ap human geography. what is political geography? the study of how people have organized the...

Political GeographyAP Human Geography

What is political geography?The study of how people have organized the

Earth’s land surface into countries.

Key QuestionsWhat are the reasons for the arrangement/

organization of different countries?Why do conflicts arise from arrangements/

organization of different countries?

Political vs. Physical Geography

State vs. Nation vs. Country These three terms can mean the same

things…or not.

State/ CountryAn area organized into a political unitRuled by an established governmentHas control over its internal and foreign

affairs.Has a defined territoryHas sovereignty= independence from othersFormal/ uniform regionExamples: Mexico, China, U.S.A., but not

Texas, Illinois, Florida, etc.

NationNation can be another way of saying state

“What nation are you from?”“I am from South Korea.”

However, nation can also refer to a tightly-knit group of people which share a common culture, but do not necessarily occupy an area of land

Examples: Palestinian people, Nation of Islam, Cherokee Nation

Nation-StateA state whose

territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnic group.

Iraq is not a nation state, but could be if divided into 3.

Examples: Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Israel

The United KingdomAs a whole, the UK

is viewed as a multi-national state.

However, it is made up of 4 nation-states.

State SizesBig States Micro StatesRussiaCanadaU.S.ChinaBrazilAustralia

MonacoVatican CityAndorraBahrainLichtensteinMost are small islands in

the Caribbean, Pacific, and off the coast of larger countries.

Microstates of Europe

Ancient City StatesToday, city-states are not

widespread, although the Vatican is an example.

Historically, city-states included a city and it’s surrounding countryside.

Each city is sovereign/ no unity.

Example: Ancient Mesopotamia (Ur) or Medieval Italy

ColoniesTerritory legally tied to a sovereign state and

is not completely independent.e.g. 13 American colonies under the BritishMotives include God (spread Christianity),

Gold ($$$), and Glory (power/ prestige)The British had colonies world wide,

including India, Australia, much of Africa, Eastern N.A., Middle East

Most gained independence after-WWII.Puerto Rico is still a colony of the U.S.