Natural Environment, Democracy, Landscapes, Industry: Key Concepts

Posted on Nov 30, 2024 in Geography

Natural Environment Elements

Physical Elements:

  • Relief: Largely dependent on weather. Surface and groundwater contribute to moderation.
  • Climate: Affected by relief; some areas may have heavy or nonexistent rainfall. Vegetation supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.
  • Soil: Result of weathering and decomposed organic matter.

Living Elements:

  • Vegetation: Related to climate and soil. Variations in climate affect vegetation, enhanced or degraded by precipitation. Plant formation is tied to specific soil types, providing organic matter.
  • Fauna: Influenced by all the above elements, as changes directly affect it.

Characteristics of Democratic Regimes

Democratic regimes are characterized by citizen sovereignty. Citizens exercise power directly or through elected representatives. The dominant system is representative democracy, with free elections and political parties. Parties present manifestos outlining their intended actions. All adult citizens have the right to vote (universal suffrage). The rule of law, implying respect for human rights and legal compliance, is essential. Power is separated into three branches:

  • Legislative Branch: Parliament (drafts and approves laws).
  • Executive Branch: Government.
  • Judiciary Branch: Courts of Justice.

A constitution or fundamental law, approved by citizens through a referendum, regulates political and territorial organization.

Landscape Types

Mediterranean Polyculture

  • Common worldwide until recently.
  • Found in Mediterranean regions.
  • Crops: wheat, vineyards, and olive trees.
  • Predominantly rainfed (secano) areas.
  • Also found in irrigated orchard areas.

Intensive Greenhouse Agriculture

  • Crops grown under glass or plastic.
  • Requires high capital investment.
  • Concentrated in dense regions with limited soil.
  • Utilizes solar heat and drip irrigation.

Mechanized Cereal Monocultures

  • Areas with monoculture.
  • Incorporates technical methods.
  • Large agro-food properties.
  • High productivity and agricultural subsidies.
  • Products: wheat, rye, and corn.

Industrial Revolutions

  • First Industrial Revolution: Late 18th century, starting in Britain, then spreading to Europe, the US, and Japan. Key innovations: coal and steam engines. Important sectors: textiles and iron/steel. Factories located near mines or ports.
  • Second Industrial Revolution: Early 20th century. Key innovations: hydrocarbons, electricity, combustion engines, electrical machinery, telephone, radio, and television. Factories located in major urban areas.
  • Third Industrial Revolution: Begins in the 1970s. Based on microelectronics, ICT, biotechnology, lasers, new materials, and the aerospace industry. Characterized by the replacement of human labor with machines.

Reasons for Service Sector Growth

In prosperous regions, the tertiary sector growth is due to:

  • Increased income and living standards, raising demand for financial, cultural, leisure, and tourism services.
  • Expansion of the welfare state, providing public services like education, health, and welfare, financed by taxes.
  • Development of financial capital and market liberalization, increasing the number of businesses, banks, and insurance companies.

In poorer countries, service growth is partly due to these factors, with high-income groups and innovative enterprises playing a role.

Factors Behind Global Population Distribution

Key factors include:

  • Climate: Some climates are more favorable than others. Extreme cold and dry climates are less populated; temperate regions are more densely populated. Deserts are found in high latitudes.
  • Relief: Mountains are less habitable due to decreasing temperatures with altitude and steep slopes hindering agriculture and communication.
  • Resources: Fertile soils and mineral resources support intensive agriculture and population concentrations.
  • Economic and Social Organization: Agricultural development allowed for greater population concentration. High population densities are found in areas with intensive agriculture and in developed countries with industry and service-based economies.

Formation of the EU

  • 1948: Benelux customs union (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).
  • 1951: European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) formed by Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
  • 1957: Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).
  • 1973: UK, Ireland, and Denmark join.
  • 1981: Greece joins.
  • 1986: Spain and Portugal join.
  • 1992: Maastricht Treaty transforms the EEC into the European Union (EU).
  • 1995: Austria, Finland, and Sweden join.
  • 2004: EU-25 formed with the addition of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus.
  • 2007: Bulgaria and Romania join.

States in the Iberian Peninsula in 1479

  • Crown of Castile
  • Crown of Aragon: Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Mallorca, Sardinia, and Sicily.
  • Portugal
  • Kingdom of Navarre
  • Emirate of Granada: Granada, Malaga, and Almeria.