Human Geography:

People and Places

Chapter 4
THE ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
Chapter 4, Lesson 1
L1 HW Review Questions
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) identity 2) heritage 3) facilitate 4) nationalism 5) dialect 6) convert 7)
prophet 8) architecture 9) folk tales
Main Idea (5 sentences)
What is culture? What is society? What is an ethnic group?
Why is language important to culture?
What are the three types of religion?
Summarize (4-6 sentences)
5 Major Religions (Extra Credit Option)
What are 3 types of creative cultural expression? (E.C. Option)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Define & explain 3 processes of cultural exchange. Give examples.
Which theme of geography is linked to culture? Explain how.
Defining Culture
What makes us different? What makes us similar?
Culture: the total of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors shared
by and passed on by the members of a specific group
Includes: 1) food and shelter 2) religion 3) relationships 4) language
5) education 6) security 7) political/social organization 8) creative
expression
Society: a group that shares a geographic region, a sense of
identity, and a culture
Ethnic group: a group that shares a language, customs and
common heritage
Different from other groups IN SAME REGION
Ex: San peoples (Bushmen of Kalahari Desert in Africa), have social
organization distinct from other groups
Culture is always changing (spread of ideas & behaviors from one
culture to another)
Culture Change & Exchange
Innovation: taking existing technology and resources and creating
something new to meet a need
Ex: to meet storage needs = reed baskets, clay pots
Ex: happy accidents cooking meat
Diffusion: spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of behavior
Good ideas/inventions = hard to keep secret
Television/internet facilitate cultural diffusion
Cultural hearth: site of innovation from which basic ideas, materials
and technology diffuse to other cultures
Ex: river civilizations: Indus Valley, Huang He, Nile, Tigris/Euphrates
Acculturation: occurs when a society changes because it accepts or
adopts an innovation
Is it useful? Is it consistent with basic principles?
Change can be negative OR positive
Ex: wearing jeans instead of traditional garments
Ex: smallpox vaccine in Somalia (1970s)
Language
Language helps establish cultural identity
How? 1) Builds group identity 2) Builds sense of unity
Nationalism: strong feeling of pride in ones nation
Language can divide
Ex: Canada has 2 official language (English & French); French Canadians
pressured govnt to recognize BOTH as official languages
Fact: 3,000-6,500 language spoken across world
Ex: Nostratic, developed in Turkey; basis of all Indo-European languages
(English, Russian, Hindi, Greek)
Dialect: version of language; reflects changes in speech patterns related to
class, region or other cultural changes
Ex: U.S; Southern drawl, Boston accent, street slang
Language diffusion trade routes, invention
Ex: Swahili developed between Arabic traders and Bantu-speaking tribes
on Africas east coast
Ex: Louisiana Creole (mixed French, African, North American peoples)
Counter-example: settlement (colonialism) spread English, Spanish, French,
Dutch North/South America, Africa, Australia, parts of Asia
Religion
Religion: consists of a belief in a supernatural power or
powers that are regarded as the creator and maintainers of
the universe
Religions = beliefs & values; define how people worship AND
behave toward each other
3 types of religion
Monotheistic: belief in one god
Polytheistic: belief in many gods
Animistic: belief in divine forces in nature
Convert: person who give up former beliefs for new religion
Judaism, Christianity and Islam share similar basic beliefs, and
prophets and teachers
Creative Cultural Expression
Cultures express themselves creatively
Environment affects artistic product
Performing arts: include music, dance, theater & film
Music is found in all societies; instruments & styles are unique to
different groups
Visual arts: include architecture, painting, sculpture & textiles
Styles affected by materials available & cultural themes
Literature: (oral and written) includes poems, folk tales,
stories
Illustrate aspects of culture (such as attitudes & behaviors)
Reflect environment
POPULATION GEOGRAPHY
Chapter 4, Lesson 2
L2 HW Review Questions
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) distribution 2) density 3) mortality 4) infant 5) dense 6) urban
7) rural 8) sanitation 9) persecution 10) refugee 11) hub
Main Idea (5 sentences)
How do geographers study worldwide population growth? (E.C)
What factors push/pull people to migrate? Give examples. (E.C)
Summarize (4-6 sentences)
Habitable lands.
Population density.
Carrying capacity.
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Why are many people moving to cities? Research problems
associated with urban life?

Worldwide Population Growth
Industrialization = population growth
More food, better food
Improved sanitation methods
Birth & Death Rates
o Population geographers study: 1) birth & death rates 2) distribution
3) density
o Birthrate: number of live birth per thousand population
o Average: 22/thousand
o Fertility rate: average number of children a women of childbearing
years would have in her lifetime
o Fertility rate 2.1 necessary to replace population
o Worldwide average: 3.0
o Mortality rate (death rate): number of deaths per thousand people
o Low mortality = healthy country
o Infant mortality rate: number of deaths among infants age one per
thousand live births
o Rate of natural increase = mortality rate - birthrate
Population Pyramid
Shows sex and age distribution
Shows how events in society (ex: wars, famine, disease) affect
population of country/region
Population Distributions
World population NOT evenly distributed
90% lives in Northern Hemisphere
Factors: climate, altitude, access to water
Habitable Lands
2/3 world population: 20N-60N = suitable climate & vegetation for
dense human habitation (warm & wet = agriculture)
Population concentrated on coastal regions & rivers
Less people in polar regions, mountainous regions, desert regions
Urban-Rural Mix
50% live in rural areas
Most people moving to cities +1,000,000
Cities 10,000,000 = megacities (2005: 20 megacities [293 million people
Largest megacity = Tokyo
Problems: overcrowded = demand for water & sanitation

