Human Geography 101: Introduction to Human Geography - What is Human Geography Definition Subfields Cultural Economic Political Urban Population Historical

What This Is

Human geography is the study of the relationships between people, places, and environments. It examines how human activities shape the Earth's surface and how the physical environment influences human behavior. For example, the growth of cities in the United States is a result of suburbanization, where people move from urban centers to surrounding areas in search of affordable housing and better living conditions. This process is explained by the Central Place Theory, which describes how settlements are spaced based on their economic and social functions.

Key Models, Theories & Terms

• Demographic Transition Model (DTM): A five-stage model linking population growth to economic development (Stage 1: high CBR & CDR-… Stage 4: low CBR & CDR) – explains why some countries still have high birth rates. For example, many African countries are still in Stage 2, with high birth rates and low life expectancy.
• Von Thünen’s Model of Agricultural Land Use: Concentric rings around a city (dairy, forest, grains, livestock) determined by transportation costs – explains where different crops are grown. This model is still used today to understand agricultural land use patterns in many countries.
• Urbanization: The process of people moving from rural areas to cities in search of better living conditions and economic opportunities. For example, the rapid urbanization of China has led to the growth of megacities like Shanghai and Beijing.
• Gentrification: The process of wealthier individuals moving into previously low-income neighborhoods, leading to increased property values and displacement of long-time residents. For example, the gentrification of London's East End has led to the displacement of many low-income families.
• Chain Migration: The process of migrants moving to a new location and then sending for family members to join them. For example, the chain migration of Italian immigrants to the United States led to the growth of Little Italy in New York City.
• Diffusion: The process of ideas, technologies, or cultural practices spreading from one place to another. For example, the diffusion of Christianity from Europe to the Americas led to the conversion of many indigenous peoples.
• Population Pyramid: A graphical representation of a country's population structure, showing the age and sex distribution of the population. For example, a population pyramid with a large base and a narrow top indicates a high birth rate and a low life expectancy.
• Burgess Concentric Zone Model: A model of urban land use that describes the different zones of a city based on their distance from the city center. For example, the Burgess model describes the growth of cities in the United States, with high-density residential areas near the city center and low-density industrial areas on the outskirts.
• Rank-Size Rule: A rule that describes the relationship between the size of cities and their rank in a country. For example, the rank-size rule describes the distribution of city sizes in the United States, with larger cities having a larger population than smaller cities.
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: A measure of a country's economic output per person. For example, GDP per capita is often used as a measure of a country's standard of living, but it does not take into account income inequality.

Step-by-Step Application

1. Reading a population pyramid: Identify the age and sex distribution of the population, and describe the implications for the country's population structure.
2. Identifying the type of diffusion: Determine whether the diffusion is contagious, hierarchical, or stimulus diffusion, and explain the characteristics of each type.
3. Drawing the Burgess concentric zone model: Describe the different zones of a city based on their distance from the city center, and explain the implications for urban land use.
4. Analyzing a case study: Choose a real-world example of a geographic phenomenon, and apply the concepts and models learned in class to explain the underlying processes and relationships.

Common Misconceptions

• Misconception: All migration is permanent.
• Correction: Migration can be temporary or permanent, and it is influenced by a variety of factors, including economic opportunities, social networks, and government policies.
• Misconception: GDP per capita is the same as standard of living.
• Correction: GDP per capita is a measure of economic output per person, but it does not take into account income inequality or the distribution of wealth.
• Misconception: The rank-size rule applies to every country.
• Correction: The rank-size rule is a general principle that describes the relationship between city sizes, but it does not apply to every country, and it can be influenced by a variety of factors, including government policies and economic conditions.

AP Exam / Free-Response Tips

• FRQ scoring: The AP Human Geography exam is scored based on the student's ability to identify, describe, explain, and compare geographic concepts and models.
• Task verbs: Identify, describe, explain, and compare are the most common task verbs on the AP Human Geography exam.
• Tricky distinctions: Be able to distinguish between concepts such as ethnicity vs. nationality, site vs. situation, and centripetal vs. centrifugal forces.
• Integrating models: Be able to integrate geographic models and concepts into your essays, and explain how they relate to the question being asked.

Quick Practice Scenario

A megacity in a developing country grows rapidly as rural residents move in for factory jobs. Identify the dominant migration pattern and one likely urban model that describes its structure.

Answer: The dominant migration pattern is chain migration, and the likely urban model is the Burgess Concentric Zone Model.

Last-Minute Cram Sheet

• Demographic Transition Model (DTM): A five-stage model linking population growth to economic development.
• Von Thünen’s Model of Agricultural Land Use: Concentric rings around a city determined by transportation costs.
• Urbanization: The process of people moving from rural areas to cities in search of better living conditions and economic opportunities.
• Gentrification: The process of wealthier individuals moving into previously low-income neighborhoods.
• Chain Migration: The process of migrants moving to a new location and then sending for family members to join them.
• Diffusion: The process of ideas, technologies, or cultural practices spreading from one place to another.
• Population Pyramid: A graphical representation of a country's population structure.
• Burgess Concentric Zone Model: A model of urban land use that describes the different zones of a city based on their distance from the city center.
• Rank-Size Rule: A rule that describes the relationship between the size of cities and their rank in a country.
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: A measure of a country's economic output per person.
• Ethnic religion: A type of religion that is tied to a specific ethnic group (e.g. Judaism, Hinduism).
• Universalizing religion: A type of religion that seeks to convert people from other ethnic groups (e.g. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism).
• Centripetal forces: Forces that pull people towards a central location (e.g. government policies, economic opportunities).
• Centrifugal forces: Forces that push people away from a central location (e.g. cultural differences, economic inequality).