Human Systems

Economic GeographyUrban and Rural GeographyPolitical Geography

Economic Activities• Four Types

– Primary Activities• Use natural resources directly (at

site)• Ex: wheat farming, iron

– Secondary Activities• Use raw materials to

manufacture something• Close to resource• Ex: manufacturing steel

– Tertiary Activities• provide services to people and

businesses (near customer)• Ex: Car Dealer, Bakeries

– Quaternary Activities• Process and distribute

information (anywhere)• Ex: research, engineering

Economic Systems

3 types of economic systems Subsistence Economy Market Economy Command Economy

Subsistence Economy

People make goods for themselves and family

Little surplus/exchange = limited markets

Found in poor countries

Ex: Africa, S.E. Asia

Market Economy

People Freely Choose what to buy and sell

Free enterprise = competition

Capitalism Found in rich

countries Ex: USA, Europe

Command Economy

Government makes all major economic decisions

Communism = system in which government owns almost all means of production

Ex: Cuba, North Korea, China

Economic Patters, Resources, and Technology

• The creation and distribution of resources affect the locations of economic activities– The need for a resource draws business and

workers where it is found– Business must find ways to ship products

• EX: Gold Rush of CA. San Francisco grows

– Changes in technology, transportation, and communication also affect location and patterns of economic activities• Refrigerated box cars, increase market• Internet

Level of Development

Development refers to steady improvements in a country’s economy in people’s quality of life.

Economic progress varies greatly among different countries and within countries. We use a variety of

tools and statistics to figure out level of development

Dubai 1990 and 2009

Measures of Development

• Gross National Product (GNP)– Total value of goods and

services a country produces in a year

– Includes all foreign owned industry

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)– All goods and services produced

within a country• Industrialization

– Process by which manufacturing based on machine power becomes widespread in an area

• Other measures– Telephone use, internet access,

energy use, and transportation

Standard of Living Level of development

is directly related to standard of living

Measured by factors such as income levels, education, literacy rate, food consumption, health care, technology level, and life expectancy Literacy rate – % of

people who can read and write.

Greg Mortenson in Afghanistan

Developed vs. Developing

Developed: rich countries with high levels of industrialization and high standard of living Less than 25% of

world’s population live in developed countries

USA, Europe, Japan Developing: less

productive economically, low standard of living Africa, Asia, Central &

South America

Developing Nations

Developed Nations

Between the two

Middle-Income Countries: have features of both developed and developing. Cities are modern, rural areas very poor. Ex: Mexico,

Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina

Middle Income- Struggle with Poverty

GDP per capita is a good indicator for level of development. It is the total GDP divided by total population

Characteristics of Development Infrastructure: a

system of roads, ports, and other facilities needed by a modern economy.

Developed: low birth rates, low death rates, high literacy rates, high per capita GDP Developing are going

to be opposite

Urban Geography

First cities appeared in SW Asia more than 5,000 years ago Made possible through

domestication, sustain life off farm

Urbanization: growth of people living in cities Cultural diffusion

increases 75% of developed world

lives in cities Cities growing larger

and faster

Urban Geography

Reasons cities grow Near key resources

▪ Fresh water▪ Minerals▪ oil

Along transportation/trade routes▪ Rivers & ports

Easily defendable sites▪ Hilltops, islands

▪ Jerusalem, Paris (Seine)

Rural Geography

Rural areas are found outside of cities, agriculture is the key economic activity Subsistence agriculture: most practiced

form of agriculture in the world. Food produced by a family for its own needs. Anything extra is used to barter or sell for other needed goods.▪ Shifting agriculture – clear trees and brush for

farming, slash and burn farming▪ Pastoralism – herding animals, can represent

wealth and prestige.

Rural Geography

Market oriented Agriculture Commercial

agriculture Found in developed

countries Very productive Agribusiness:

operation of specialized commercial farms for more efficiency and profits

Political Geography

195 countries in the world each with its own independent government and political system

Countries interact with each other in peace, this is called diplomacy. They also interact through trade agreements and international organizations.

United Nations and World Trade Organization Example of international organization

that helps countries interact

United Nations Political and

military cooperation are developed in the United Nations (UN) Nearly all countries

are members Main goal is to

settle disputes between countries and prevent wars

Solve global problems such as disease, hunger, and illiteracy

Cultural Beliefs and Government Can affect how

governments are set up and operate. Religious holidays

Influence decisions and policy Israel: Religion

drives policy Iran

Geographic Boundaries

Three types of boundaries separate countries from each other Natural boundaries Cultural boundaries Geometric

boundaries

Natural Boundaries

Mountains are good natural boundaries Difficult to cross and

are permanent markers

Rivers can be troublesome boundaries Many rivers are

shared transportation routes

They move Other examples:

deserts, lakes, and oceans

Cultural Boundaries

These are borders that are based on cultural traits, such as religion or language Religion lines: India

and Pakistan. Also Ireland

Language lines: Portugal and Spain

Every day, a flag-lowering ceremony takes place at Wagah Border, which connects India and Pakistan

Geometric Boundaries

Follow regular, geometric patterns, usually straight lines without regard to environmental or cultural patterns. Usually follow

latitude and longitude lines▪ 45th parallel between

USA and Canada Can cause issues

and conflict▪ Africa colonial

footprint

Types of Governments

Totalitarian One person, or a

select few decide what is best for everyone

Monarchy nationalism

Democratic All citizens have a

voice and decide who will govern