AP Human Geography Flashcards: The Origin And Influences Of Urbanization

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on The Origin And Influences Of Urbanization, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Human Geography.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is deindustrialization?

Answer: Deindustrialization is the decline of manufacturing industries. Often leads to urban decay and job loss in former industrial cities.

Flashcard 2: What is the gravity model in urban geography?

Answer: It predicts interaction based on population and distance. Larger, closer cities have stronger interactions than smaller, distant ones.

Flashcard 3: What factor contributes to megacity growth?

Answer: High rates of rural-to-urban migration. Push factors like poverty drive people from rural areas to urban opportunities.

Flashcard 4: What is decentralization in urban planning?

Answer: Decentralization is the distribution of population and industry. Moves economic activity away from central urban areas to suburban locations.

Flashcard 5: Identify a negative effect of urbanization.

Answer: Increased pollution is a negative effect. Results from concentrated industrial activity and vehicle emissions in urban areas.

Flashcard 6: Which urban model includes multiple nuclei?

Answer: The Multiple Nuclei Model by Harris and Ullman. Recognizes that cities develop around multiple centers, not just one CBD.

Flashcard 7: What is the term for the decline of inner-city areas?

Answer: Urban decay. Results from economic decline, population loss, and disinvestment.

Flashcard 8: What is zoning?

Answer: Zoning is the regulation of land use by local government. Separates residential, commercial, and industrial areas for planned development.

Flashcard 9: What are the two main causes of urbanization?

Answer: Industrialization and economic opportunities are main causes. These pull factors attract people to cities for jobs and better living standards.

Flashcard 10: What defines a metropolitan area?

Answer: A metropolitan area includes a core city and its surrounding suburbs. It forms a continuous urban region for economic and social activities.

Flashcard 11: What is the urban heat island effect?

Answer: Urban areas being warmer than rural surroundings. Caused by concrete, asphalt, and reduced vegetation absorbing more heat.

Flashcard 12: What is urban renewal?

Answer: Redevelopment of areas within a city. Aims to revitalize declining urban neighborhoods and infrastructure.

Flashcard 13: What is decentralization in urban planning?

Answer: Decentralization is the distribution of population and industry. Moves economic activity away from central urban areas to suburban locations.

Flashcard 14: What is the rank-size rule?

Answer: A city's population is inversely proportional to its rank. The largest city is twice the size of the second largest, three times the third, etc.

Flashcard 15: Identify a benefit of urbanization.

Answer: Increased access to services and infrastructure. Urban areas concentrate services like healthcare, education, and utilities.

Flashcard 16: Which model describes sectors radiating from the CBD?

Answer: The Hoyt Sector Model. Shows how transportation routes create wedge-shaped land use patterns.

Flashcard 17: What is a CBD?

Answer: CBD stands for Central Business District. The commercial and financial heart of a city with the highest land values.

Flashcard 18: What is deindustrialization?

Answer: Deindustrialization is the decline of manufacturing industries. Often leads to urban decay and job loss in former industrial cities.

Flashcard 19: What is an urban growth boundary?

Answer: A regional boundary set to control urban sprawl. Legal tool used to manage urban expansion and protect surrounding areas.

Flashcard 20: What is a megacity?

Answer: A city with a population over 10 million. These massive urban areas face significant infrastructure and governance challenges.

Flashcard 21: What is an urban growth boundary?

Answer: A regional boundary set to control urban sprawl. Legal tool used to manage urban expansion and protect surrounding areas.

Flashcard 22: Identify an influence of colonialism on urbanization.

Answer: Colonialism often established port cities as trade hubs. Colonial powers created urban centers to facilitate resource extraction and trade.

Flashcard 23: What is the central place theory?

Answer: Theory describing the size and distribution of cities. Developed by Christaller to explain spatial distribution of urban settlements.

Flashcard 24: What is the term for the decline of inner-city areas?

Answer: Urban decay. Results from economic decline, population loss, and disinvestment.

Flashcard 25: What is urban hierarchy?

Answer: Urban hierarchy ranks cities by size and economic functions. Creates a system where larger cities provide more specialized services.

Flashcard 26: Which urban model includes multiple nuclei?

Answer: The Multiple Nuclei Model by Harris and Ullman. Recognizes that cities develop around multiple centers, not just one CBD.

Flashcard 27: What is mixed-use development?

Answer: Mixed-use development combines residential, commercial, and cultural uses. Creates walkable communities that reduce car dependency and urban sprawl.

Flashcard 28: What is smart growth?

Answer: Smart growth is planned economic and community development. Sustainable development approach that manages urban growth efficiently.

Flashcard 29: Identify a characteristic of early cities.

