CHAPTER 3Human Geography/ Political and Economic Systems

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)

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

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)

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 1000 people

• Death Rate – Number of deaths per year per 1000 people

• Birth rates occur at different rates in different areas.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

Government Authority• Authoritarian

• 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

Types of Economies• Traditional

• 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.

CHAPTER 4Resources and Land Use/ World Economic Activity

4.1 World Resources

• Natural 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

Non- renewable resources

• 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.

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.

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.