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

Cosiata: Separatist Movement of 1826

Cosiata was a separatist movement that occurred in Venezuela in 1826.

Key Concepts of 19th-Century Venezuelan Politics

• Agriculture: The economy relied heavily on agriculture and livestock.
• Centralism: A system where several functions depend on a central authority.
• Censitary: A system to elect those who govern the public destiny.
• Federalism: A political doctrine that fosters the national union of several states.
• Oligarchy: A small, united group of powerful businessmen who control a sector.

Congress of Valencia (1830)

Summons: January 13, 1830
Installation: May 6 to October 14, 1830
Leader: General José Antonio Páez, civil and military chief of Venezuela

Accomplishments

1. Approval of regulations for the executive power.

The Agrarian Crisis

Spanish agriculture at the beginning of the 20th century faced an agrarian crisis. The crisis affected cereals, olives, vines, and sheep farming. The crisis in cereal farming was of greater magnitude. The cause was the arrival in Europe of more competitive products from countries with extensive agriculture, resulting in lower prices. The decline in prices was more pronounced in the Spanish periphery. The reduction of income led to a fall in profits. These difficulties led to protests coordinated by the Agrarian League. The diminution of benefits led to declining wages, causing a period of peasant agitation.

This crisis was accompanied by a crisis in viticulture, which began with the decline in vine production in France due... Continue reading "Spanish Agrarian Crisis and Social Conflict (1900-1931)" »

Atlantic Coast Rivers of the Iberian Peninsula

The Atlantic Coast river system consists of rivers that empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The water volume and surface area are greater than that of the Mediterranean rivers due to climate, westward tilt during the lithologic oro-alpina period, and more permeable materials. It comprises two sectors:

• Southern Sector: Located in the depression of the short rivers and Guadalquivir. These include rivers with a pluvial regime such as Guadalete and Tinto.
• Galician Rivers: These rivers form estuaries and are fast-flowing due to high humidity and short, impermeable river rocks. They originate at low altitudes, resulting in a pluvial regime. Examples include Miño, Tambre, and Ulla.

Miño River

The Miño's main... Continue reading "Rivers of the Iberian Peninsula: Atlantic Coast Drainage Basins" »

Incas: Callasuyo in Chile

• Centralized in Cuzco
• Part of a new humanity, descendants of the sun
• The Incas preferred peaceful methods

Government

• Established indirect rule
• Built the Inca Trail, which had agricultural centers, dairy settlements, and pucaras
• Quechua was imposed as a free language

Administration

• Complex system: QUIPU
• Political religion: consulting oracles, sacrifices, public confessions
• Gold = sun symbol
• Mitimaes: Inca settlers tamed customs and traditions of conquered peoples
• Cultivated in terraces, ridges (Waru Waru)
• MITA: System to favor the empire. Labor by shifts. Adult men between 18 and 50 were forced to work
• MINKA: Common labor, free

End of Empire

1543 - Zhuascar and Atahualpa

Aztecs: Texcoco

The highly segmented Aztec society had classes and... Continue reading "Incas, Aztecs, Mayans, and Spanish Conquest in America" »

Indigenous Peoples of Chile

Monkey

Located in the Loa-Choapa area. Nomadic hunter-gatherers living in bands. Known for their conchales culture and leather wolf balsas.

Aimaras

Inhabiting Region XV. Sedentary farmers who raised llamas (called Vishuna). Influenced by the Inca and their Quechua language. Organized into Aylws (land + family).

Atacameños

Located in the Salar region. Sedentary farmers with modern technology. Spoke the Cunza language (people + developed). Influenced by Inca mummification practices.

Diagitas/Moyes

Inhabiting the transverse valleys III and IV. Sedentary farmers and ranchers. Spoke the Kakan language. Known for their ceramic jugs, mugs, and duck-shaped shoes.

