Social Science: Sociology Concepts

Definition: The study of society, social institutions, and social relationships.
Key Concepts:
- Social Structure: The organized pattern of social relationships and social institutions that together compose society.
- Culture: The shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group.
- Socialization: The process through which individuals learn and internalize the values and norms of their society.
- Groups and Organizations: Examination of social groups (primary and secondary) and formal organizations (like corporations and governments).
Theories:
- Functionalism: Views society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability.
- Conflict Theory: Focuses on the struggles between different social classes and the inequalities within society.
- Symbolic Interactionism: Emphasizes the role of symbols and language in social interactions.

Definition: The study of the Earth's landscapes, environments, and the relationships between people and their environments.
Key Concepts:
- Physical Geography: Examines natural features such as landforms, climate, vegetation, and ecosystems.
- Human Geography: Focuses on human activities, cultures, economies, and urban development.
- Geospatial Techniques: Includes GIS (Geographic Information Systems), remote sensing, and cartography for spatial analysis.
Branches:
- Cultural Geography: Studies cultural practices, traditions, and how they shape spaces.
- Economic Geography: Explores the relationship between economic activities and spatial locations.
- Political Geography: Analyzes the spatial distribution of political processes and the impact of geographical factors on politics.

Definition: The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, to understand how they shape the present and future.
Key Concepts:
- Chronology: The arrangement of events in order of occurrence.
- Historical Sources: Primary sources (original documents, artifacts) and secondary sources (interpretations, analyses).
- Historiography: The study of how history is written and the methodology used by historians.
Periods:
- Ancient History: Focuses on early civilizations (e.g., Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome).
- Medieval History: Covers the Middle Ages, including feudalism, the spread of religions, and the rise of empires.
- Modern History: Examines events from the Renaissance to contemporary times, including revolutions, world wars, and globalization.

Definition: Study of society, including social institutions and relationships among individuals.
Key Concepts:
- Social Structure: The framework of social relationships and institutions that compose society, shaping interactions and societal norms.
- Culture: Encompasses the collective beliefs, values, and practices that define groups and influence behavior.
- Socialization: Ongoing process through which individuals absorb and internalize societal values and norms, crucial for cultural continuity.
- Groups and Organizations: Analysis of social groups, distinguishing between primary (close relationships) and secondary (larger, more formal) groups, as well as formal organizations like corporations and governments.
Theories:
- Functionalism: Conceptualizes society as a complex system with interdependent parts working together to promote stability and order.
- Conflict Theory: Examines social tensions arising from inequalities and struggles among different social classes.
- Symbolic Interactionism: Highlights how symbols and language shape social interactions and meaning-making processes.

Definition: Study of Earth's landscapes, environments, and interactions between humans and their surroundings.
Key Concepts:
- Physical Geography: Focuses on natural features like landforms, climate conditions, vegetation distributions, and ecological systems.
- Human Geography: Investigates human activities, cultural dynamics, economic behaviors, and urban development patterns.
- Geospatial Techniques: Tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and cartography utilized for spatial data analysis and visualization.
Branches:
- Cultural Geography: Explores the relationship between cultural practices and spatial arrangements, examining how traditions influence geographic spaces.
- Economic Geography: Studies the spatial aspects of economic activities and their interrelations with geographical factors.
- Political Geography: Analyzes the influence of geography on political processes, including the distribution and organization of power.

Definition: Discipline focused on examining past events to understand their impact on current and future societal dynamics.
Key Concepts:
- Chronology: Systematic arrangement of historical events in sequential order to clarify timelines and relationships.
- Historical Sources: Differentiates between primary sources (original artifacts) and secondary sources (interpretations and analyses).
- Historiography: Investigates the methodologies historians use to write history and how interpretations change over time.
Periods:
- Ancient History: Encompasses major early civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, exploring their cultural and political developments.
- Medieval History: Covers the Middle Ages, highlighting feudal systems, the spread of religions, and significant empires’ emergence.
- Modern History: Analyzes transformative events from the Renaissance through contemporary times, including revolutions, world wars, and globalization trends.