Political Geography
This term describes a group of people who share culture, language, or identity but may not have their own independent territory
Nation
In this form of government citizens hold power and elect representatives (example: United States).
Democracy
One characteristic of a country that can determine available resources and population is its _______.
Size
Boundaries that follow rivers, lakes, or mountain chains are called _______.
Natural boundaries
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a year is called the _______.
Birth rate
What do we call an independent territory that has sovereignty and control over its land and government?
State
Name the government type where a royal family rules and power is often inherited.
Monarchy
What are three common shapes of countries mentioned in the text?
Compact, long (elongated), and fragmented
Boundaries defined by straight lines like a latitude or longitude are called _______.
Artificial boundaries
What is natural increase, and how is it calculated using birth and mortality rates?
Natural increase = birth rate − mortality rate
When a single territory is both a state and largely made up of one nation (culture and political unit aligned), what is this called?
Nation-state
Which system concentrates power in one person or small group and often limits political freedoms?
Dictatorship (example: North Korea)
Explain one advantage and one challenge of having port access versus being landlocked, according to the notes.
Port access: easier/cheaper trade; landlocked: higher import/export costs, reliance on neighbors’ ports.
Give the two examples that were used in the class notes: one natural boundary and one artificial boundary.
Natural: Delaware River (PA–NJ). Artificial: 49°N (U.S.–Canada).
Describe two reasons (from your notes) why world population growth sped up after 1850.
ndustrialization improved food, sanitation; technology and medical advances lowered mortality, accelerating exponential growth since 1850.
Give an examples from the notes on a stateless nation.
Kurds; Palestinians
According to the reading, this system combines government control of political power and control of the means of production, often leaving little political freedom.
Communism
How can a country's size not guarantee wealth or power? Cite the passage's guidance about size and resources.
Large size does not guarantee resources, wealth, or effective governance; size alone isn't sufficient for power.
Why can shifting rivers lead to disputes between countries, based on the passage? 500 — Explain how a natural marker and an artificial line might produce different challenges when determining a border
Natural marker (tree or river) can move or be ambiguous; artificial line is fixed but may divide communities arbitrarily
Explain what a population pyramid’s wide base indicates and contrast that with a pyramid that has a small base; include what these shapes imply about future population growth.
Wide base = many young people, rapid future growth; small base = fewer young people, likely population decline or aging population.