AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
Relative location the location of something in relation to something else
Spatial perspective they way geographers look at everything-- in relation to space
Map a 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
Mental map A map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an
area
Distribution the frequency or occurrence of something
Pattern a consistent or characteristic arrangement
Formal region a region marked by uniformity
Functional (nodal) region a group of places linked together by some function's influence on them
Perceptual (vernacular) region a region defined by people's beliefs
Remote sensing technique 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 a computer program that stores geographic data and produces maps to show
those data
Diffusion the spread of a culture element or some other phenomena
Expansion diffusion a form of diffusion in which the cultural component spreads outward to new
places while remaining strong in its original hearth
Relocation diffusion a form of diffusion that involves the actual movement of the original adopters
from their point of origin to a new place
Acculturation occurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts traits from the more dominant
culture
Assimilation in 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 occurs when two cultures of just about equal power or influence meet and
exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in acculturation and
assimilation
, AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
Contagious diffusion a form of expansion diffusion in which numerous places or people near the
point of origin become adopters
Hierarchical diffusion occurs when the diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a place or
person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled pattern
Independent invention in which many hearths invent similar innovations without knowing about each
other
Environmental determinism the idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical environment
Possibilism the idea that the natural environment places limits on the set of choices
available to people
Culture the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns
shared and transmitted by the members of society
Cultural diffusion the spread of culture
Cultural landscape tangible result of a human group's interaction with its environment
Culture hearth area where innovations in culture began and from which such cultural elements
spread
Culture trait a single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
Culture complex a unique combination of culture traits for a particular culture group
Culture realm A cluster of regions in which related culture systems prevail.
Culture region A region within which common culture charecteristics prevail
Culture system collection of culture complexes that shaper a group's common identity
, AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
Sequent occupance theory 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 isolated group that has had long-lasting culture traits that have not changed
substantially over time
Popular culture mass culture that diffuses rapidly
Commodification the process though which something is given monetary value
Stimulus diffusion expansion diffusion in which the innovative idea diffuses from its hearth
outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
adaptive strategies the unique way in which each culture uses its particular physical environment
architectural form the look of housing, effected by the available materials, the environment the
house is in, and the popular culture of the time
authenticity the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and
intentions; the quality of being authentic
cultural appropriation the process by which cultures adopt customs and knowledge from other
cultures and use them for their own benefit
folk culture cultural traits such as dress modes, dwellings, traditions, and institutions of
usually small, traditional communities
folk ways any informal norms, virtues, or values characterized by being followed through
imitation and mild social pressure but not strictly enforced or put into law
folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, and
customs that are the traditions of that culture, subculture, or group
maladapted diffusion diffusion in which image takes precedence over practicality
material culture the art, housing, clothing, sports, dances, foods, and other similar items
constructed or created by a group of people
non material culture the beliefs, practices, aesthetics, and values , of a group of people
placelessness the loss of uniqueness of place in the cultural landscape so that one place
looks like the next
, AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
popular culture cultural traits such as dress, diet, and music that identify and are part of today's
changeable, urban-based, media-influenced, western societies
survey systems systems that are used to collect data
traditional architecture traditional building styles of different cultures, religions, and places
vernacular the commonly spoken language or dialect of a particular people or place
acculturation the exchange of cultural features that results when groups come into
continuous first-hand contact
adaptation adjusting to a translation based on the cultural environment of the target
language
assimilation the process through which people lose originally differentiating traits, such as
dress, speech, particularities, or mannerisms when they come into contact with
another society or culture
cultural convergence contact and interaction of one culture and another
cultural divergence the separation of cultures through less and less contact and interaction
between them; restriction of a culture from outside influences
cultural integration the process of combining cultures together into one
core / periphery / semi-periphery the core-periphery idea that the core houses the main economic power of the
region and the outlying region and that the periphery houses the lesser
economic ties with the semi-periphery in-between the two
cultural identity the way people categorize their culture, sometimes by the way they dress and
what they eat
cultural realm the entire region that displays the characteristics of a culture
cultural regions a portion of earth's surface occupied by a population sharing recognizable
and distinctive cultural characteristics
global-local continuum the notion that what happens at the global scale has a direct effect on what
happens at the local scale, and vice-versa
glocalization the process by which people in a local place mediate and alter regional,
national, and global processes
innovation adoption the diffusion of new ideas
bario / favala a shantytown in or near a city; slum area
cultural adaptation adjusting to a translation based on the cultural environment of the target
language
cultural shatter belt an area of instability between regions with opposing political and cultural
