World
Geography
STAAR
Flashcards
Human
Geographic
Factors
*patterns—these
relate to things that
humans have
created or done; for
example:
technology,
economic activities,
transportation
infrastructure, or
development of
cities.
Physical
Geographic
Factors
*relate to things
found in nature
such as: natural
resources,
bodies of water,
climate, or
landforms.
Migration
*the movement of
people from one
place to another.
Diffusion
*when
“something”
spreads such as
religion, ethnic
groups, or ideas.
Columbian
Exchange
*began in 1492 with the
exploration of Christopher
Columbus discovering the
Americas. It is the idea
that plants, animals, food,
and products were
exchanged between the
Americas and Europe.
Political Maps
*These maps
show voting
patterns, country
boundaries, and/or
political units—
such as counties,
cities, and school
districts.
Nationalism
*a belief that people or
ethnic groups should
have their own
government and territory.
The idea that their
interests and cultures
come first.
Patriotism
*devotion to
one’s country.
The idea that you
should be loyal to
and support your
countries laws
and have pride in
your country.
Democracy
*The people
govern
themselves by
meeting together
and making laws
for their society.
Example: Ancient
Greece
Dictatorship
*One person rules
the nation with no
limits on his power
and does whatever
he wishes.
Example: North
Korea
Monarchy
*One person rules
for life usually as a
result of inheriting
the position as a
member of a certain
family. Power may
or may not be
limited. Example:
Saudi Arabia
Republic
*Through
elections, the
people choose
those who
govern them.
(INDIRECT
DEMOCRACY)
Example: U.S.
Theocracy
*Those who rule
do so because
they are
members of a
particular
religious faith.
Example: Iran
Totalitarian
*One or a few
individuals possess
total control over the
government as well
as the economy. No
opposition is
permitted. Example:
Stalin in the former
Soviet Union.
United Nations
*An organization of
nations whose purpose is
to help solve international
problems. The main
bodies are the General
Assembly and the
Security Council. The
Security Council has the
power to authorize the
use of military forces to
be used in peace keeping
missions.
European Union
*an association
of countries in
Europe;
members agree
to cooperate on
matters mostly
related to
economics.
Lithosphere
*The outside
shell of the
earth—made
up of the
crust and
upper mantle.
Tectonic
forces
*the movement of
the tectonic
plates that can
create
mountains, rift
valleys and
earthquakes.
Earthquakes
*these are caused
by movement in
the plates of the
earth; the Ring of
Fire in the Pacific
Rim is an
earthquake
hotspot.
Erosion
*when rock, sand,
and soil are
broken down and
carried away by
different forces;
this can create
canyons, valleys,
and lakes.
Landforms
*refers to natural
features of the
landscape such as
mountains, valleys,
hills, and plains.
Soilbuilding
*the processes
such as
weathering,
erosion, or
deposits that
affect the quality
of the soil.
Hydrosphere
*the part of the
earth covered by
water.
Ocean
Currents
*the movement of the
ocean’s water that affects
climate in different
regions of the world; for
example, the warm water
of the Gulf Stream brings
warmer weather to Great
Britain.
Water cycle
*the process by
which water on
the earth’s
surface moves
from evaporation
to condensation
to precipitation.
Precipitation
*where water
returns to the ocean
and land through
rain.
Tsunamis
*when an
earthquake occurs
under or near the
ocean it can create
a massive wave
known as a
tsunami. Japan
was hit with a
tsunami in 2011.
Monsoons
*are seasonal winds
most often
associated with
South Asia. Heavy
rainfall as a result of
monsoons cause
flooding and hardship
for individuals living
in low lying areas.
Floods
*usually indicate a
temporary covering of land
by water that is not normally
covered by water. This can
occur from intense rains
and/or the overflow or break
of a levee. Hurricane
Katrina caused flooding in
New Orleans, Louisiana in
2005.
Tides
*are created by
the relationship
between the
Earth and the
Sun; the
gravitational pull
on the earth’s
surface.
Atmosphere
*(Sky) weather
and climate
Earth/Sun
Relationship
*The tilt of the Earth
causes parts of Earth
to receive more or less
sunlight throughout the
year causing seasons.
Climate is most
affected by latitude and
elevation.
El Niño
*phenomena in which
increased rainfall
across the southern
tier of the US and in
Peru has caused
destructive flooding
and drought in the
West Pacific,
sometimes associated
with devastating brush
fires in Australia.
Biosphere
*refers to life on
earth such as the
climates and
plants and
animals in a
region.
Desertification
*The expansion of
desert like
conditions to areas
of arable land.
Example is the
grassland areas
near the Sahara
desert that are
turning into deserts.