AP Human Geography Unit 1 Review

Key Terms and Definitions

• Latitude: Indicates the location of parallels on a globe; measures distance north and south of the equator.
• Longitude: Indicates the location of meridians on a globe; measures distance east and west of the prime meridian (0°).
• GPS (Global Positioning System): Determines precise positions on Earth using satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.
• GIS (Geographic Information System): A computer system that manages, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

Concepts in Geography

• Cultural Ecology: Focuses on the relationships between humans and their environment.
• Cultural Landscape: The transformation of natural landscapes by cultural groups, reflecting human activities and societal values.
• Hearth: The origin region of innovative ideas.
• Toponym: A name assigned to a specific portion of Earth's surface.

Mapping and Spatial Analysis

• Map: A two-dimensional representation of Earth’s surface.
• Projection: The method for translating locations from Earth's surface to flat maps.
• Parallel: A circle drawn parallel to the equator, at right angles to meridians.
• Meridian: An arc on a map connecting the North and South poles.

Geographic Relationships

• Place: A specific point on Earth marked by particular characteristics.
• Region: An area defined by a unique combination of features or trends.
• Spatial Association: The relationship between the distribution of one phenomenon and another's distribution.
• Space-Time Compression: The reduction in time it takes to spread ideas or products to distant locations due to improved communication.

Cultural and Physical Geography

• Cultural Geography: Examines how cultural practices shape landscapes.
• Environmental Geography: Studies the interactions of human and physical geography.
• Physical Site Characteristics: Factors like climate, topography, and vegetation that define a location.

Historical Contributions to Geography

• Eratosthenes: Calculated Earth's circumference in the 3rd century BC using shadows at different locations.
• Ptolemy: Created early maps, inaccurately calculated Earth's circumference; his concepts influenced geographic thought for centuries.
• Idrisi: 11th-century Arab geographer who compiled significant geographic data into maps.
• George Perkins Marsh: Emphasized human impacts on the environment in "Man and Nature".
• Carl Sauer: Advocated for the importance of cultural landscapes in geographical studies.

Distortion in Projections

• Types of Distortion: Can involve areas' shapes, distances, sizes, and direction on maps.
• Mercator Projection: Preserves direction but distorts sizes, especially near poles.
• Robinson Projection: Attempts to reduce distortion across all areas, making it suitable for general purposes.
• Peters Projection: Maintains area proportions but distorts shapes, resulting in an atypical presentation of landmasses.

Spatial Organization and Patterns

• Spatial Perspective: Investigates where specific phenomena occur and their relationships across different locations.
• Grid/Rectilinear Pattern: A rectangle-based land survey system forming a grid layout for streets.
• Transition Zones: Areas where characteristics of one region gradually shift to another.

Global and Local Scale

• Scale: Represents the relationship between a studied area and the entirety of Earth, both in size and perspective.
• Multi-national Corporations: Businesses operating in multiple countries, illustrating globalization's impact.

Identifying Place

• Ways to Identify Place: Criteria include place name, site, situation, and absolute location.
• Site: The physical attributes of a location; essential for understanding environmental influences.
• Situation: The relative location of a place concerning others, highlighting interconnectivity.

Additional Concepts

• Resources: Substances that are useful and accessible, shaping economic activities.
• Infrastructure: The essential physical and organizational structures needed for operation within a country or region.
• 5 Themes of Geography: Fundamental concepts include Location, Movement, Place, Human-Environment Interaction, and Region.

Test your knowledge with this flashcard quiz on key concepts from AP Human Geography Unit 1. Covering essential terms like latitude, longitude, and cultural ecology, this quiz will enhance your understanding of geography's foundational elements.