1. Human Geography/ Political and Economic Systems
Chapter 3
Human Geography/ Political and Economic Systems

2. What is human geography
Part of studying geography is also studying culture.
This is the belief and actions that define a group of people’s way of life.
There are over 6,000,000,000 (Billion) people on the Earth
Some places have more people living there than others. This is called population density.
The number of people living in one square mile (kilometer)

3. How have humans adapted to their environment?
Our clothing depends on the climate
People in Minnesota and Wisconsin wear different clothes than you do.
Skin color has to do with the environment where our ancestors come from.
Change the landscape
Dam up rivers
Clear forests for farming/ housing
Livestock feed on wild grasses.
Plowing soil

4. What are some possible effects of population growth?
As human population gets bigger, there are many effects it can have on the environment
Why?
The industrial revolution played a big part in the amount of food we grow and how long we live. Also, more children grow to be adults compared to many who died young before then. Therefore, more people exist than ever before.
Results?
Increase in famine (less food)
Disease (more contact between people)
Resource depletion (we use them up for energy and entertainment)

5. Population
The growth rate of population is calculated by taking the birth rate and subtracting the death rate
Birth Rate – Number of births per year per people
Death Rate – Number of deaths per year per people
Birth rates occur at different rates in different areas.

6. Population
Population is also affected by the number of Immigrants and Emigrant
Immigrants – People coming into a country
Emigrants – People leaving a country
When the combined birth rate and immigration rate equals the death rate and emigration rate, the country is said to have “zero population growth”
This usually occurs is more industrialized countries
However, birth rates are still high and death rates are declining due to improved health.
America is considered a country of immigrants since most of the population arrived there, at some point, from another country.

7. Patterns of settlement
Population is not even everywhere. More people live in cities than on farms.
The growth of city populations is called Urbanization
The populations in farming areas are considered rural.

8. Culture
Every location has its own traditions, skills, language, food, art and more.
Over time, these change very slowly
The place where these ideas start is called the culture hearth.
Over time, these ideas spread and change.
The Olmecs of the Gulf coast, the Mayas of the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Toltecs of the central Plateau, formed culture hearths in Mexico and Central America between 1400 B.C. and A.D. 1200

9. Cultural Change
When skills, art, ideas, habits and institutions come in contact with another culture, it is called cultural convergence.
Can you think of cultural convergences from Mexico to the United States?
How about from the United States to other countries?
As people move, they bring parts of their culture with them. This is called diffusion.
Many immigrants brought their food and music with them to the United States, and the Native Americans grew potatoes, corn and beans which the Europeans brought back with them and it quickly became a major source of food for people and animals.
Restricting culture from moving from one place or person to another is called cultural divergence.
One reason Communism was so successful at first was because leaders were able to prevent the ideals about rights and freedoms from entering their countries.
Is there anything now that might be subject to cultural divergence?

10. 3.2 What makes a country? Four factors that define a country.
Clearly defined territory
Population
Sovereignty
A government
What is Sovereignty?
Being able to make your own laws and have your own leaders.
The Vatican
Native American Nations
Etc.

11. Types of government
There are many different types of government that are used to keep order, protect the citizens and provide services.
Unitary system
Central government makes the laws for the entire country. Local government only has the power that the central government gives to them.
Japan and Great Britain are examples
Federation
Some powers are given to the central government and other powers are given to the local governments
United States constitution outlines what powers the Federal Government has and what powers the states have.
Confederation
Small political groups keep the sovereignty and give some power to the central government
During the 1860’s, the Southern States of the United States separated and formed a Confederacy
The Confederate States of America.
Canada has many different Native tribes that work together.

12. Government Authority Authoritarian Democracy
Leaders hold most or all of the political power. The people listen and obey everything the leader says. (North Korea)
Dictatorship
Most common form of Authoritarian
All power is given to a small group or just one person (Stalin in Russia)
Totalitarianism
Extreme dictatorship ( form of Authoritarian)
Control all aspects of society – politics, economy, people’s personal lives (Nazis)
Monarchy
King or queen, pharaohs, shahs, sultans.
Born into power (Great Britain, Many European countries before 1900’s)
Democracy
People choose their leaders and set government policy (United States)
Constitutional Monarchies can be democracies such as the United Kingdom

13. Types of Economies Traditional Market Command
Only enough is produced to provide for the people. There is not enough left over (surplus) to trade or sell
Market
Individuals and groups have freedom to buy and sell what they want
Capitalism
Driving force is to make more money and benefits more people.
Command
Nearly all economic decisions are made by a central authority
Decide how much to produce and what the price should be.

14. Resources and Land Use/ World Economic Activity
Chapter 4
Resources and Land Use/ World Economic Activity

15. 4.1 World Resources Natural Resources Renewable Resources
Materials in the natural environment that people value and use to satisfy their needs.
Renewable Resources
Resources that don’t run out or can be easily replaced
Soil created by weathering rocks and decomposing plant material
Water cycle replaces water in the environment
Sun keeps the earth warm and can be used for solar power
Wind can be harnessed and turned into electricity

16. Non- renewable resources
Cannot be replaced once they have been used.
Minerals that took millions of years to be created in the earth’s crust, and would take millions of years to replace.
Most used non- renewable resource is fossil fuels
Oil, coal, and natural gas
Made from the remains of ancient plants and animals.

17. Where do we get energy from?
We currently use these methods to produce electricity and create heat for our homes.
Nuclear Energy
Water power
Geothermal Energy
Solar Energy
Renewable energy is becoming more popular as non-renewable resources are starting to disappear and become more expensive.

18. World Economic Activity
Different countries produce different things in large quantities.
They import the things that they needs
They export they things they have a surplus of
This means that different countries have to trade in order to get the things they need and can sell the extra stuff they produce. This benefits everybody and makes things cheaper.