Integrating Geography and Economic Fundamentals

Theme 1: Continents, Relief, and Geography

Continents are large tracts of land separating the oceans.

Types of Relief

Relief features distinguish the Earth's surface:

• Mountains: Categorized into solid (old) mountains and young mountains.
• Plains: Examples include the Great European Plain and the Ebro Depression.

The Iberian Peninsula Terrain

The Iberian Peninsula is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. Its terrain is characterized by a high average altitude. The main contours of the peninsula include:

• The Castilian Plateau
• Central System
• Montes de León
• Galician Massif
• Depression of the Guadalquivir

Topic 2: Landscapes of Warm Climates

Warm climates are found in lands located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. They fundamentally produce three types of landscapes:

1. Forest (Tropical Rainforest)
2. Savanna
3. Desert

Key Climatic Factors

Climatic factors influencing these landscapes include:

• Latitude
• Proximity to the sea (Maritime influence)
• Altitude

Topic 3: Fundamentals of Economic Activity

Defining Economic Activity

Economic activity is the set of actions performed by humans to produce goods and provide services.

Key Economic Concepts

• Goods Production: The process of combining natural resources, technology, and labor to obtain goods. Goods are categorized into two types:
  • Consumer Goods
  • Capital Goods
• Marketing: The distribution and sale of goods and services. It involves two stages:
  • Wholesale: Conducted by wholesalers.
  • Retail: Performed by retailers (direct sales to consumers).
• Consumption: The purchase of goods and services that allows individuals to meet their needs.

Factors of Production and Agents

• Natural Resources and Raw Materials: Resources found in nature used by humans (e.g., vegetation, animals, oil).
• Labor (The Job): All human activity used to produce goods and services.
• Capital: Essential for producing goods and services. Capital includes not only money but also buildings, machinery, and infrastructure.
• Economic Agents: Individuals or groups decisively involved in the foundation of the economy.
• Labor Force: Comprises all employed persons engaged in the production of goods and services.

Topic 4: The Primary Economic Sector

The Primary Sector includes activities related to the direct extraction and utilization of natural resources, specifically agriculture, fisheries, and livestock farming.

Agriculture (Farming)

Agriculture holds a very important place globally, as the food supply depends heavily on it. Farming is conditioned by the physical environment:

• Climate
• Topography
• Soil (Ground)

Agricultural Land Division

Plots: A division of agricultural land; a specific piece of land dedicated to cultivation. Plots can be distinguished as:

• Open Fields
• Enclosed Fields

Cropping Systems

The main cropping systems are:

• Monoculture (growing a single crop)
• Polyculture (growing multiple crops)

Fishing

Fishing methods are generally categorized as:

• Traditional Fishing
• Industrial Fishing