Chapter 3 Population & Culture
I. The Study of Human Geography A. Demography statistical study of human populations Population Density Population Distribution Natural Increase World Population Trends
1. Population Density Avg # of people in an area, expressed as persons per sq. mi. or km. Population Density varies worldwide * Canada = 8/mi * Bangladesh = 2,349/mi Depends on size of country, size of population & environmental conditions
2. Population Distribution People are spread out UNEVENLY over earth. Why? To live in areas favorable for settlement. * fertile soil * access to fresh water * mild climates 90% live in northern hemisphere 2/3 of those live in mid-latitudes (20-60 N) Many in fertile river valleys near edges of continents Few people in polar climates, deserts, rugged mts.
3. Population Change # of people depends on 3 major factors a. birthrate: # of births/yr for every 1000 living in a place b. deathrate: # of deaths /yr for every 1000 living in a place c. Migration: process of moving from one place to another - emigrants: people who leave (exit) a country to live in another - immigrants: people who come into a new country to live Zero Population Growth: birthrate + I = Deathrate +E
4. Rate of Natural Increase Birthrate deathrate, implying the annual rate of population growth or decline w/o regard for migration (expressed as %) Varies worldwide world: 1.2% US: 0.6% Russia: -0.6% Uganda: 3.1% If country grows at 3%, it will double in 23 yrs!! (doubling time)
Birth and Death Rates, Worldwide Rates of birth, death, and natural increase per 1,000 population 40 35 30 25 20 15 Natural Increase 10 5 0 1950-1955 1955-1960 1960-1965 1965-1970 1970-1975 1975-1980 1980-1985 1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2005 Birth rate Death rate Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision, 2005.
5. Population Growth Population has grown rapidly in last 200 years. Why? a. improved farm technology b. improved public sanitation c. improved medical technology Explosive growth in developing countries Near zero population growth in many developed countries Concern of overpopulation when # of people too large to be supported by available resources
World Population Growth Billions Through History 12 11 10 2100 9 8 7 Old Stone Age New Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age Modern Age Middle Ages 6 5 4 2000 1975 Future 3 2 1 Black Death The Plague 1950 1900 1800 1+ million 7000 years B.C. 6000 B.C. 5000 B.C. 4000 B.C. 3000 B.C. 2000 B.C. 1000 B.C. A.D. 1 A.D. 1000 A.D. 2000 A.D. A.D. 3000 4000 A.D. 5000 Source: Population Reference Bureau; and United Nations, World Population Projections to 2100 (1998).
World Population Growth, in Billions Number of years to add each billion (year) First Billion Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth All of Human History (1800) 130 (1930) 30 (1960) 15 (1975) 12 (1987) 12 (1999) 14 (2013) 14 (2027) 21 (2048) Sources: First and second billion: Population Reference Bureau. Third through ninth billion: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005.
Growth in More, Less Developed Countries Billions 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Less Developed Regions 2 1 More Developed Regions 0 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (medium scenario), 2005.
6. Patterns of Settlement Most North Americans and Europeans live in cities Urbanization: growth of proportion of people living in towns & cities Urban growth in rich countries is slowing Urban growth in developing countries is rapid as people enter looking for jobs Rural: countryside
Where do cities emerge? Near key resources Location along transportation & trade routes (river crossings, natural harbors, head of a delta) Easily defended sites (defensive hilltop site or defensive site controlling a pass) Chicago
Trends in Urbanization, by Region Urban Population Percent 85 82 76 74 47 61 54 37 37 55 42 53 29 15 17 World Africa Asia Latin America and the Caribbean More Developed Regions 1950 2000 2030 Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2003 Revision (medium scenario), 2004.
B. Cultural Geography Culture * all features of a people s way of life * learned and passed down from parents to children through teaching, example & imitation * includes language, religion, architecture, clothing, economics, family life, food, gov t, roles of women/men etc.
World Languages
Language Tree
Dominant Religious Traditions
1. Cultural Hearth A place where important ideas begin and from which they spread to surrounding cultures SW Asia: domestication of animals, crops, writing & math China: language, arts, technology
World First Cultural Hearths
2. Cultural traits Some the same around the world: reading, math, alphabets, Some different: knife & fork vs chopsticks Some traits linked, such as religion, farming, use of technology - example: The Amish in America
3. Cultural Regions An area in which people have many shared culture traits Some countries have one dominant culture (Japan), others may have many (Kenya, South Africa) (Homogeneous) Country borders sometimes divide culture regions and separate one ethnic group (Kurds) Can be made up of several countries with same language, traditions, systems of gov t (Australia & New Zealand)
Border/Boundary Types Natural: Mountains, Rivers, Lakes etc. Example: Mississippi River marks the borders of several states. Geometric: Made of lines of longitude and latitude example: Kansas Cultural: marked by an area of cultural influence Example: Kurdistan or Cajun ountry
Kurdistan
3. Cultural Landscapes Humans alter landscape in their use of natural resources Ag. landscape in US very diff. than China Many urban landscapes worldwide are similar
4. Social Organization Every culture organized into smaller units * Family most important in all cultures * Family structure diff. in diff. cultures Social Ranking ranked in order of status * $ * occupation * education * ancestry In most countries, some degree of social mobility have opportunity to rise in society thru education, economic achievement, political action
5. Women & Minorities Social mobility restricted in some cultures History of discrimination, violence against ethnic & religious minorities Majority groups have used economic measures to discriminate
6. Cultural Change a. Cultural Convergence * skills, art, ideas, habits, institutions of one culture come in contact with those of another. b. Diffusion process by which a cultural element is transmitted across some distance from one grp or individual to another * migration
The Columbian Exchange Contact between any two peoples geographically separated from one another results in an exchange of physical elements The three main elements are: Plants, animals and microbes
c. Acculturation: adopting some traits from another culture - Tex Mex! d. Cultural Divergence restriction of a culture from outside cultural influences - often practiced by repressive govts - restrict free mvmt in/out - seek to control transp./commun.
