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

The Rise of New Energy Sources

Following the steam engine, the first industrial revolution saw oil and electricity emerge as transformative forces. While electricity was initially confined to laboratory experiments, its industrial adoption relied on low-cost production and efficient long-distance transmission, both of which were achieved in the late nineteenth century.

However, the early application of electricity remained limited. Until 1913, steam power held the primary position. Early power plants were small, serving mainly for lighting and traction. While France initially led in power production due to its central Alpine region, it was soon surpassed by the U.S., Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Sweden.

The Emergence of the Oil Industry

The... Continue reading "The Evolution of Industrial Energy and Global Economic Growth" »

Sustainable Development & Resource Management

Environmental problems are closely linked to development patterns. This leads us to examine two distinct forms of development: uncontrolled development and sustainable development.

Uncontrolled Development: Environmental Consequences

This approach, based on developmental and liberal theory, remains the dominant system in many developed countries today. It has been described as predatory, exploitative, and ultimately unsustainable.

Since liberal economists did not consider the environment as a system in their economic analysis, they were unable to establish the maximum dimensions of the economic system and disregarded the limits of its expansion, hence the goal of continuous growth.

Sustainable Development

Understanding the Old Regime

The term Old Regime (or Ancien Régime) designates the period of history before the French Revolution, the liberal revolutions, and industrialization.

Defining the Old Regime

It extends from the late fifteenth century to the late eighteenth century. In Spain during this period, the Austrian and Bourbon dynasties reigned.

Government and Power

The Old Regime was characterized by absolute monarchy as the form of government. However, this was mediated by the strong presence of the Church in public life and the existence of representative institutions at different levels, such as the courts.

The Agrarian Economy

The economy was largely agrarian, engaging more than 80% of the population. The principal landowners were the nobility... Continue reading "The Old Regime Explained" »

Driving Forces Behind Imperialism

Primary Causes of Colonization

1. Demographic Factors

Europe experienced significant population growth, leading to intense demographic pressure. Colonization served as a "safety valve" for this pressure, especially in areas where the population density had tripled.

2. Economic Motivations

• **New Markets:** The necessity of seeking new markets to sell manufactured products that could not be absorbed by European demand. These markets were found in the colonies.
• **Raw Materials:** The crucial need to secure raw materials and energy sources essential for supplying European industry.
• **Investment Opportunities:** The requirement for new investment opportunities. Capital was channeled into colonies to fund infrastructure,

Estate Society: Social Structure

The social organization during this period was known as the Estate society, a closed system comprising three distinct groups, often referred to as the Estates of the Realm:

• The First Estate: Formed by members of the clergy (bishops, priests, monks, friars, etc.).
• The Second Estate: Composed of members of the nobility (dukes, counts, barons, etc.).

Both the First and Second Estates enjoyed traditional privileges: they were exempt from paying taxes and lived on the rents received from their lands.

• The Third Estate: Comprised the bourgeoisie (traders, craftsmen, bankers, etc.) and the peasantry. The bourgeoisie was further divided into two groups based on economic power:
  • The Upper Bourgeoisie: Included rich merchants,

Navarre's Migration History

Emigration was the primary migratory flow throughout the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. This emigration primarily targeted destinations outside America, including France and, to a lesser extent, Guipúzcoa, often linked to the industrialization processes of those territories. Most migrants originated from mountainous regions.

In the 1960s, Navarre became a destination for Spanish internal migration, driven by the country's industrial transformation. Immigrants primarily settled in Pamplona and neighboring municipalities (e.g., Burlada, Berriozar), as well as other cities like Alsasua and Tudela. These immigrants largely came from major regions such as Castilla y León, Extremadura, and Andalusia.... Continue reading "Navarre's Population Dynamics: Migration & Demographic Trends" »

Defining Poverty: UN Standards and Thresholds

The United Nations (UN) utilizes two distinct meanings when calculating poverty:

Absolute Poverty Line

• This threshold is calculated using estimates of the cost of food needed to meet a person's energy requirements, to which the cost of other basic non-food products is added.
• The absolute poverty line is used by the UN for developing countries.
• Depending on the country, the figure is set at amounts like $1 or $2, representing the money required to prevent hunger in underdeveloped countries of Africa and Asia.

Relative Poverty

• Individuals are considered to be in relative poverty if their earnings are less than half the median income for that specific country.
• This threshold is used by the UN for developed

Industrialization in 19th Century Spain

In Spain, there was a predominance of the subsistence economy. Consequently, there was no capital to invest (due to a lack of entrepreneurs), no markets, and very old transport infrastructure. The traditional bourgeoisie typically used their money to buy land rather than to invest in industrial ventures.

The Basque Country: Economic Shift

Industrialization arrived late in the Basque Country due to the collapse of the traditional iron-based economy (as Northern European iron was better and cheaper), the loss of American colonies (which meant the loss of their privileged iron market), and many wars that ruined the basic economy, such as the Civil War.

Industrial Development in Biscay

In the mid-19th century,... Continue reading "Industrial Revolution in Spain and the Basque Country" »

Chinua Achebe: Pioneer of African Literature

Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) was an influential African novelist whose masterpiece, Things Fall Apart, transformed the landscape of African fiction both on his own continent and in Western society. His novel changed most of the West's impressions of Africa and its culture, replacing a simplistic stereotype with a depiction of a complex society still suffering due to Western cultural oppression.

He was born in Ogidi, Nigeria, and educated at church schools and at University College. He was the director of external broadcasting from 1961 to 1966, and then he launched a publishing company with his friend Christopher Okigbo, who died in the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Then, he went to teach in the... Continue reading "Postcolonial Voices: Chinua Achebe and Les Murray" »