Picunches

Located in the South Central Zone and south of the Choapa-... Continue reading "Indigenous Peoples of Chile: A Cultural Journey" »

Spanish Agricultural Landscapes

Wet Agricultural Landscape of Spain

Includes the north and northwest peninsular. The physical environment has a hilly area, with oceanic climate and abundant rainfall throughout the year.

Land Structure

• Large population, but insufficient income leads to emigration.
• Dispersed settlement pattern.
• Minifundist property system with small farms, often fenced.

Land Uses

• Cattle farming is the primary activity.
• Extensive agriculture occupies a small area.
• Coastal areas have agriculture in valleys, but it is limited due to narrowness.
• Agriculture is limited by erratic rainfall, specializing in orchards and forage plants.

Livestock

Breeding is the most important economic activity, favored by climate, demand for milk and meat, and rural... Continue reading "Spanish Agricultural Landscapes: A Regional Analysis" »

• Abbots Way P. H. Southway, Southway Drive
• Albert Gate Stoke West/Keyham, Albert Road
• Aldi (Central) Stonehouse, Union Street
• Alexandra Park Keyham, Royal Navy Avenue
• Annabell's Disco Barbican, Vauxhall Street
• Asda Superstore Estover, Leypark Drive
• Asia Chic Coxside/Barbican, Sutton Road/East Quay House
• Astor Hall Stoke, Devonport Road
• Ba Bas Crownhill, Morshead Road
• Barbican Theatre Barbican, Castle Street
• BBC Studios Mannamead, Seymour Road
• Beaumont Park St Judes, Beaumont Road
• Belgrave Snooker Club Mutley, Belgrave Road
• Blue Bird P. H. Compton, Eggbuckland Road
• Blue Peter P. H. Plymstock, Pomphlett Road
• Bombay Brasserie Coxside, Lockyers Quay
• Boringdon Primary School Plympton, Courtland Crescent
• Brass Monkey P. H. Central, Royal Parade
• Brickfields Devonport,

Settlement Types

Dispersed settlement buildings:

• Sometimes isolated building construction (house)
• Small unit of less than one village population, which includes houses and other buildings. May have streets and common user items (sources, hermitages) but has no services (village)
• Very small group of houses at times with ancillary buildings (farmhouse)

The Functions of Cities

A city will have many roles, but sometimes one predominates:

• Residential dormitory cities: Mostoles
• Industrial: Detroit, Milan, Bilbao
• Commerce: prevails in some
• Culture/Study: Oxford, Salamanca
• Historic: Toledo
• Religion: Rome, Jerusalem
• Political/Administrative: can be regional (provincial capital) Madrid, New York.

Spanish Hierarchy and Local Network

1. National metropolis: Madrid and Barcelona
2. Regional

The State: Politics and Governance

The state is the highest social and administrative unit governing a territory. Key elements include:

• Borders: Defining its territorial separation from other states.
• Capital: The central administrative city.
• Currency: The official monetary unit.
• Language: The primary means of communication.
• Government and Laws: The system of rules and administration.
• Citizens: The people who reside within its borders.

Characteristics of States Worldwide

States vary greatly. Some are ancient, like Egypt, while others, like Serbia, are recent. Some are vast, like Russia, while others are tiny, like Monaco. Some are superpowers, like the USA, while others are less powerful.

State Functions

The primary functions of a state include:

• Maintaining

Agricultural Growth in Early 20th Century Spain

The active agricultural population continued to grow until the early 20th century for several reasons, including:

• Strongly protectionist agricultural policies
• Agrarian crises that strengthened after the end of the century
• Limited industrial demand
• Low real non-agricultural wages, which led to massive abandonment of the field

With the increase of the working population, Spanish economic backwardness held agricultural workers instead of expelling them. Weakly capitalized, they were condemned to low productivity and very low wages, leading to a miserable existence. This level of evolution is contrary to the rest of Europe.

Government Actions to Stimulate Manufacturing Growth

The government encouraged the... Continue reading "Agricultural Growth & Wages in Early 20th Century Spain" »