II. Political & Economic Systems A. What is a country? B. Types of Gov t C. Conflict & Cooperation D. Types of Economic Systems
A. What is a country? 4 characteristics: territory, population, sovereignty, gov t 1. Clearly defined territory a. Includes land, water, natural resources (NR) b. NR more important than size c. Unequal distribution of NR has led to conflict d. Natural division can serve as boundaries e. Boundaries can shrink/expand due to war or negotiation f. Geog. Factors influence nation s pwr to control territory (ex. Great Britain: easy access to travel & trade
2. Population a. Vary in size (China,1.3B vs. Canada, 33M) b. Vary in population density (Mongolia, 4.3/sq. mi vs. Bangladesh, 2,200 + /sq. mi) c. Vary in cultural diversity (USA vs. Japan
3. Sovereignty (freedom from outside control) a. Country is sovereign if it can rule itself or act independently -free to make own laws & have own leaders b. Can deal equally w/ other countries and protect its territory & citizens - can negotiate/deal w/ other countries in peace (diplomacy) make trade agreements, deal with int l orgs. c. Geog. Factors can help nation defend/maintain sovereignty (UK vs Poland)
4. Government a. Good gov ts protect lives, property, freedoms, & rights of their citizens - ensures conditions needed for economies to develop & for people to prosper b. Unstable gov ts don t last long or have little authority - gov t corruption political leaders use public office to enrich themselves or their friends
B. Types of Government 1. Government structure how gov ts are classified based on relationship btwn smaller units (states) & the central govt 2 a. Unitary: central govt rules entire nation b. Federation: Nat l govt shares pwr w/ state govts c. Confederation: smaller levels of govt keep most of the pwr & give central govt very limited pwrs
2. Govt Authority who has the power? Authoritarian (govt has the power) vs Democracy (people have the power) a. Dictatorship most common form of authoritarian govt. - an individual or small grp holds complete political pwr - often uses military/political terror to stay in pwr - people not free to voice opinions - totalitarianism govt controls all parts of society: politics, economy, people s lives
Famous Evil Dictators
b. Monarchy hereditary rulers - ruling family headed by king or queen holds political power - past: ruled w/ dictatorial pwrs - present: most are now Constitutional Monarchies share pwr w/ citizen bodies - pwr rests w/ elected lawmaking body, monarch ceremonial or represents nat l unity Queen Elizabeth
c. Democracy - citizens hold political pwr - direct democracy - representative democracy (most common) adult citizens vote for people who make the laws - leaders chosen by voting in free elections - value individual freedoms & human rights
d. Communism - Govt & an economic system - Nearly all political pwr & means of production are held by the govt in the name of all the people
e. Some other forms of govt - theocracy: religious leaders control the govt (Tibet Dalai Lama) - rely on religious law - consultation w/ religious scholars - aristocracy: govt by the best or privileged class - Plutocracy: gov t by the wealthy - Kleptocracy: govt by those seeking personal gain at the expense of the governed
C. Conflict & Cooperation 1. Political Conflicts a. Competing feelings of nationalism (pride & loyalty for one s country) b. Differing culture traits (religion, ethnicity, etc) c. Type of gov t d. Economic issues trade disputes, tariffs & quotas
2. Terrorism the use of violence & fear as a political force. a. some terrorists want independence for homelands that may be under control of another country b. some terrorists have political goals to change policies c. don t usually act under direct authority of govt but may be protected or supported financially
3. Int l Cooperation a. United Nations (UN): most countries are members - goals to settle int l disputes, to prevent wars, humanitarian aid (disease, hunger, illiteracy) b. Economic cooperation/free trade - helps countries produce goods at lower costs & reach larger markets. People can then buy these goods at lower prices - reduce tariffs & quotas
D. Types of Economic Systems - 3 basic economic questions What to make? How much to make? Who to make it for?
1. Traditional Economy (subsistence economy) a. all goods & svc produced & consumed by the family/for family b. Very little surplus or exchange of goods c. Found in poor countries, mostly in rural areas
2. Market Economy a. People freely choose what to buy & sell according to the laws of supply & demand b. Individuals or companies make decisions about production & distribution competition c. Capitalism biz, industries, resources are privately owned d. In US, govt provides some svc & imposes some govt regulations e. Pure capitalism) gov t plays NO part in economy
3. Command Economy a. Central Govt makes decisions about production/distribution - decides what to make, where to make it, how much to make, what price to charge, what to pay workers b. Production doesn t necessarily reflect consumer demand c. Communist economy govt owns, operates all major farms, factories, utilities, stores
D. Mixed Economy a. Combo of command & market economies b. Socialism: state owns/operates some basic industries while allowing pvt enterprise in other parts of economy c. Belief that wealth should be distributed more equally all entitled to certain goods/svcs d. welfare states characterized by HIGH TAXES to pay for the many social svcs like housing, health care, child care, pensions