequently, the demand for households and housing prices increased. As a result, industries related to housing were highly developed, and many jobs were created during this period.

The Role of the Banking Sector and "Cajas"

On the other hand, the situation of the banking sector during the bubble years... Continue reading "Spain's Economic Crisis: Housing Bubble and Bank Collapse" »