values
Relative location the location of something in relation to something else
Spatial perspective they way geographers look at everything-- in relation to space
Map a 2D model of the earth or a portion of its surface
Mental map A map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an
area
Distribution the frequency or occurrence of something
Pattern a consistent or characteristic arrangement
Formal region a region marked by uniformity
Functional (nodal) region a group of places linked together by some function's influence on them
Perceptual (vernacular) region a region defined by people's beliefs
Remote sensing technique 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 a computer program that stores geographic data and produces maps to show
those data
Diffusion the spread of a culture element or some other phenomena
Expansion diffusion a form of diffusion in which the cultural component spreads outward to new
places while remaining strong in its original hearth
Relocation diffusion a form of diffusion that involves the actual movement of the original adopters
from their point of origin to a new place
Acculturation occurs when the "weaker" of two cultures adopts traits from the more dominant
culture
Assimilation in 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 occurs when two cultures of just about equal power or influence meet and
exchange ideas or traits without the domination seen in acculturation and
assimilation
, AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
Contagious diffusion a form of expansion diffusion in which numerous places or people near the
point of origin become adopters
Hierarchical diffusion occurs when the diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a place or
person of power or high susceptibility to another ina leveled pattern
Independent invention in which many hearths invent similar innovations without knowing about each
other
Environmental determinism the idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical environment
Possibilism the idea that the natural environment places limits on the set of choices
available to people
Culture the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns
shared and transmitted by the members of society
Cultural diffusion the spread of culture
Cultural landscape tangible result of a human group's interaction with its environment
Culture hearth area where innovations in culture began and from which such cultural elements
spread
Culture trait a single piece of a culture's traditions and practices
Culture complex a unique combination of culture traits for a particular culture group
Culture realm A cluster of regions in which related culture systems prevail.
Culture region A region within which common culture charecteristics prevail
Culture system collection of culture complexes that shaper a group's common identity
, AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
Sequent occupance theory 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 isolated group that has had long-lasting culture traits that have not changed
substantially over time
Popular culture mass culture that diffuses rapidly
Commodification the process though which something is given monetary value
Stimulus diffusion expansion diffusion in which the innovative idea diffuses from its hearth
outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters
adaptive strategies the unique way in which each culture uses its particular physical environment
architectural form the look of housing, effected by the available materials, the environment the
house is in, and the popular culture of the time
authenticity the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and
intentions; the quality of being authentic
cultural appropriation the process by which cultures adopt customs and knowledge from other
cultures and use them for their own benefit
folk culture cultural traits such as dress modes, dwellings, traditions, and institutions of
usually small, traditional communities
folk ways any informal norms, virtues, or values characterized by being followed through
imitation and mild social pressure but not strictly enforced or put into law
folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, and
customs that are the traditions of that culture, subculture, or group
maladapted diffusion diffusion in which image takes precedence over practicality
material culture the art, housing, clothing, sports, dances, foods, and other similar items
constructed or created by a group of people
non material culture the beliefs, practices, aesthetics, and values , of a group of people
placelessness the loss of uniqueness of place in the cultural landscape so that one place
looks like the next
, AP Human Geography All Terms Complete Exam Study Guide
popular culture cultural traits such as dress, diet, and music that identify and are part of today's
changeable, urban-based, media-influenced, western societies
survey systems systems that are used to collect data
traditional architecture traditional building styles of different cultures, religions, and places
vernacular the commonly spoken language or dialect of a particular people or place
acculturation the exchange of cultural features that results when groups come into
continuous first-hand contact
adaptation adjusting to a translation based on the cultural environment of the target
language
assimilation the process through which people lose originally differentiating traits, such as
dress, speech, particularities, or mannerisms when they come into contact with
another society or culture
cultural convergence contact and interaction of one culture and another
cultural divergence the separation of cultures through less and less contact and interaction
between them; restriction of a culture from outside influences
cultural integration the process of combining cultures together into one
core / periphery / semi-periphery the core-periphery idea that the core houses the main economic power of the
region and the outlying region and that the periphery houses the lesser
economic ties with the semi-periphery in-between the two
cultural identity the way people categorize their culture, sometimes by the way they dress and
what they eat
cultural realm the entire region that displays the characteristics of a culture
cultural regions a portion of earth's surface occupied by a population sharing recognizable
and distinctive cultural characteristics
global-local continuum the notion that what happens at the global scale has a direct effect on what
happens at the local scale, and vice-versa
glocalization the process by which people in a local place mediate and alter regional,
national, and global processes
innovation adoption the diffusion of new ideas
bario / favala a shantytown in or near a city; slum area
cultural adaptation adjusting to a translation based on the cultural environment of the target
language
cultural shatter belt an area of instability between regions with opposing political and cultural
values
