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

1. The Impact of Post-War Scientific Investment

The current development would not have been possible without the significant investments in research after World War II. The war revealed the immense power of science, leading to increased funding since 1945. However, this has widened the gap between rich and poor countries, as nations like Japan, the USA, Germany, France, and Britain invest more in research than others.

2. Key Areas of Scientific Research

• Chemistry: New materials, plastics, dyes, etc.
• Nuclear Physics: Initially applied to military purposes (atomic bomb), later to energy production.
• Computer Science: Simplifying and accelerating tasks. The invention of the microprocessor in the 1970s led to the personal computer. Applying computer

Brazilian Baroque: Key Figures & Literary Context

Gregorio de Matos Guerra: The Mouth of Hell

Gregorio de Matos Guerra was born in Salvador in 1663. He studied at Coimbra and held a senior magistracy in Portugal until 1681, when he returned permanently to Brazil, likely fleeing enemies provoked by his satirical poems. In Bahia, he again suffered persecution due to his satires. Thus, he earned the nickname Boca do Inferno, or "Mouth of Hell."

The Baroque Period in Brazil

The Baroque movement, emerging as a counter-reform movement of the Catholic Church against Protestantism, profoundly influenced Baroque thought, contributing to the period's inherent duality.

Defining Characteristics of Baroque Thought

• The Baroque sought to reconcile human and

Transportation Systems in Spain

Transportation systems facilitate the movement of people and goods. These systems comprise interconnected infrastructure networks (roads, airports, etc.). Vehicles have evolved significantly, from early rail to the automobile and airplane a century later. The volume of goods transported, as well as the number of people traveling for work or leisure, is substantial.

Characteristics of the Spanish Transportation System

Key features include:

• The significant influence of natural factors, primarily terrain, which impacts road layout.
• A radial layout centered around Madrid, evident in road, rail, and air transport networks.
• Regional imbalances, reflected in the quality of roads.
• Communication deficiencies between regions.

Spain's Post-Civil War Economy: Autarky and Stagnation

The three-year Civil War severely disrupted the Spanish economy. Agricultural and industrial production declined, and much communication infrastructure was destroyed, along with damaged buildings and manufacturing plants. However, this deterioration of production equipment alone does not fully explain the negative evolution of the Spanish economy in the years after 1939.

The policies of the Francoist authorities consolidated a highly uncompetitive economy characterized by widespread hunger, poverty, influence peddling, and corruption. One of the main objectives of the Franco regime was to achieve economic self-sufficiency, or autarky. The result was a blocking of economic growth and a significant... Continue reading "Spain's Post-Civil War Economy: Autarky and Liberalization" »

Fishing in Spain: An Overview

Fishing is an activity with an ancient tradition that has been losing economic weight, although it remains important in Galicia and in the Spanish diet in general.

Spanish Fishing Sectors

The Spanish fishing area is divided into eight sectors:

• Northwest
• Cantabria
• North Winds
• Levantine
• Mediterranean Region
• South Atlantic
• Balearic Islands
• Canary Islands

The main destination for fishing is human consumption. Three-quarters of the catch are fish and shellfish. The remainder is notable for its white fish value and tonnage of sardines and anchovies. Landings experienced a large increase until 1976.

Challenges in the Fishing Industry

Fishing activity is in a crisis, as shown by the decrease in the workforce, the decline in GDP contribution... Continue reading "Fishing in Spain: Challenges, Sectors, and Aquaculture" »

From 930 to 1300, the West saw the start of development, mainly agricultural, which is known thanks to new research techniques. This produced a transformation of rural space and the emergence of an agrarian social order. This agricultural development is associated with urban and commercial expansion. Similarly, there was cultural and political development. The pace of the expansion process accelerated from 980 to the beginning of the 13th century. The West expanded its geographic boundaries across the European continent.

Historical science has not stopped investigating the causes of this expansion. It is problematic. Various factors that researchers have been considering to explain this expansion are not enough: the weakening of external pressures,... Continue reading "European Economic Expansion: 11th to 13th Centuries" »

Biodiversity Conservation: In Situ and Ex Situ

Ex Situ Conservation

This method involves preserving genetic material outside of the natural environment, such as in gene banks, seed banks, embryo and sperm banks, and tissue culture facilities. While expensive due to the specialized infrastructure required, ex situ conservation allows for the preservation of specific varieties.

In Situ Conservation

In Situ conservation focuses on preserving biodiversity within natural areas. This involves establishing protected areas and collaborating with local communities, particularly farmers, to maintain local genetic material. This approach includes studying varieties in different locations, supporting farmers, and recognizing their efforts in preserving genetic... Continue reading "Peruvian Biodiversity: Conservation and Biotechnology" »

Spain's Commerce and the European Union

• Spanish international trade is mainly with other European Union countries.
• This trade is facilitated by the laws and regulations of the EU, the single European currency, and the free trade of goods.
• The commercial balance in Spain is negative, meaning that Spain imports more than it exports.
• The balance of payments is positive, thanks to revenue from tourism, foreign investment, and movements of capital.

Transport Networks and Communications in Spain

• Road networks have benefited from the most governmental investment in recent years.
• The intention has been to create more connections between populations to improve speed and reduce transport time.
• Some of the disadvantages of road transport in Spain are:

1. Heavy traffic

Key Aspects of Tourism in Spain

The Spanish Tourist Model: Sun and Beach Focus

• Tourism in Spain grew significantly in the 1960s when millions of international tourists started visiting.
• Foreign visitors primarily came to enjoy the sun and beaches of the country.
• In recent years, more tourists have visited inland Spain, but most still prefer the coasts.
• This preference is partly due to tour operators offering affordable packages for areas with large hotel capacities, namely coastal destinations and the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Visitor Origins and Top Spanish Destinations

• Tourism primarily focuses on the coast, with foreign tourists mainly visiting Spain for its beaches and sunshine.
• Tourists primarily come from the United Kingdom, Germany, France,

The Enlightenment and Pre-Romanticism

The eighteenth century began under the influence of the Enlightenment, a rationalist movement that posed a critical review of ideas and values in force until then. It is also known as the Age of Reason.

Moreover, in the second half of the eighteenth century, pre-Romanticism began in some European countries. This movement, a reaction against rationalism, reached its peak in the nineteenth century.

18th Century Society & Culture

Eighteenth-century society underwent profound social and political transformations, culminating in two significant historical events: the independence of the United States of America and the French Revolution (1789).

In most European countries, absolute monarchs and ecclesiastical... Continue reading "The Enlightenment Era: Society, Thought, and Transformations" »