AP Human Geography Chapter 12 Key Terms

Global Cities

• Global cities, also known as world cities, are crucial hubs for global business services, concentrating in sectors like law, banking, insurance, and advertising.
• They serve as epicenters for the flow of information and capital, shaping economic activities on a global scale.
• Wealth concentration leads to the prevalence of luxury products and high-end services, including corporate headquarters and major banks.

Washington DC as a Global City

• Washington DC qualifies as a global city, hosting numerous corporate and government headquarters.
• Global cities are ranked as alpha, beta, or gamma, based on a combination of economic, political, cultural, and infrastructural factors.

LDC's Role in Business Services

• Developing countries specialize in offshore financial services and back-office operations.
• Offshore financial services offer low or non-existent taxes and bank secrecy, attracting businesses that aim to minimize disclosure risks.
• Back-office functions, essential for insurance, payroll, and clerical tasks, are primarily established in LDCs due to low wages and English proficiency.

Basic vs Nonbasic Industries

• Basic industries export outside the local community, forming the backbone of a settlement's economy.
• Nonbasic industries serve local customers, enhancing life quality for residents.
• Growth in basic industries attracts workers, leading to a demand for consumer services and family amenities.

Service Specialization in Cities

• U.S. settlements classify based on basic activities, influencing spatial distributions of services, such as military support, medical, entertainment, and consulting services.

Cultural Diversity and Talent Attraction

• Cities with robust economic opportunities attract a higher proportion of talented individuals, enhancing their cultural and professional diversity.

Rural Settlements: Dispersed vs. Clustered

• Clustered rural settlements feature families living close together, surrounded by agricultural fields.
• Dispersed rural settlements are characterized by isolated farms typical of North America.

Types of Clustered Rural Settlements

• Circular rural settlements consist of a central open space surrounded by structures.
• Linear rural settlements feature buildings along roads or rivers, allowing efficient communication.

Enclosure Movement

• Occurred in Great Britain (1750-1850), consolidating individually owned lands into larger farms, impacting rural landscapes and agricultural practices.

Origin of Services

• Early consumer services emerged in permanent settlements that provided burial sites, leading to the establishment of religious practices and public services.
• Settlements began as centers for food production and gradually evolved into trading hubs.

Urban Population Growth

• Urbanization refers to the increase in urban population, rising from 3% in 1800 to 50% today.
• In 2008, urban populations surpassed rural for the first time in history; developed nations average 75% urban, while developing countries hover around 40%.

City-States

• City-states are self-governing communities including urban settlements and surrounding countryside, historically acting as trading hubs with local governance and military protection.

Population Migration Trends

• Over two centuries, rural migration to urban areas increased due to industrialization, diminishing agricultural jobs, and expanding employment opportunities in city-based factories and services.
• Currently, 8 of the 10 most populous cities are located in developing countries, highlighting ongoing urbanization trends.

Louis Wirth's Characteristics of Cities

• Cities are defined by three key characteristics: large size, high population density, and social heterogeneity.