Map Concepts
Regions & Spatial Thinking
Population & Demographics
Culture & Diffusion
Cultural Change & Movement
100

This type of projection distorts size near the poles and is commonly used for navigation.

Mercator Projection

100

A region defined by measurable data (like climate or language).

Formal Region

100

This government count happens every 10 years in the U.S.

The Census

100

The idea that the environment shapes human behavior.

Environmental Determinism

100

A group of people with a shared culture but no country.

Stateless Nation

200

This projection shows a more visually pleasing world map with balanced distortions.

Robinson Projection

200

A region organized around a central point (like a metro area).

Functional Region

200

The purpose of the census includes measuring this key political factor.

Congressional representation/house seats

200

When cultural traits spread from one place to another.

Diffusion

200

A country with multiple ethnic groups.

Robinson Projection

300

Maps that change the size of countries based on data such as population or GDP.

Cartogram

300

A region based on personal feelings or stereotypes.

Perceptual/Vernacular Region

300

What the shape of a population pyramid can tell you.

Age structure, growth rate, and development level of a population

300

A type of diffusion where people move and bring ideas with them.

Relocation Diffusion

300

Maps that change the size of countries based on data such as population or GDP.

Cartogram

400

The idea that “All maps lie” refers to this fact about mapmaking.

All maps distort reality because a 3D world cannot be perfectly shown on a 2D map.

400

This term describes how dense a population is in a given area.

Arithmetic Density

400

 The DTM stage with high birth and high death rates.

Stage 1

400

The type of diffusion where a trait spreads but is changed as it arrives.

Stimulus Diffusion

400

The idea that “All maps lie” refers to this fact about mapmaking.

All maps distort reality because a 3D world cannot be perfectly shown on a 2D map.

500

The system that analyzes, stores, and displays geographic data.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

500

The three types of density studied in human geography.

Arithmetic, Physiological, Agricultural

500

The DTM stage where birth rates fall below death rates.

Stage 5

500

This religious food restriction forbids pork for both Jews and Muslims.

Pork is forbidden in both religions.

500

The system that analyzes, stores, and displays geographic data.

GIS (Geographic Information System)