Migration
Large-scale migration alters population distribution
Push-pull factors: reasons for migration
Push factors: reasons to leave homeland to another
region
Ex: environmental conditions (natural disasters)
Ex: political (war, persecution/ ethnic or religious
tension)
Rwanda: civil war 1994 = 1 million refugees
Pull factors: draw or attract people to another location
Ex: countries with good economic opportunities and
higher salaries
Ex: favorable climate
Population Density
Population density: average number of people per square
mile; = divide # of inhabitants in area by total land they
occupy
1990, U.S = 70.3/square mile
Alaska: 1/ square mile
New Jersey: 1,098/square mile
Population density may change over time
Shanghai: 3,700/square kilometer
Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity: number of organisms a piece of land can
support
Fertile land = better carrying capacity
Technology can affect carrying capacity
Ex: improved farming techniques (irrigation, fertilizers,
mechanized farm equipment)
Singapore: little farmland BUT international finance &
shopping hub
= support millions of people
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
Chapter 4, Lesson 3
L3 HW Review Questions
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) Internal 2) external 3) elect 4) hostile 5) stakes 6) treaty 7) impose
8) artificial 9) arbitrary
Main Idea (5 sentences)
What is the difference between natural and artificial boundaries
Summarize (4-6 sentences)
4 types of government. (Extra Credit Option)
3 geographic characteristics of nations. (E.C.O)
3 levels of government. (E.C.O)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Which government do you think is best and why?
Why are there different levels of government?
Nations of the World
State: (political term) describes an independent unit
that occupies a specific territory and has full control of
internal and external affairs
Nation: group of people with common culture living in a
territory having a strong sense of unity
Nation-state: nation and state occupy same area
Most countries are nation-states
Stateless nation: group without territory
Ex: Palestinians, Kurds, Basques
Types of Government
1) Democracy: citizens hold power directly or indirectly
through elected representatives
Ex: U.S., Australia (most countries)
2) Monarchy: ruling family headed by a king or queen holds
political power; may OR may not share power with citizen
bodies
Ex: United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia
3) Dictatorship: an individual or group holds complete power
Ex: North Korea
4) Communism: In this government and economic system,
nearly all political power and means of production are held
by the government in the name of all the people
Ex: China
Geographic Characteristics
of Nations
Size
a) Physical size = more resources + more people = more economic
and military power
Shape
a) Germany: compact / Chile: long / Japan: fragmented
b) Shape = how easy to govern / transportation / relationship with
neighbors
Location
a) Landlocked = surrounded by other land, no direct link to sea =
need connections to other parts of the world/ Ex: Bolivia
b) Coastal = access to trade/shipping lanes
c) Hostile neighbors = protection/security issues
National Boundaries
Borders: set the limits of territory controlled by a state
State can: 1) collect taxes, 2) make laws 3) declare official language
State claims all resources within its boundaries
States protective BECAUSE stakes are high
Natural Boundaries
Based on physical features of the land, such as rivers, lakes, or chains
of mountains
Ex: Rio Grande (river) between Mexico and part of U.S
CT Q: What if river changes direction?
Artificial Boundaries
= man-made lines (usually follow latitude or longitude)
Ex: 49N latitude separates U.S and Canada
Lines often formally defined in treaties; conquering countries can
impose boundaries
Case Study: Africa 1800s divided arbitrarily by European colonial
powers; sometimes would split tribes into different countries
Regional
Political Systems
Countries divided into
smaller political units =
efficiency
Cities, towns, villages, etc.,
Smaller political units
combine to form larger
regional units to promote
mutual goals
Countries may join to
form: political, military,
economic units
Largest: United Nations (200
members), global IGO
Ex: European Union
Levels of Government:
National
Size: very large
Effect: little direct contact
with people
Role: the big issues; security,
diplomacy
Example: United States
Regional
Size: combined smaller units
Effect: more direct contact
Role: issues that affect smaller
units; ex: issue drivers license
Example: U.S. states
Local
Size: smallest unit
Effect: direct contact
Role: local issues, ex: streets,
sanitation
Example: school district or town

