C H. 4: T HE H UMAN W ORLD

S EC. 1: W ORLD P OPULATION I: Population Growth: The population of Earth is about 7 billion. People inhabit about 30% of Earth’s land. A. Grow Rates: World population is growing rapidly because birthrates have not declined as fast as death rates. Improved diet & health care have lowered the death rate in many places. In economically developing countries, the birthrate is often very high. Wealthy industrialized countries tend to have low birthrates. B. Challenges of Population Growth: World food production has risen to meet demands on every continent except Africa. Rapidly growing populations still face shortages of freshwater, housing & clothing. C. Negative Population Growth? In some countries the death rate is higher than the birthrate. Countries with negative growth rates often recruit workers from other countries to supplement their workforce.

S EC. 1: W ORLD P OPULATION I. Population Distribution A. Earth’s population is not evenly distributed over available land. Most people live near sources of freshwater & in areas where the climate is temperate. Population density measures the average number of people living on a square mile or kilometer of land. A. Earth’s population is not evenly distributed over available land. Most people live near sources of freshwater & in areas where the climate is temperate. Population density measures the average number of people living on a square mile or kilometer of land. B. Population Movement: More people throughout the world are moving to urban areas in search of better jobs, education, & health care. About half of he world’s people now live in urban areas. People also migrate from one country to another, seeking greater economic opportunities & political freedom. B. Population Movement: More people throughout the world are moving to urban areas in search of better jobs, education, & health care. About half of he world’s people now live in urban areas. People also migrate from one country to another, seeking greater economic opportunities & political freedom.

S EC. 2: G LOBAL C ULTURES I. Elements of Culture A. Language: One unifying element of culture is language. The world’s languages are organized into language families. Ten language families. Indo- European family = English, Spanish, Russian,& Hindi. A. Language: One unifying element of culture is language. The world’s languages are organized into language families. Ten language families. Indo- European family = English, Spanish, Russian,& Hindi. B. Religion: Religious beliefs influence certain aspects of daily life. Throughout history, religious symbols & stories have shaped the arts & architecture. Religious differences have been the root of conflicts in many countries. B. Religion: Religious beliefs influence certain aspects of daily life. Throughout history, religious symbols & stories have shaped the arts & architecture. Religious differences have been the root of conflicts in many countries. C. Social groups: Cultures have social systems that include families, social classes, & ethnic groups. C. Social groups: Cultures have social systems that include families, social classes, & ethnic groups. D. Government: Governments of the world share certain features, such as maintaining internal order, providing defense, & supplying public services. D. Government: Governments of the world share certain features, such as maintaining internal order, providing defense, & supplying public services. E. Economic Activities: Geographers study economics to see how people in different cultures produce obtain, use, & sell goods & services. E. Economic Activities: Geographers study economics to see how people in different cultures produce obtain, use, & sell goods & services. F. Culture Regions: Generally include different countries that share certain characteristics. F. Culture Regions: Generally include different countries that share certain characteristics.

S EC. 2: G LOBAL C ULTURES II. Culture Change A. The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 yrs ago when the climate grew warmer, early nomadic peoples began to grow food rather than hunting & gathering. A. The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 yrs ago when the climate grew warmer, early nomadic peoples began to grow food rather than hunting & gathering. B. Culture Hearths: The word’s first civilizations arose in the areas of present day Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, China, & Mexico. They are known as culture hearths because their ideas & practices spread to surrounding areas. B. Culture Hearths: The word’s first civilizations arose in the areas of present day Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, China, & Mexico. They are known as culture hearths because their ideas & practices spread to surrounding areas. C. Specialization & Civilization: As farmers began o supply food surpluses, some people could give up farming & earn their living from other activities, like shipbuilding or metalworking. The production of goods for trade led to increased wealth. C. Specialization & Civilization: As farmers began o supply food surpluses, some people could give up farming & earn their living from other activities, like shipbuilding or metalworking. The production of goods for trade led to increased wealth. D. Culture Contacts: Through trade & travel, people in difference civilizations made contacts w/ one another that promoted cultural change. Aspects of migrants’ cultures often blended w/ those of native populations. D. Culture Contacts: Through trade & travel, people in difference civilizations made contacts w/ one another that promoted cultural change. Aspects of migrants’ cultures often blended w/ those of native populations. E. Industrial & Information Revolutions: In the 1700s & 1800s, people began inventing ways to mass produce goods. During the Industrial Revolution, millions of people left their farms to live in cities & work in factories. The Information Revolution occurred in the late 1900s as computers made it possible to store huge amounts of information & send it all over the world instantly. E. Industrial & Information Revolutions: In the 1700s & 1800s, people began inventing ways to mass produce goods. During the Industrial Revolution, millions of people left their farms to live in cities & work in factories. The Information Revolution occurred in the late 1900s as computers made it possible to store huge amounts of information & send it all over the world instantly.

S EC. 3: P OLITICAL & E CONOMIC S YSTEMS I. Features of Government: the world is made up of about 200 independent countries, each with a government that makes & enforces laws binding on all people living its territory. II. Levels of Government A. Unitary Systems: government that gives all key powers to the national or central government The national government then creates local governments with limited authority. B. Federal Systems: government that divides governmental powers between the national government & state or provincial governments.

