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

Urban Settlement in Spain

In Spain, a municipality with more than 10,000 inhabitants is considered an urban settlement. A semi-urban municipality has between 2,000 and 10,000 inhabitants and less than 25% of its population working in the primary sector. The diversity of cities depends on their past and recent economic and demographic factors.

Cities do not appear randomly. They were founded from a prior settlement in locations that meet one or more conditions facilitating the concentration of population and economic activities at that point.

The site might be a place with natural communication channels, such as rivers or major crossroads.

Coastal cities developed in places where conditions were suitable to build a port. Places of strategic and... Continue reading "Spanish Urbanization: History and City Formation" »

Globalization: Internal unit (countries economically dependent on others).

Ecological Footprint: Measuring human demand on spending and use rights.

Natural Resources: Resources we get from the physical environment.

Renewable Natural Resources

Resources that regenerate at the same rate as consumption, such as wind and sun. Critical resources include land, forests, fisheries, and water. Non-critical resources include wind, sun, and waves.

Non-Renewable Natural Resources

Resources where consumption is greater than regeneration, such as fuels (coal, oil, gas), recoverable minerals (metallic minerals, gravel), and recycled materials (metal minerals like aluminum and iron).

Biodiversity: The set of animal and plant species distributed across the surface.... Continue reading "Understanding Globalization, Resources, and Economic Development" »

The Industrialization Process in Spain: Until the Mid-20th Century

The industrialization process in Spain began with a significant delay compared to other European countries. This delay became a drag on industrial activity in Spain throughout the 20th century. By the mid-19th century, industrial areas were limited to the Catalan textile industry and the Basque iron and steel industry. The importance of foreign capital for the exploitation of mineral resources and the development of transport infrastructure was notable.

The First World War forced European countries to seek supplies in Spain. This allowed Spanish products to reach European markets as their own production was paralyzed. However, profits were not reinvested, and business structures... Continue reading "Spain's Industrial Evolution: From Delay to Modernization" »

Economic Globalization: Models and Impacts

Model A: Key Aspects of Economic Globalization

Items 1 to 8 model economic globalization's most famous aspects. Globalization responds to the term 'performance of large multinationals in all regions of the world', meaning the process of relocation of labor to cheaper areas. Small national companies must adapt strategies to survive as competition grows increasingly. There are other processes of culture, consumption, population, habits, information, and environmental problems.

2. The reference is the continuous exchange of goods, money, people, and information on a global scale. Within these international trade flows, which imply the exchange of products between different countries, and investment capital,... Continue reading "Economic Globalization: Models, Impacts, and Key Factors" »

Spain's Territorial Organization

Spain is organized by provinces and autonomous communities. Since 1978, the country has adopted autonomous forms of self-government, moving from a historically centralized model to a decentralized one.

Evolution of Spain's Territorial Model

Historically, Spain operated with a single centralized center of activity from the 17th century until 1978. Since 1978, it has transitioned to multiple decentralized centers of political decision, establishing state autonomy.

The Spanish Constitution of 1978, specifically Article 138, emphasizes the need for economic balance between the Spanish territories.

State and Autonomous Community Competencies

The State (central government in Madrid) retains exclusive competencies in crucial... Continue reading "Spain's Territorial Organization and Balearic Islands Governance" »

Climate Types in Spain

• Coastal Mediterranean Climate

  Extends along the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. Average annual rainfall is between 400 and 700 mm, higher in the north than in the south. Rainfall is highly irregular, with a maximum in autumn (due to the 'cold drop' phenomenon) and a minimum in summer. This situation is caused by the low humidity of arriving air masses. Temperatures are mild in winter (8-12°C) and high in summer (23-26°C), with a thermal amplitude between 12 and 18°C.

• Inland Mediterranean Climate

  Located in the interior of the peninsula, characterized by strong continentality due to the relief and distance from the sea. Rainfall peaks in spring, with minimums in summer and winter (between 350 and 600 mm per

Global Economic Systems and Social Change

Globalization: Integration and Neocolonialism

Integrating all economies into a capitalist system causes neocolonialism, facilitating communication and trade contacts between different countries.

The Role of Multinationals

Multinational corporations have subsidiaries and headquarters. They often move operations to benefit from favorable legislation (e.g., tax havens, lower labor costs), allowing them to gain economic benefits and increase their global economic power.

Technical and Market Globalization

Technical innovations have been a decisive factor, including advancements in transport (highways, automobiles) and rapid electronic communication (fax, mobile, email, microtechnology).

Market globalization means... Continue reading "Global Economic Shifts: Globalization, Sustainability, and Population Trends" »

Political and Institutional Context in Britain

Several factors favored the start of the Industrial Revolution, particularly the political and institutional context in the United Kingdom. Britain had a parliamentary monarchy where the Parliament was dominated by an economically active middle class that legislated in favor of business. Key advantages included:

• It was the world's leading maritime and commercial power.
• It controlled trade with its North American colonies and engaged in commercial activity in Spanish and Portuguese colonies, opening up new markets.
• In the 17th century, free trade was favored, moving away from commercial and industrial monopolies.
• The liberalization of agriculture provided a huge boost to the industry by allowing the

Economic Rights and Global Emigration

The great migrations, although present throughout history, have acquired an extraordinary magnitude in recent years.

Causes of Migration

The causes that compel an individual or a significant group to migrate are varied, but perhaps the most determinant have always been economic.

• Economic Factors: Humans seek places where they can achieve a better life for themselves or their descendants.
• Political, Religious, and Ideological Factors: In many states, thousands of people are persecuted for their political ideas or religious beliefs, leading them to seek exile in other free countries.
• Climatic Factors: Climatic changes throughout history have led to significant migration from very cold or very hot places to areas

Spanish Conquest and Colonization of America

In the early sixteenth century, voyages to the New World intensified. Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the globe. Subsequent expeditions led to significant conquests, notably that of Hernán Cortés in Mexico.

A pivotal conquest of this period was that of Peru, where the vast Inca Empire dominated a large territory. Here, Francisco Pizarro, taking advantage of internal disputes within the Inca leadership, successfully captured the Inca ruler and subjugated their capital, Cuzco. This conquest formed the basis of the Viceroyalty of Peru, which later incorporated lands in Chile, explored by Diego de Almagro and Pedro de Valdivia.

The Spanish conquest... Continue reading "Spanish Colonial Era: Conquest, Exploitation, and Global Impact" »