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

Major Livestock Regions of Spain

Spain has four major livestock regions:

• Galicia, Cantabria, and the Basque Country: Specializing in bovine livestock for milk and meat production.
• Catalonia, Aragon, Navarra, and Northern Valencia: Focus on porcine and bovine cattle, along with other farm animals, for meat, milk, and egg production.
• Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura: Predominantly ovine livestock, with the western part specializing in bovine cattle for meat and milk.
• Andalusia: Significant ovine and porcine livestock production.

Integration into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Spain's entry into the European Community significantly impacted its agricultural sector, leading to modernization and access to a larger market. This integration offered... Continue reading "Major Livestock Regions of Spain & Integration into the CAP" »

Fishing, an economic activity with a long-standing tradition, has been losing weight in the overall economy, although it continues to hold great importance in some areas.

1. Spanish Fisheries Sector

The Spanish fishing sector is organized into eight regions. The most important for their fish landings is the Northwest, followed by other Atlantic regions. The species caught are primarily fish, with the rest being molluscs and crustaceans by value. Whitefish and sardines stand out by tonnage, followed by tuna and bonito for the canning industry. The main destination for fishing is fish for human consumption. Landings experienced significant growth until 1976, driven by increasing domestic demand, fishing freedom, and fleet expansion.

2. Crisis and

The 15th Century: European Recovery and Spanish Transformation

Europe's Revival and Economic Shifts

In the fifteenth century, Europe was recovering from a period of crisis, marked by the aftermath of the Black Death and the recovery of agricultural lands. This recovery promoted significant economic and population growth, driven by increased demand, the retrieval of sea lanes, increased handicraft production, and the expansion of cities. The burgeoning bourgeoisie were able to increase their investments in productive activities, thereby creating commercial capitalism. Concurrently, authoritarian monarchies began to emerge across the continent.

The Catholic Monarchs and the Unification of Spain

A Dynastic Union: Castile and Aragon

The kingdoms of... Continue reading "Spain's Transformation: 15th Century Renaissance and Catholic Monarchs" »

Understanding Industrial Development

The location of industries became dependent on factors such as new energy sources, efficient and low-cost transportation, and proximity to consumption centers like cities.

Mature industries that emerged during the industrialization process faced crises in the 1970s due to outdated production methods, obsolete products, and competition from countries with lower production costs.

Landscapes of Industrial Development

• Based on the use of new information technologies for instant data transmission and robotics for automated work.
• Work often takes place in smaller factories, as new technologies allow for splitting the manufacturing process into phases performed in separate facilities.
• Production results in small series

The Fisheries Policy: Regulation and Conversion

Environmental problems arise from overfishing and water pollution caused by agricultural, urban, industrial, and accidental or intentional oil discharges. To address fishing challenges, Spain has implemented a policy of sectoral regulation and conversion, aligning with EU accession and the Common Fisheries Policy. This has resulted in:

• Spain's integration into the EU internal market, subject to common pricing for fish products.
• Trade liberalization with European partners through the elimination of duties over transitional periods.
• Adoption of EU measures for conversion and environmental protection.

EU Fishing Regulations

Access to Fishing Grounds

The European Union regulates access to Spanish fishing... Continue reading "Spain's Fisheries Policy: Adapting to EU Membership" »

Where Do We Live?

The population is distributed unevenly over the Earth. It is concentrated in sites that have favorable physical characteristics: Areas with abundant water, temperate climates, valleys, plains, and mineral and energy resources. Factors related to tradition, economy, and politics also play a role: the antiquity of populated areas, economic activity, and government.

Large Population Concentrations

Over 90% of the world's inhabitants live in the Northern Hemisphere, where there are three major population centers:

• East and South Asia: Home to more than half of the world's population, including the two most populous countries on Earth: China and India.
• Europe: Contains more than 10% of the world's population. Two of the most densely

Urban Hierarchy in Spain

The urban hierarchy is based on two pillars: people and economic activities. This hierarchy can be categorized as follows:

• National Metropolises: Cities with international projection.
• Regional Metropolises: These also have international projection in some cases, such as Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga, and Bilbao.
• Second-Order Regional Metropolises: Cities with populations between 200,000 and 500,000 inhabitants, including Murcia, Alicante, Palma, Granada, Valladolid, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Santander, Oviedo, Cordoba, A Coruña, Jerez de la Frontera, and the Bay of Cadiz.
• Medium-Sized Towns: Mostly provincial capitals, with populations between 100,000 and 200,000 inhabitants (e.g., Salamanca, Girona, Castellón, Cadiz)

Agricultural Landscapes of Spain

The Wet Agricultural Landscape of Spain

This landscape encompasses the north and northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. It is characterized by an uneven terrain with limited flat areas and a consistently wet oceanic climate.

Agrarian Structure

The agrarian structure is defined by:

• A traditionally sparse population settled in villages and parishes.
• Smallholder property system.
• Predominantly agricultural land use.

Agriculture

Polyculture is declining, with a shift towards specialized orchard crops, fodder for livestock, and pastures, particularly corn fodder, aligning with the growth of semi-intensive livestock farming.

Livestock

Livestock farming is a significant economic activity, favored by the prevailing weather conditions.... Continue reading "Understanding Spanish Agriculture: Key Regions and Practices" »

The Spanish Inquisition

The Crown of Castile and Leon and the Catalan-Aragonese Confederation witnessed the disintegration of the feudal system of serfdom and the emergence of the modern state during the 14th and 15th centuries.

Spain suffered major social and political turbulence, including plagues and peasant revolts. The monarchy strengthened, especially in Castile, laying the foundation for an authoritarian monarchy under the Reyes Católicos (Catholic Monarchs). In the early fifteenth century, the Iberian Peninsula consisted of five kingdoms: the Kingdom of Castile and Leon, Aragon, Navarre, Portugal, and the Islamic Kingdom of Granada.

Religious Unity and the Inquisition

The Catholic Monarchs sought to impose religious unity from the outset,... Continue reading "The Spanish Inquisition: Power, Politics, and Purity" »

Agricultural Land Classification

Agricultural land (parcelas) is classified based on:

• Size
  • Small: Less than 1 hectare
  • Medium: 1 to 10 hectares
  • Large: More than 10 hectares
• Shape
  • Regular: Geometric shape
  • Irregular: Not a defined geometric shape
• Boundaries
  • Enclosed fields: Separated by hedges, fences, or stone walls
  • Open fields: No physical boundaries

Corrective Measures

Agriculture and Livestock

• Use of manure and fallow techniques
• Use of organic products for pest control
• Use of natural seeds and seasonal planting
• Rational use of water resources

Forestry

• Conservation of natural areas with high ecological value
• Reforestation with native species
• Fire protection

Fisheries

• Regulation of fishing gear and techniques (e.g., trawling ban)
• Minimum size control for species
• Reduced