Ap Human Geography Chapter 1 Study Guide

1. How does the discipline of geography provide a bridge between the social sciences and the physical science?

Geography can be described as the most interdisciplinary of disciplines. Geography is the study of our planet 's landscapes, peoples, places and environments, global issues, the human impact on the environment and also, the interconnectedness of the world and our communities within it. Human geography takes into account the dynamics of cultures, societies, and economies, and physical geography studies the physical landscapes and the environment. Geography will increase our understanding of how and why the world is changing, globally and locally and how our individual and societal actions contribute to those changes. Simply put it

Colonialism can be defined as the policy of a nation seeking to extend or retain its authority over other peoples or territories, which is accomplished by acquiring political control the country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Some countries use colonialism to acquire land for their people to live in or to use for agricultural purposes. The local inhabitants were often forced to move away, but often, due to the dominant colonial power over the indigenous people who were as slave labor. The European colonial period was from the 16th century to the mid-20th century. European powers built up colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In the beginning, the countries followed a policy of mercantilism, which strengthened the European economy without concern for the other countries in which they were settling. To build up their economies, the new colonies were usually prevented from trading with anyone but the mother country. By the mid-19th century, however, the mighty British Empire gave up mercantilism and trade restrictions. Free trade principles were introduced which allowed colonies to trade with few tariffs or restrictions. The European colonialism brought about by the Industrial Revolution prompted an early wave of globalization. Colonialism moved technology, food, and ideas around the globe in merchant ships from the colonial empires of Britain, Spain, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Once the United States became independent and had