Tools of the Trade
These imaginary lines run East and West but measure distance North and South of the Equator.
What is Latitude?
These giant slabs of the Earth's crust move slowly over time, creating mountains and causing earthquakes.
What are Tectonic Plates?
The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people or culture to another.
What is Cultural Diffusion?
In this type of economic system, the government makes all decisions regarding production and prices.
What is a Command Economy?
In this type of government, leaders must follow the law and their power is restricted by a constitution.
What is a Limited Government?
This line sits at 0° Longitude and divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
What is the Prime Meridian?
This term refers to the long-term average of weather patterns in a specific region.
What is Climate?
These are specific characteristics—like language, food, and religion—that define a group’s way of life.
What are Cultural Traits?
This statistic measures the total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year.
What is GDP (Gross Domestic Product)?
A government ruled by a king or queen who inherits their power.
What is a Monarchy?
This part of a map explains what the various symbols, colors, and lines represent.
What is the Legend (or Map Key)?
The process by which water, wind, or ice wears away the Earth's surface and moves sediment to new locations.
What is Erosion?
This is the term for the movement of people from one place to another, often due to "push" or "pull" factors.
What is Migration?
A country with a high life expectancy, high literacy rate, and advanced technology is considered this.
What is a Developed Country?
This is a system where the government has total control over every aspect of its citizens' lives.
What is Totalitarianism (or an Unlimited Government)?
This technology uses a constellation of satellites to provide highly accurate location data to users on Earth.
What is GPS (Global Positioning System)?
Most of the world's active volcanoes and earthquakes occur in this region surrounding the Pacific Ocean.
What is the Ring of Fire?
A group of people who share a common ancestry, language, religion, or cultural tradition.
What is an Ethnic Group?
This is an economic system where decisions are based on customs and beliefs handed down through generations.
What is a Traditional Economy?
A type of government where a small group of powerful people (often the wealthy or military) holds control.
What is an Oligarchy?
A person’s internal "map" or perception of their surroundings based on their own experiences.
What is a Mental Map?
This process occurs when fertile land becomes desert, often due to drought or deforestation.
What is Desertification?
The process of people moving from rural areas (the countryside) into cities.
What is Urbanization?
Land, Labor, Capital, and Entrepreneurship are known as these.
What are the Factors of Production?
In this form of government, citizens vote for representatives to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
What is a Republic (or Representative Democracy)?