URBAN GEOGRAPHY
Chapter 4, Lesson 4 (pg. 87)
L4 HW Review Questions
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) commute 2) manufacture 3) retail 4) commerce 5) bazaar
6) recreation
Main Idea (5 sentences)
Why is a citys location important?
Summarize (4-6 sentences)
Land Use Patterns of Cities. (E.C.O)
The Functions of Cities w/ examples. (E.C.O)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
What might be some pros (+) and cons (-) of urbanization?
Why is transportation so important to the health of a city?
Growth of Urban Areas
City Characteristics
Large populations
Business & culture hubs
Birthplace of innovation/change in society
Geographers study: location, land use, functions of city
Urban Area:
Built around central city (ex: French Concession, Bund)
Around central city = suburbs: political units touching borders of
central city or other suburbs (ex: Pudong, Gubei)
Suburbs within commuting distance to central city
Exurbs: small cities or towns with open area between them
Metropolitan area = city + suburbs + exurbs (linked together
economically)
Megalopolis: formed when several metropolitan areas grow together

Urbanization
Urbanization: the dramatic rise in the number of cities and
the changes in lifestyle that result
Last 200 years
Cities = work = migration

City Locations
Cities are found:
1) In places that allow good transportation (rivers, lakes, coasts)
2) Easy access to natural resources (oil, wood, fresh water)
Geographic advantages attract businesses and workers
Specialization:
Ex: Chicago, Illinois = transportation hub for good produced in
Great Lakes states (planes, trucks, trains)
Ex: Pittsburg, Pennsylvania = steel-producing center (iron ore &
coal sources)
Land Use Patterns
Land use = activities that take place in cities
Residential: include single-family housing and apartment buildings
Industrial: areas reserved for manufacturing of goods
Commercial: used for private business and the buying and selling of
retail products
Central business district (CBD): core of a city; based on
commercial activity
Has business offices and stores
Very expensive housing; expensive land value
As you move away from CBD:
Residential housing dominates land use
Value of land decreases
Retail areas: shopping centers, markets, bazaars
The Functions of Cities
o Shopping, entertainment, government services
o Educational & cultural activities = libraries & museums
o Manhattan = 70 museums
o Manufacturing, wholesaling, residential, recreational
o Religious & social

o Transportation = very important
o Mass transit: bus systems, subways, commuter trains
o Freeway systems: link suburbs to CBD
o Good transportation = city is fulfilling its function
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
L5 HW Review Questions
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) barter 2) subsistence 3) manufacture 4) sanitation 5) indicator
Main Idea (5 sentences)
Why is infrastructure so important to an economy?
What is GDP? What is GNP? Which is a better way to measure
economic development? Why?
Summarize (4-6 sentences)
4 Types of Economic Systems (Extra Credit Option)
4 Levels of Economic Activity (E.C.O)
3 Types of Natural Resources (E.C.O)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Research: which countries have the highest standards of living?
What characteristics do they share?
Economic Systems
Economy: the production and exchange of goods and services
among a group of people
Economic system: the way people produce and exchange goods
and services
4 Types of Economic Systems
1) Traditional: goods and services traded without exchanging
money = barter
2) Command: production determined by central government;
usually owns means of production; production does not reflect
consumer demand; aka: Planned Economy
3) Market: productions of goods and services determined by
consumer demand; aka: Demand Economy or Capitalism
4) Mixed= command economy + market economy; ensures all
people will benefit
Economic Activities
Agriculture:
Subsistence: grow/raise enough to meet needs; little left to sell
Market-oriented: farming cash crops/animals for sale
Industry:
Cottage: family/persons of crafts persons; often work at home
Commercial: meets needs of people within large area
4 Levels of Economic Activity
1) Primary: gathering raw materials; immediate use, or for
manufacturing
2) Secondary: adding value to materials by changing their form
through labor; ex: cars, chairs, etc.,
3) Tertiary: business or professional services; ex: teachers, doctors
4) Quaternary: provide information, management & research services
by highly-trained persons
Better developed economy = greater #/variety of activities
Natural Resources
Natural resources: materials on or in the earth (trees, fish, coal)
that have economic value
Technology = transform natural resource = product (to sell)
Ex: iron ore = steel
3 Types of Natural Resources
1) Renewable: can be replaced through natural processes; ex:
trees, seafood
2) Non-renewable: cannot be replaced; ex: gold, silver, iron,
gemstones, sulfur, fossil fuels, petroleum, natural gas, coal =
basis of energy production
3) Inexhaustible energy sources: used for producing power;
unlimited solar or planetary processes; ex: sunlight, geothermal
heat, winds, tides
Countries trade for raw materials they need for manufacturing
energy
Infrastructure
Infrastructure = basic support systems; keep economy
running; includes power, communication, transportation,
water, sanitation, education systems
Transportation
Patterns of roads & highways, ports, airports affects economic
growth
Communication
How well is a country linked internally and externally
Ex: high-speed internet & satellite communications
Technology = indicator of development of country

Better infrastructure = < developed country
Measuring Economic
Development
Per capita income: average salary/per person in political unit
Standard of living: reflects society's purchasing power, health,
level of education

Gross National Product (GNP): total value of goods & service by
country per year
Ex: shoes made in Thailand by American company = U.S. GNP
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): total value of all goods and
services produced within a country over specific time

Developing Nation: low GDP; limited economic activity; lack
infrastructure
Developed Nation: high per capita income; varied economy
(especially quaternary activities) ex: Western European countries,
Japan, Canada, U.S.