Chapter 4 The Human World Sections 1 and 2
Population Growth 6.2 billion people inhabiting about 30% of the planet s land Global population is growing rapidly because birthrates have not declined as fast as death rates Death rates have gone down due to improved healthcare, abundance of food, advances in technology and better living conditions. Also seeing a low birth rate
Life expectancy at birth : 2005 United Nations Population Division 3
World Population Growth Is Almost Entirely Concentrated in the World's Poorer Countries. World Population (in Billions): 1950-2050 Source: United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects, The 2008 Revision.
Challenges of Population Growth More people=more mouths to feed Some countries will face shortages Populations are unevenly distributed by age More developed countries have fewer young people, relative to the elderly population
Less Developed Countries Have Far More Young People Relative to Elderly. Population by Age and Sex, Less Developed Countries: 2009 Source: United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects, The 2008 Revision.
Population distribution pattern of human settlement Uneven, related to earth s geography Europe and Asia most densely populated Asia: 60% of world s population World s Youth Population
Population growth rate: 2000-2005 United Nations Population Division 8
Population growth rate: 2045-2050 United Nations Population Division 9
Population density average number of people living on one square mile/kilometer of land Wide-open spaces vs. highly populated areas Canada/Bangladesh
Urbanization Urbanization: migration of people towards cities Half the world s population lives in cities Emigrate FROM the country, Immigrate TO the country
Percentage urban in 2005 12
Percentage urban in 2030 13
Global Cultures Culture: group of people who share similar beliefs and customs Language, religion, traditions Language: Key element in a culture s development, allow people to communicate information and experiences Pass on cultural values and traditions
World Languages
Religion: important part of culture Struggles in religious differences are a source of conflict in many countries Gives people a sense of identity
Social Groups and Government Social Groups: many cultures made up of social classes Groups of people ranked according to ancestry, wealth, education or other criteria Ethnic Group: share common language, history, place of origin or combination of these elements Government: maintains order, provides protection, supplies its people Many different types of governments
World Governments
Economic Activities: Cultures must make a living Ways in which people produce, obtain, use and sell goods Culture Regions: Several countries that have similar traits Economic systems, forms of government and social groups
The Arab Cultural Region
Cultural Change Cultural Diffusion: spreading new knowledge and skills from one culture to another Agricultural Revolution: people stopped wandering, started farming, stayed in one place Surplus of food, increased wealth from trade Culture Hearths: early centers of civilization whose ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, China and Mexico
Culture Hearths GHW 1.1 EXAMPLE Primary Culture Hearths of the World http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/g101ilec/china/chh/hea/chhheafr.htm
Cultural Contacts: Trade, travel, migration Cultures often blended with native population
Political and Economic Systems World is made up of about 200 independent countries Each with a government that makes and enforces laws, binding all people living in its territory
Levels of Government Organization most large countries have several levels of government Unitary System: gives all key powers to the national or central government United Kingdom and France Federal System: divides the powers of government between national and state governments The United States, Canada, Switzerland, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and India
Types of Governments All government systems belong to 3 major groups: Autocracy rule by one person Oligarchy rule by a few people Democracy rule by many people
Autocracy Oldest and most common forms of governments Inheritance or military/police power Several forms: Totalitarian dictatorship Decisions of a single leader determine government policies Usually inherit their positions Monarchy King or queen exercises the supreme powers of the government Usually inherit their position Absolute Monarchy: Saudi Arabia rare Constitutional Monarchy: monarchs share governmental powers with elected legislatures
Oligarchy Small group holds power Derives power from wealth, military power and/or social position Usually suppress all political opposition Communist countries China, more?
Democracy Leaders rule with the consent of the citizens People hold sovereign power Representative democracies United States United Kingdom
Economic Systems Make 3 basic economic decisions: What and how many goods/services should be produced How they should be produced Who gets the goods and services that are produced 3 major economic systems: Traditional, Market and Command
Traditional Economy Habit and custom determine rules for activity Not free to make decisions based on what they would like to have Defined by customs of their elders Few places have this today
Market Economy Individuals and private groups make decisions on what to produce Free enterprise Private individuals or groups have the right to own property or business and make a profit with limited government interference Also called capitalism NO COUNTRY has a pure market economy MIXED economy: government supports and regulates free enterprise through decisions affecting the marketplace (The U.S.) Preserve free market by keeping competition free and fair Supporting the public interest
Type of mixed economy Type of System Who Owns it? Who Decides Pure Capitalism Command Economy Mixed Economy Private Ownership Government Ownership Some private and some government Market System Centralized government Some private and some government
Command Economy Government owns or directs the means of production Land, labor, capital and business managers Controls distribution Either socialist or communist (depending on how much government is involved) Socialism has 3 main goals Equal distribution of wealth and economic opportunity Society s control (through its government) of all major decisions about production Public ownership of most land and factories
Command Economies
Resources, Trade and the Environment Natural Resources: elements from the earth can be be used by people Renewable: cannot be used up or can be replaced naturally Nonrenewable: cannot be replaced Minerals and Fossil Fuels Conservation: important for nonrenewable resources like coal and oil
Economic Development Natural resources are not evenly distributed over the earth Four types of economic activities Primary taking resources directly from earth Secondary use raw materials to produce something new/more valuable Tertiary provide services to people and businesses Quaternary Processing, management and distribution of information
Economic Activities Economic activities influence a country s level of development (developed countries) Developing Countries: working towards greater manufacturing technology Subsistence farming growing only enough for the family Remain Poor
World Trade Countries specialize in products, then trade them When countries cannot produce as much of a good as they want/need, they import it from another country Trading partners!
Governments add tariffs Barriers to Trade Put strict quotas on particular products Trade Embargo: banning trade with another country as a way to punish them politically Free Trade: removal of all trade barriers WTO: World Trade Organization
People and the Environment Water normally renewable over time Oil spills, chemical waste seeps into groundwater Air pollution: Fossil fuels Acid Rain Ruins forests and animal habitats