Chapter Intro 2

1. Section 1:World Population The characteristics and distribution of human populations affect physical and human systems.Population growth and distribution influence where people live and how they change the natural environment. Chapter Intro 2

2. Section 2:Global Cultures The characteristics and distribution of cultures influence human systems.The spatial interaction of cultures can spread new ideas, establish trading relationships, cause wars, and build political partnerships. Chapter Intro 3

3. Population Growth Population growth varies from country to country and is influenced by cultural ideas, migration, and level of development. • Nearly 6.5 billion people now live on Earth, inhabiting about 30 percent of the planet’s land. • Global population is growing rapidly and is expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050. Section 1

4. Population Growth (cont.) • The Demographic Transition • The demographic transition model uses birthrates and death rates to show changes in the population trends of a country or region. • Most of the industrialized and technologically developed countries have reached zero population growth, in which the birthrate and death rate are equal. The Demographic Transition Model Section 1

5. Population Growth (cont.) • Rapid population growth presents many challenges to the global community: • difficulty producing enough food to feed everyone • a shortage of resources • an uneven distribution of age Section 1

6. Population Growth (cont.) • Countries, such as Hungary and Germany, have experienced negative population growth, in which the annual death rate exceeds the annual birthrate. Section 1

7. Population Distribution World population distribution is uneven and isinfluenced by migration and the Earth’s physical geography. • Almost everyone on Earth lives on a little less than one-third of the planet’s land. Section 1

8. Population Distribution (cont.) • Population Density • To determine population density in a country, geographers divide the total population of the country by its total land area. • This does not account for uneven population distribution. World Population Density Section 1

9. Population Distribution (cont.) • Population Movement • Many people are moving to urban areas. • The primary cause of urbanization is the desire of rural people to find jobs and a better life in more prosperous urban areas. • Population movement also occurs between countries. Urban Growth in Selected Cities Section 1

10. Elements of Culture Geographers divide the Earth into culture regions, which are defined by the presence of common elements such as language and religion. • A particular culture can be understood by looking at the following elements: • Language • Religion World Language Families Section 2

11. Elements of Culture (cont.) • Social Groups • Government and Economy • Culture Regions World Culture Regions Section 2

12. Cultural Change Internal and external forces change cultures over time. • The Agricultural Revolution • The shift from hunting and gathering food to producing food is known as the Agricultural Revolution. • Some of the farming villages evolved into civilizations. Section 2

13. Cultural Change (cont.) • The world’s first civilizations arose in culture hearths. • The most influential culture hearths developed in areas that make up the modern countries of: • Egypt • Iraq • Pakistan • China • Mexico World Culture Hearths Section 2

14. Cultural Change (cont.) • They have certain geographic features in common: • Mild climate • Fertile land • Located near a major river or source of water Section 2

15. Cultural Change (cont.) • Cultural contact among different civilizations promoted cultural change as ideas and practices spread through trade and travel. Section 2

16. Cultural Change (cont.) • Industrial and Information Revolutions • In the late 1700s and 1800s some countries experienced the Industrial Revolution, which led to social changes. • At the end of the 1900s, the information revolution opened doors for experiencing new cultures. Section 2

17. World Population • Population growth increased rapidly, but unevenly throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. • The world’s population is unevenly distributed. Large numbers of people are migrating from rural areas to cities for jobs or to escape famine and war. • As people become more mobile, so do goods. Countries trade to gain access to resources they lack. VS 1

18. World Culture • Language, religion, social groups, government, and economic activities define cultures. • Geographers divide the Earth into specific culture regions. • Trade, migration, war, and technology can change cultures. • The world’s first civilizations arose in culture hearths in Central America, Africa, and Asia. VS 2

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