1. Chapter 4:3
Political Geography

2. Nation
Geographers’ definition: community of people with common ancestry, culture and territory
Does not imply an independent political unit
e.g. Quebec; Acadians in Eastern Canada; “First Nations” throughout Canada

3. State
An independent political unit holding sovereignty over a territory (Canada)
Casually referred to as “country”
United States of America: 50 theoretically independent units that chose to join together in 1 ‘State’

4. Nation-States
State whose territory coincides with the area occupied by a single nation
E.g. Iceland – all residents of the state are members of a single Icelandic nation
vs. Canada – several different nations within the boundaries of the Canadian state

5. Democracy
In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say over who runs the country. It is distinct from governments controlled by a particular social class or group (aristocracy; oligarchy) or by a single person (despotism; dictatorship; monarchy).
A democracy is determined either directly or through elected representatives.

6. Monarchy A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress.
The ruling position can be passed on to the ruler’s heirs.
In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has absolute power.
But a constitutional monarchy, like the UK, also has a democratic government that limits the monarch's control.

7. Dictatorship
A country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected and may use force to keep control.
In a military dictatorship, the army is in control.

8. Communist
In a communist country, the government owns property such as businesses and farms.
It provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare.

9. Checks and Balances

10. Characteristics of Nations -Size-

11. Characteristics of Nations -Shape-

12. Characteristics of Nations -Location-

13. Boundary Types
Natural and Artificial

14. Chapter 4:4
Urban Geography

15. Urban Geography Differences between cities and rural areas Size
Commerce
Social life and culture

16. Urbanization

17. Land Use Residential: Living space Mixed Use: Housing and business
Industrial: Manufacturing
Commercial: Private business, buying and selling

18. Chapter 4:5
Economic Geography

19. Economic Systems
Economy: The production and exchange of goods and services among a group of people. Stuff and $!!!
Economic System: How people produce and goods and services.
How do we get stuff and $!!!

20. Traditional Economy
Goods and services are bartered. That is, they are exchanges without using money.

21. Command Economy
The government owns the means of production and, in turn, sets production levels and pricing.

22. Market Economy
Supply is determined by demand. Consumers and profit are the driving forces. Also called capitalism.

23. Mixed Economy
This combination of command and market systems has capitalism as its base but also provides goods and services to all citizens.

24. Levels of Economic Activity
Primary: Gathering raw materials
Cut down the trees and mine the minerals
Secondary: Increase the value of raw materials by changing their form
Shape the pencil blanks and create the lead and eraser
Tertiary: Provide business or professional services
Sell the pencils
Quaternary: Provide information, management, and research services
Help the pencil company expand its customer base and advertising

25. Natural Resources
Materials occurring naturally on the earth that have economic value. This can only happen when technology and demand meet to transform resources into goods. Think gold and petroleum.

26. Infrastructure

27. Economic Measures GNP – Gross National Product
The total value of all goods and services produced by a country
GDP – Gross Domestic Product
The total value of all goods and services produced within a country
Per Capita Income – Average amount of money earned by each person
GNP/Poplulation