AP Human Geography ALL TERMS
Human geography - ANSWERa branch of geography that focuses on the study of patterns and processes
that shape human interaction with the built environment, with particular reference to the causes and
consequences of the spatial distribution of human activity on the Earth's surface
Physical geography - ANSWERthe study of physical features of the earth's surface
Absolute location - ANSWERThe exact position of a place on the earth's surface.
Relative location - ANSWERthe location of something in relation to something else
Spatial perspective - ANSWERthey way geographers look at everything-- in relation to space
Map - ANSWERa 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
Mental map - ANSWERA map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an area
Distribution - ANSWERthe frequency or occurrence of something
Pattern - ANSWERa consistent or characteristic arrangement
Formal region - ANSWERa region marked by uniformity
,Functional (nodal) region - ANSWERa group of places linked together by some function's influence on
them
Perceptual (vernacular) region - ANSWERa region defined by people's beliefs
Remote sensing - ANSWERtechnique of obtaining information about objects through the study of data
collected by special instruments that are not in physical contact with the objects being analyzed
Geographic Information Systems - ANSWERa computer program that stores geographic data and
produces maps to show those data
Diffusion - ANSWERthe spread of a culture element or some other phenomena
Expansion diffusion - ANSWERa form of diffusion in which the cultural component spreads outward to
new places while remaining strong in its original hearth
Relocation diffusion - ANSWERa form of diffusion that involves the actual movement of the original
adopters from their point of origin to a new place
Acculturation - ANSWERoccurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts traits from the more
dominant culture
Assimilation - ANSWERin cultural convergence, this occurs when the original traits of the weaker culuter
are completely erased and replaced by the traits of the more dominant culture
Transculturation - ANSWERoccurs when two cultures of just about equal power or influence meet and
exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in acculturation and assimilation
,Contagious diffusion - ANSWERa form of expansion diffusion in which numerous places or people near
the point of origin become adopters
Hierarchical diffusion - ANSWERoccurs when the diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a place or
person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled pattern
Independent invention - ANSWERin which many hearths invent similar innovations without knowing
about each other
Environmental determinism - ANSWERthe idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical
environment
Possibilism - ANSWERthe idea that the natural environment places limits on the set of choices available
to people
Culture - ANSWERthe sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns shared and
transmitted by the members of society
Cultural diffusion - ANSWERthe spread of culture
Cultural landscape - ANSWERtangible result of a human group's interaction with its environment
Culture hearth - ANSWERarea where innovations in culture began and from which such cultural
elements spread
Culture trait - ANSWERa single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
Culture complex - ANSWERa unique combination of culture traits for a particular culture group
, Culture realm - ANSWERA cluster of regions in which related culture systems prevail.
Culture region - ANSWERA region within which common culture charecteristics prevail
Culture system - ANSWERcollection of culture complexes that shaper a group's common identity
Sequent occupance - ANSWERtheory that a place is occupied by different groups of people, each group
leaving an imprint on the place from which the next group learns
Folk culture - ANSWERisolated group that has had long-lasting culture traits that have not changed
substantially over time
Popular culture - ANSWERmass culture that diffuses rapidly
Commodification - ANSWERthe process though which something is given monetary value
Stimulus diffusion - ANSWERexpansion diffusion in which the innovative idea diffuses from its hearth
outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
adaptive strategies - ANSWERthe unique way in which each culture uses its particular physical
environment
architectural form - ANSWERthe look of housing, effected by the available materials, the environment
the house is in, and the popular culture of the time
authenticity - ANSWERthe truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and
intentions; the quality of being authentic
Human geography - ANSWERa branch of geography that focuses on the study of patterns and processes
that shape human interaction with the built environment, with particular reference to the causes and
consequences of the spatial distribution of human activity on the Earth's surface
Physical geography - ANSWERthe study of physical features of the earth's surface
Absolute location - ANSWERThe exact position of a place on the earth's surface.
Relative location - ANSWERthe location of something in relation to something else
Spatial perspective - ANSWERthey way geographers look at everything-- in relation to space
Map - ANSWERa 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
Mental map - ANSWERA map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an area
Distribution - ANSWERthe frequency or occurrence of something
Pattern - ANSWERa consistent or characteristic arrangement
Formal region - ANSWERa region marked by uniformity
,Functional (nodal) region - ANSWERa group of places linked together by some function's influence on
them
Perceptual (vernacular) region - ANSWERa region defined by people's beliefs
Remote sensing - ANSWERtechnique of obtaining information about objects through the study of data
collected by special instruments that are not in physical contact with the objects being analyzed
Geographic Information Systems - ANSWERa computer program that stores geographic data and
produces maps to show those data
Diffusion - ANSWERthe spread of a culture element or some other phenomena
Expansion diffusion - ANSWERa form of diffusion in which the cultural component spreads outward to
new places while remaining strong in its original hearth
Relocation diffusion - ANSWERa form of diffusion that involves the actual movement of the original
adopters from their point of origin to a new place
Acculturation - ANSWERoccurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts traits from the more
dominant culture
Assimilation - ANSWERin cultural convergence, this occurs when the original traits of the weaker culuter
are completely erased and replaced by the traits of the more dominant culture
Transculturation - ANSWERoccurs when two cultures of just about equal power or influence meet and
exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in acculturation and assimilation
,Contagious diffusion - ANSWERa form of expansion diffusion in which numerous places or people near
the point of origin become adopters
Hierarchical diffusion - ANSWERoccurs when the diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a place or
person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled pattern
Independent invention - ANSWERin which many hearths invent similar innovations without knowing
about each other
Environmental determinism - ANSWERthe idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical
environment
Possibilism - ANSWERthe idea that the natural environment places limits on the set of choices available
to people
Culture - ANSWERthe sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns shared and
transmitted by the members of society
Cultural diffusion - ANSWERthe spread of culture
Cultural landscape - ANSWERtangible result of a human group's interaction with its environment
Culture hearth - ANSWERarea where innovations in culture began and from which such cultural
elements spread
Culture trait - ANSWERa single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
Culture complex - ANSWERa unique combination of culture traits for a particular culture group
, Culture realm - ANSWERA cluster of regions in which related culture systems prevail.
Culture region - ANSWERA region within which common culture charecteristics prevail
Culture system - ANSWERcollection of culture complexes that shaper a group's common identity
Sequent occupance - ANSWERtheory that a place is occupied by different groups of people, each group
leaving an imprint on the place from which the next group learns
Folk culture - ANSWERisolated group that has had long-lasting culture traits that have not changed
substantially over time
Popular culture - ANSWERmass culture that diffuses rapidly
Commodification - ANSWERthe process though which something is given monetary value
Stimulus diffusion - ANSWERexpansion diffusion in which the innovative idea diffuses from its hearth
outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
adaptive strategies - ANSWERthe unique way in which each culture uses its particular physical
environment
architectural form - ANSWERthe look of housing, effected by the available materials, the environment
the house is in, and the popular culture of the time
authenticity - ANSWERthe truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and
intentions; the quality of being authentic
