Iberian Peninsula: Relief, Climate, and Rivers

Relief

The rocky Iberian Peninsula can be divided into three areas: siliceous, limestone, and clay.

The siliceous area consists of ancient Precambrian rocks, primarily located in the western peninsula (Galicia, Leon, Extremadura, and most of Portugal). Granite is the predominant rock. This area also includes remains of ancient massifs, such as in the Pyrenees, Iberian and Catalan Coastal Range, and the Penibetic system.

The limestone area consists of secondary sediments folded during the Tertiary.

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Urban Development and Evolution: From Pre-Industrial to Contemporary Cities

1. Urban Population Dynamics

1.1. The Rise of Urban Populations

Traditional societies were primarily rural, while modern society is fundamentally urban. In 1900, only 10% of the global population resided in cities. By 2003, this figure reached 48%, and it is projected to hit 61% by 2030. Megacities like Tokyo, Mexico City, New York, São Paulo, and Mumbai continue to expand, with urban populations, particularly in Asia and Africa, expected to increase significantly.

1.2. Uneven Urbanization

Urbanization

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Raw Materials and Energy: Classification and Impact

1. Classification of Raw Materials by Origin

Raw materials are categorized based on their origin:

  • Animals: Meat, wool, silk, etc.
  • Plants: Cotton, wood, flax, fruit, etc.
  • Minerals: Iron, phosphate, coal, etc.

2. Classification of Mineral Resources by Use

Mineral resources are classified by their use:

  • Non-energy minerals: Iron, silver, phosphates, etc.
  • Energy minerals: Coal, oil, natural gas, uranium.

3. Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy sources are limitless and clean, though they require significant

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Understanding Agricultural and Fishing Practices

Agricultural Practices

Transgenic Crops

Genetically modified plants with altered genes, often to enhance properties like pest resistance and yield.

Sharecropping

Indirect land ownership where the landlord receives a portion of the harvest in exchange for land use. Primarily practiced in Menorca (Balearic Islands), sharecropping is declining in favor of leasing to improve farmers’ economic solvency.

Monoculture

Cultivation of a single dominant plant species in a region. This system enables high mechanization

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Spain’s Integration and Impact within the European Union

European Regional Policy

European regions have varying population and production levels, leading to inequalities. To address this, the EU established a regional policy, utilizing Structural and Cohesion Funds from its annual budget. Initially, Spain and Portugal’s regions were less developed and received substantial funding. However, post-2004, with Eastern European countries joining, funds were redirected to their less developed regions.

Balance of Spain’s EU Accession

Spanish Integration into EU

Two

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Rise of Industrial Powers and Global Economic Shifts

New Forms of Capitalism: Industrial Expansion

Great Britain dominated the global economy until 1870, with London as the financial capital. Its population tripled, mostly living in large cities. Britain maintained its hegemony until 1914. Other nations like Italy, Russia, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and Holland followed. By 1871, Germany’s political unification led to rapid industrial growth, fueled by advanced technology and state-supported banking. This made Germany a leading European power,

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