S EC. 3: P OLITICAL & E CONOMIC S YSTEMS III. Types of Government A. Autocracy: A single individual is the absolute ruler. In a totalitarian dictatorship, a leader seeks to control all aspects of a country’s social & economic life. In an absolute monarchy, the ruler inherits his or her position & exercises supreme power. A. Autocracy: A single individual is the absolute ruler. In a totalitarian dictatorship, a leader seeks to control all aspects of a country’s social & economic life. In an absolute monarchy, the ruler inherits his or her position & exercises supreme power. B. Oligarchy: Small group that holds power. The group’s authority comes from wealth, social status, or military power. Autocracies & oligarchies do not allow the existence of opposition groups. B. Oligarchy: Small group that holds power. The group’s authority comes from wealth, social status, or military power. Autocracies & oligarchies do not allow the existence of opposition groups. C. Democracy: Leaders rule with the consent of the people. In a republic voters elect all major officials, who are responsible to the people. C. Democracy: Leaders rule with the consent of the people. In a republic voters elect all major officials, who are responsible to the people.

S EC. 3: P OLITICAL & E CONOMIC S YSTEMS IV. Economic Systems A. Traditional Economy: Customs & traditions determine the rules or economic activity in traditional economies, but few area in the world have such economies today. A. Traditional Economy: Customs & traditions determine the rules or economic activity in traditional economies, but few area in the world have such economies today. B. Market Economy: Individuals & private groups decide what they will produce & what they will purchase, A mixed-market economy is one which the government supports & regulates free enterprise & through decisions that affect the market place. B. Market Economy: Individuals & private groups decide what they will produce & what they will purchase, A mixed-market economy is one which the government supports & regulates free enterprise & through decisions that affect the market place. C. Command Economy: The government owns the means of producing & distributing goods & controls all economic decision making. C. Command Economy: The government owns the means of producing & distributing goods & controls all economic decision making. D. Socialism & Communism: A command economy is called either socialism or communism, depending on how much the government is involved. Strict government control of the economy & all aspects of society in known as communism. Under socialism a government allows a fairly wide range of enterprise alongside government-run activities. The aims of socialism are to equally distribute wealth & promote economic activity among all people, to place control of major decisions about production in the government, & to advance public ownership of most land, factories, & other means of production. D. Socialism & Communism: A command economy is called either socialism or communism, depending on how much the government is involved. Strict government control of the economy & all aspects of society in known as communism. Under socialism a government allows a fairly wide range of enterprise alongside government-run activities. The aims of socialism are to equally distribute wealth & promote economic activity among all people, to place control of major decisions about production in the government, & to advance public ownership of most land, factories, & other means of production.

S EC. 4: R ESOURCES, T RADE & THE E NVIRONMENT I. Resources: As people use up more & more nonrenewable resources, such as minerals & fossil fuels, scientists work on finding alternatives. Hydroelectric power, which comes from water, & solar energy, which comes from the sun, are two alternatives to fossil fuels. II. Economic Development A. Natural resources are not distributes evenly throughout Earth. In developed countries only a small portion of the population works in agriculture. In developing countries, most of the people are subsistence farmers. B. Industrialization has recently helped change economies in countries that once relied on agriculture. C. Certain militant groups in developing countries have used terrorism to counter he global influence of developed countries.

S EC. 4: R ESOURCES, T RADE & THE E NVIRONMENT III. World Trade A. Barriers to Trade: Countries trade because of the unequal distribution of natural resources. Each government tries to manage trade to benefit its people. Countries often add tariffs to imported goods or set limits on how much can be imported. When a country bans trade with another country for political or economic reasons, this action is called an embargo. A. Barriers to Trade: Countries trade because of the unequal distribution of natural resources. Each government tries to manage trade to benefit its people. Countries often add tariffs to imported goods or set limits on how much can be imported. When a country bans trade with another country for political or economic reasons, this action is called an embargo. B. Free Trade: The World Trade Organization promotes free trade internationally. The North American Free Trade Agreement has removed trade barriers among the Unites States, Canada, & Mexico. B. Free Trade: The World Trade Organization promotes free trade internationally. The North American Free Trade Agreement has removed trade barriers among the Unites States, Canada, & Mexico.

S EC. 4: R ESOURCES, T RADE & THE E NVIRONMENT V. People & heir Environment A. Water & Land Pollution: Water pollution includes oil spills from tankers, chemical & industrial waste from factories, fertilizers, & chemicals used by farmers, animal wastes, & untreated sewage. Land pollution results from unsanitary dumpsites, radioactive waste, & chemical waste. B. Air Pollution: the burning of fossil fuels by vehicles & industries causes air pollution. Burning fuels give off gases & combine with precipitation to form acid rain, which can destroy whole forests. C. the fragile Ecosystem: People can help protect the environment by treating water, preserving wilderness areas, recycling, & using hydroelectric or solar power instead of burning fossil fuels.