Demography: The Study of Population
- Age Structure: The distribution of a population into different age groups.
- Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year.
- Demographic Transition Model: A theoretical framework that describes the stages of population change as a society develops.
- Dependency Ratio: The ratio of the population under the age of 15 and over the age of 64 to the working-age population (15-64).
- Infant Mortality Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 live births within the first year of life.
- Life Expectancy: The average number of years a person can expect to live at birth.
- Migration: The movement of people from one place to another.
- Mortality Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
- Population Density: The number of people per square kilometer or square mile.
- Population Pyramid: A graphical representation of the age and sex distribution of a population.
- Push and Pull Factors: Factors that drive people to migrate (push) or attract them to a destination (pull).
- Urbanization: The process of people moving to and living in urban areas.
Culture: The Beliefs and Practices of a Society
- Assimilation: The process by which people from different cultures adopt the beliefs and practices of a dominant culture.
- Cultural Diffusion: The spread of cultural traits from one society to another.
- Cultural Diversity: The presence of multiple cultures within a society.
- Cultural Identity: The feeling of belonging to a particular cultural group.
- Culture: The beliefs, practices, and values shared by a group of people.
- Encapsulation: The process by which people from different cultures form enclosed communities within a larger society.
- Ethnocentrism: The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.
- Folk Culture: Traditional beliefs and practices that are passed down through generations.
- Globalization: The interconnectedness of the world through the movement of goods, people, and ideas.
- High Culture: Cultural practices that are considered to be refined and sophisticated.
- Popular Culture: Cultural practices that are popular with the majority of people in a society.
- Religion: A system of beliefs and practices that deal with the supernatural.
Political Geography: The Organization and Power of States
- Anarchy: A state of international relations in which there is no central authority to enforce rules and maintain order.
- Boundary: A line that separates two political units.
- Capital City: The main administrative center of a country.
- City-State: A political unit that consists of a city and its surrounding territory.
- Constituency: A group of people represented by an elected official.
- Core-Periphery Model: A theory that divides the world into a core of developed countries and a periphery of less developed countries.
- Decolonization: The process of gaining independence from colonial rule.
- Federalism: A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and state or regional governments.
- Geopolitics: The study of the political aspects of geography.
- Globalization: The interconnectedness of the world through the movement of goods, people, and ideas.
- Nation-State: A political unit that represents the identity of a particular nation.
- Political Geography: The study of the relationship between politics and geography.
- Primate City: A city that is much larger than any other city in a country.
- Sovereignty: The right of a state to govern itself without external interference.
- State: A political unit that has the power to use force and make laws.
- Superpower: A country that has a dominant position in the world politically and militarily.
- Unitary State: A system of government in which power is centralized in a single national government.
Economic Geography: The Production and Distribution of Resources
- Agriculture: The cultivation of plants and the raising of animals for food and other products.
- Capital: The assets used to produce goods and services.
- Central Place Theory: A theory that explains the distribution of cities and towns based on their functions.
- Comparative Advantage: The ability of a country to produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than another country.
- Core-Periphery Model: A theory that divides the world into a core of developed countries and a periphery of less developed countries.
- Development: The process of improving a country’s economic, social, and political conditions.
- Economic Geography: The study of the relationship between economics and geography.
- Economic Globalization: The interconnectedness of the world through the movement of goods, people, and ideas.
- Footloose Industry: An industry that can be located anywhere due to its lack of dependence on raw materials or transportation.
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced in a country within a year.
- Human Development Index (HDI): A composite index that measures the overall development of a country based on health, education, and income.
- Industrial Development: The shift from a primarily agricultural economy to a manufacturing-based economy.
- Infrastructure: The basic facilities and services that are necessary for a society to function.
- Natural Resources: Materials and substances found in nature that can be used to produce goods and services.
- Post-Industrial Economy: A service-based economy in which the majority of jobs are in the service sector.
- Primary Sector: Industries that extract resources from the environment, such as agriculture, mining, and forestry.
- Secondary Sector: Industries that manufacture goods from raw materials.
- Service Sector: Industries that provide services, such as healthcare, education, and finance.
- Tertiary Sector: Industries that provide information and entertainment, such as tourism, media, and communications.