ap human geography cram sheet

2 min read 03-02-2025

This cram sheet provides a concise overview of key concepts for the AP Human Geography exam. It's designed to be a quick refresher, not a replacement for thorough study throughout the year. Remember to consult your textbook and class notes for detailed explanations and examples.

I. Thinking Geographically: Location, Space, and Place

Location: Absolute (coordinates) vs. Relative (relationship to other places). Consider the importance of site and situation.
Space: The arrangement of things on Earth's surface. Think spatial interaction, diffusion, and distribution patterns.
Place: A location with meaning and significance. Consider sense of place and perception of place. How do places reflect cultural values and identity?
Region: Formal (defined by shared characteristics), Functional (defined by a central node), Vernacular (perceived region).

II. Population and Migration

Demography: Study of population characteristics (size, distribution, density, growth). Key concepts include crude birth rate (CBR), crude death rate (CDR), natural increase rate (NIR), total fertility rate (TFR), life expectancy, demographic transition model (DTM), population pyramids.
Migration: Movement of people. Push/pull factors, Ravenstein's Laws of Migration, internal vs. international migration, types of migration (e.g., chain migration, step migration).

III. Culture

Cultural Geography: The study of how cultures vary over space and time. Focus on the spatial distribution of cultural traits.
Cultural Diffusion: Spread of ideas, innovations, and cultural traits. Consider expansion diffusion (hierarchical, contagious, stimulus) vs. relocation diffusion.
Cultural Landscapes: The visible imprint of human activity on the landscape. How do landscapes reflect cultural values and practices?
Language Families & Dialects: Understanding the geographical distribution of languages and the impact of language on culture.

IV. Political Geography

State: A politically organized territory with a permanent population, a defined territory, and a government. Consider sovereignty and territoriality.
Nation: A group of people with a shared culture and identity.
Nation-State: A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality.
Geopolitics: The study of international relations in spatial context. Consider the role of power, borders, and resources.
Centrifugal vs. Centripetal Forces: Forces that pull a state apart versus forces that hold a state together.

V. Agriculture and Rural Land Use

Agricultural Revolutions: First, Second, and Third Agricultural Revolutions and their impact on population and food production.
Agricultural Systems: Intensive vs. extensive agriculture, commercial vs. subsistence agriculture, different types of farming practices (e.g., pastoral nomadism, shifting cultivation).
Von Thünen Model: A model explaining the location of agricultural activities around a central market.

VI. Industrialization and Economic Development

Industrial Revolution: The shift from agrarian economies to industrial economies. Consider its impacts on urbanization, population distribution, and the environment.
Models of Economic Development: Rostow's Stages of Growth, Wallerstein's World-Systems Theory, and their critiques.
Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness of the world economy. Consider its impacts on different regions and countries.

VII. Cities and Urbanization

Urbanization: The increasing proportion of the population living in urban areas.
Models of Urban Structure: Concentric Zone Model, Sector Model, Multiple Nuclei Model.
Urban Challenges: Poverty, inequality, environmental issues, and sustainable urban planning.

VIII. Environmental Geography

Human-Environment Interaction: How humans modify and adapt to their environment.
Environmental Issues: Climate change, pollution, resource depletion, and conservation efforts.
Sustainable Development: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

This cram sheet is intended as a quick reference. Remember to review your notes and textbook thoroughly for a comprehensive understanding of the material. Good luck on your exam!