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

Spain's Economic Landscape: Agriculture and Livestock

Spain is a country that enjoys the advantages of developed nations, most notably a high per capita income and a high level of consumption.

Agriculture Sector

Spain has a modern, market-oriented agriculture characterized by the following features:

• Prevalence of intensive farming.
• Use of new technologies.
• Specialization of cultivos (crops) by region.
• Existence of more prepared staff.
• Crops intended for export and the food industry.

However, current Spanish agriculture faces many problems and challenges:

• The abandonment of agricultural actividad (activity).
• The use in various areas of traditional irrigation systems, which consume a lot of water.
• The fulfillment of conditions required by the EU.
• Difficulties

The Problems of the Spanish Countryside

The Spanish countryside in the 20th century was marked by unequal land ownership. Large estates coexisted with smallholdings, impacting agricultural yields and hindering modernization. Landowners of large estates displayed risk aversion and limited interest in efficient cultivation, leaving the rural population near subsistence. This disparity in living conditions fueled social conflict and peasant protests, often exacerbated by poor harvests and food shortages. As farmers organized, they demanded land reform to access and cultivate underutilized land held by absentee owners.

In regions like Galicia, smallholdings, while producing high-quality crops, struggled with limited land, hindering profitability... Continue reading "Spanish Countryside in the 20th Century: Inequality and Reform" »

Urban Infrastructure

• Infrastructure: Urban infrastructure includes water and energy utilities, and city parkland for managing large quantities of water. Major problems related to water supply are scarcity and quality. Urban cores consume energy at various rates.
• Transportation: In large cities, passenger and cargo transportation causes significant problems, including pollution. Urban centers experience a high density of vehicular traffic, especially during peak hours, known as "rush hour". To resolve such problems, bypasses are built around cities, and public transportation is promoted.

Types of Rural Settlements

The dispersed settlement is characteristic of the north of the peninsula. It is customary for houses to be grouped together to form villages,... Continue reading "Urban and Rural Settlements in Spain: Challenges and Solutions" »

What is Absolute Monarchy?

During the 17th century, the bourgeoisie did not accept that all the world's power rested in the hands of the absolute monarchy and aristocracy. King Louis XIV of France was a model of an absolute monarch. In the 17th century, European monarchs concentrated all powers: government, taxation, foreign policy, heading the army, elaborating laws, and acting as supreme court judges.

What is a Parliamentary Monarchy?

During the reign of Isabel II, Spain definitively became a parliamentary monarchy. The constitution of 1837 established national sovereignty, the separation of powers, and the recognition of individual rights of citizens. Democratization took a step forward during the Democratic Sexennium, and the First Republic... Continue reading "Absolute vs. Parliamentary Monarchy & Rise of Industrialization" »

HSBC Main Building Hong Kong: Foster's Icon

Design and Construction

The HSBC Main Building in Hong Kong was designed by renowned architect Norman Foster and built by Wimpey Construction between 1979 and 1985. Its construction occurred shortly before Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China. The bank was originally founded to finance the growing trade between China and the United Kingdom.

It is said that HSBC leadership, potentially anticipating changes associated with Hong Kong's union with the communist regime, commissioned a building designed so it could be dismantled if necessary.

Architectural Features

This iconic structure stands 180 meters tall, featuring 47 floors above ground and 4 basement levels. Key architectural elements... Continue reading "HSBC Main Building Hong Kong: Norman Foster's Architectural Icon" »

Argentina's Diverse Climate

Main Climate Types

Argentina's climate is categorized into four main types: warm, temperate, arid, and cold. The country's varied terrain and elevation contribute to the diversity within each type.

Warm Climates

• Subtropical without Dry Season: This climate covers Misiones, Corrientes, northern Entre Ríos, and eastern Chaco. It is characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall year-round.
• Tropical with Dry Season: This climate encompasses parts of Salta, western Formosa and Chaco, eastern Tucumán, most of Santiago del Estero, and northwestern Santa Fe. It shares similarities with the previous type but experiences a dry period lasting up to six months.
• Tropical Highland: This climate is found in the northwest,

1. Consequences of Independence in Latin America

Eight countries emerged and became independent around 1816. Independence had several significant effects.

Social Consequences

The social consequences were mixed. The big winners were the Creoles, who gained political power. Black slaves also benefited, as slavery was largely abolished.

Political Consequences

The new countries adopted the republic as their form of government, but then turned against each other. Military commanders were imposed on civilians, which led to frequent coups.

Economic Consequences

Economic dependence on Spain was replaced by dependence on England and the U.S.

2. Demographic Revolution and its Impacts

The demographic revolution had consequences in two main areas:

Industrial Development

It... Continue reading "Latin American Independence & Industrial Revolution: Social and Economic Impacts" »

The proposed map shows the different agricultural and agricultural land uses in designated portions of the Iberian Peninsula. The mixed farming with livestock referred to in the first question is for northern regions, i.e., Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country, along with the western part of Leon and Zamora. Also included in this group is a large part of Portugal. The main reasons are:

• Weather: This is the domain area of the Atlantic climate, with abundant and regular rains throughout the year, and smooth annual temperatures without large oscillations. This type of climate is ideal for the development of meadows and forests, and therefore, for cattle.
• Relief: This is a mountainous area of broken relief, with little flat land suitable

Spain's Linguistic Landscape

Spain is a country where diverse languages and cultures coexist. Castilian Spanish is the official language throughout the territory, with autonomous communities often having their own co-official languages.

Castilian Spanish and Its Dialects

Castilian Spanish is the official language across the entire Spanish State. Different dialectal forms of Castilian can be found throughout Spain. The Castilian spoken in the northern Peninsula has distinct peculiarities compared to the southern varieties, evident in both pronunciation and vocabulary. While the northern form of Castilian is relatively homogeneous, southern Castilian has given rise to diverse dialects, including:

• Andalusian
• Extremaduran
• Murcian
• Canarian

Catalan Language

Catalan... Continue reading "Spain's Linguistic Diversity: Languages, Dialects, and Phonetics" »

The Spanish Urban System

Cities constitute a system where the urban network plays a leading role in Spain's territorial organization.

1. Demographic Size of Spanish Cities

The demographic size of cities forms one of the bases of the urban hierarchy. The largest demographic urban areas correspond to seven metropolitan areas, each with over half a million people: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Malaga, and Zaragoza.

Spatial Distribution of Urban Agglomerations

The spatial distribution of urban agglomerations by demographic size is characterized by two key features:

• a) Peninsular Semi-Ring: In the Iberian Peninsula, large cities form a semi-ring along the periphery, surrounding a less urbanized interior space. The center of this space