1. Political Geography
AP Human Geography

2. What is political geography?
The study of how people have organized the Earth’s land surface into countries.
Key Questions
What are the reasons for the arrangement/ organization of different countries?
Why do conflicts arise from arrangements/ organization of different countries?

3. Political vs. Physical Geography

4. State vs. Nation vs. Country
These three terms can mean the same things…or not.

5. State/ Country An area organized into a political unit
Ruled by an established government
Has control over its internal and foreign affairs.
Has a defined territory
Has sovereignty= independence from others
Formal/ uniform region
Examples: Mexico, China, U.S.A., but not Texas, Illinois, Florida, etc.

6. Nation Nation can be another way of saying state
“What nation are you from?”
“I am from South Korea.”
However, nation can also refer to a tightly-knit group of people which share a common culture, but do not necessarily occupy an area of land
Examples: Palestinian people, Nation of Islam, Cherokee Nation

7. Nation-State
A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnic group.
Iraq is not a nation state, but could be if divided into 3.
Examples: Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Israel

8. The United Kingdom
As a whole, the UK is viewed as a multi-national state.
However, it is made up of 4 nation-states.

9. State Sizes Big States Micro States Russia Canada U.S. China Brazil
Australia
Monaco
Vatican City
Andorra
Bahrain
Lichtenstein
Most are small islands in the Caribbean, Pacific, and off the coast of larger countries.

10. Microstates of Europe

11. Ancient City States
Today, city-states are not widespread, although the Vatican is an example.
Historically, city-states included a city and it’s surrounding countryside.
Each city is sovereign/ no unity.
Example: Ancient Mesopotamia (Ur) or Medieval Italy

12. Colonies
Territory legally tied to a sovereign state and is not completely independent.
e.g. 13 American colonies under the British
Motives include God (spread Christianity), Gold ($$$), and Glory (power/ prestige)
The British had colonies world wide, including India, Australia, much of Africa, Eastern N.A., Middle East
Most gained independence after-WWII.
Puerto Rico is still a colony of the U.S.