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🚜AP Human Geography
Key Terms

2180 essential vocabulary terms and definitions to know for your AP Human Geography exam

Most-studied AP Human Geography key terms

The AP Human Geography terms students look up most, with a definition for each.

🚜AP Human Geography
Key Terms by Unit

Unit 1 – Thinking Geographically

1.1 Introduction to Maps

1.2 Geographic Data

1.3 The Power of Geographic Data

1.4 Spatial Concepts

1.5 Human-Environmental Interaction

1.6 Scales of Analysis

1.7 Regional Analysis

Unit 2 – Population and Migration

2.1 Population Distribution

2.2 Consequences of Population Distribution

2.3 Population Composition

2.4 Population Dynamics

2.5 The Demographic Transition Model

2.6 Malthusian Theory

2.7 Population Policies

2.8 Women and Demographic Change

2.9 Aging Populations

2.10 Causes of Migration

2.11 Forced and Voluntary Migration

2.12 Effects of Migration

Unit 3 – Cultural Geography

3.1 Introduction to Culture

3.2 Cultural Landscapes

3.3 Cultural Patterns

3.4 Types of Diffusion

3.5 Historical Causes of Diffusion

3.6 Contemporary Causes of Diffusion

3.7 Diffusion of Religion and Language

3.8 Effects of Diffusion

Unit 4 – Political Geography

4.1 Introduction to Political Geography

4.2 Political Processes

4.3 Political Power and Territoriality

4.4 Defining Political Boundaries

4.5 The Function of Political Boundaries

4.6 Internal Boundaries

4.7 Forms of Governance

4.8 Defining Devolutionary Factors

4.9 Challenges to Sovereignty

4.10 Consequences of Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces

Unit 5 – Agriculture and Rural Land–Use

5.1 Introduction to Agriculture

5.2 Settlement Patterns and Survey Methods

5.3 Agricultural Origins and Diffusions

5.4 The Second Agricultural Revolution

5.6 Agricultural Production Regions

5.7 Spatial Organization of Agriculture

5.8 Von Thünen Model

5.9 The Global System of Agriculture

5.10 Consequences of Agricultural Practices

5.11 Challenges of Contemporary Agriculture

5.12 Women in Agriculture

Unit 6 – Cities and Urban Land–Use

6.1 The Origin and Influences of Urbanization

6.2 Cities Across the World

6.3 Cities and Globalization

6.4 The Size and Distribution of Cities

6.5 The Internal Structure of Cities

6.6 Density and Land Use

6.7 Infrastructure

6.8 Urban Sustainability

6.9 Urban Data

6.10 Challenges of Urban Changes

6.11 Challenges of Urban Sustainability

Unit 7 – Industrial and Economic Development

7.1 The Industrial Revolution

7.2 Economic Sectors and Patterns

7.3 Measures of Development

7.4 Women and Economic Development

7.5 Theories of Development

7.6 Trade and the World Economy

7.7 Changes as a Result of the World Economy

7.8 Sustainable Development

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