Answer: Early cities were often centers of trade and religion. These functions made cities essential gathering places for early civilizations.

Flashcard 30: What is the rank-size rule?

Answer: A city's population is inversely proportional to its rank. The largest city is twice the size of the second largest, three times the third, etc.

Flashcard 31: Identify a characteristic of global cities.

Answer: They have significant economic influence worldwide. They command and control global economic networks and cultural trends.

Flashcard 32: What are edge cities?

Answer: Edge cities are suburban business districts. Located outside traditional downtown areas but function as economic centers.

Flashcard 33: Which model explains urban land use with concentric rings?

Answer: The Burgess Concentric Zone Model. Features rings expanding outward from the central business district.

Flashcard 34: What is a primate city?

Answer: A primate city is disproportionately larger than other cities in a country. It dominates the urban hierarchy and often houses government and economic centers.

Flashcard 35: Identify an influence of colonialism on urbanization.

Answer: Colonialism often established port cities as trade hubs. Colonial powers created urban centers to facilitate resource extraction and trade.

Flashcard 36: Identify a negative effect of urbanization.

Answer: Increased pollution is a negative effect. Results from concentrated industrial activity and vehicle emissions in urban areas.

Flashcard 37: Identify a factor that leads to suburbanization.

Answer: Desire for more space and better living conditions. Pull factors include lower costs and perceived safety of suburban life.

Flashcard 38: What are squatter settlements?

Answer: Informal housing areas often lacking basic services. Common in developing countries where urban growth exceeds infrastructure development.

Flashcard 39: What is a greenbelt?

Answer: A greenbelt is an area of open land around a city. Designed to control urban sprawl and preserve natural areas.

Flashcard 40: What is a CBD?

Answer: CBD stands for Central Business District. The commercial and financial heart of a city with the highest land values.

Flashcard 41: What is gentrification?

Answer: Gentrification is the process of urban renewal and displacement. Often displaces lower-income residents as property values increase.

Flashcard 42: Identify a key feature of the Latin American city model.

Answer: A prominent commercial spine and peripheral squatter settlements. Shows economic inequality with wealthy commercial areas and poor informal settlements.

Flashcard 43: Identify the first region to urbanize.

Answer: The first region to urbanize was Mesopotamia. Known as the Fertile Crescent, it developed the earliest urban centers around 3500 BCE.

Flashcard 44: What is urban agglomeration?

Answer: Urban agglomeration is the extended city area or urban cluster. Includes the main urban area plus connected smaller settlements.

Flashcard 45: What is urban agglomeration?

Answer: Urban agglomeration is the extended city area or urban cluster. Includes the main urban area plus connected smaller settlements.

Flashcard 46: What is gentrification?

Answer: Gentrification is the process of urban renewal and displacement. Often displaces lower-income residents as property values increase.

Flashcard 47: What is urban hierarchy?

Answer: Urban hierarchy ranks cities by size and economic functions. Creates a system where larger cities provide more specialized services.

Flashcard 48: What is a greenbelt?

Answer: A greenbelt is an area of open land around a city. Designed to control urban sprawl and preserve natural areas.

Flashcard 49: What factor contributes to megacity growth?

Answer: High rates of rural-to-urban migration. Push factors like poverty drive people from rural areas to urban opportunities.

Flashcard 50: What is the central place theory?

Answer: Theory describing the size and distribution of cities. Developed by Christaller to explain spatial distribution of urban settlements.

Flashcard 51: Identify a benefit of urbanization.

Answer: Increased access to services and infrastructure. Urban areas concentrate services like healthcare, education, and utilities.

Flashcard 52: Which model explains urban land use with concentric rings?

Answer: The Burgess Concentric Zone Model. Features rings expanding outward from the central business district.

Flashcard 53: What is the gravity model in urban geography?

Answer: It predicts interaction based on population and distance. Larger, closer cities have stronger interactions than smaller, distant ones.

Flashcard 54: Identify a challenge of rapid urbanization.

Answer: Strain on infrastructure and resources. Urban growth often outpaces the ability to provide adequate services.

Flashcard 55: What is smart growth?

Answer: Smart growth is planned economic and community development. Sustainable development approach that manages urban growth efficiently.

Flashcard 56: What are squatter settlements?

Answer: Informal housing areas often lacking basic services. Common in developing countries where urban growth exceeds infrastructure development.

Flashcard 57: What is a world city?

Answer: A world city is a primary node in the global economic network. These cities control global finance, business, and cultural influence.

Flashcard 58: What is zoning?

Answer: Zoning is the regulation of land use by local government. Separates residential, commercial, and industrial areas for planned development.

Flashcard 59: Identify a characteristic of global cities.

Answer: They have significant economic influence worldwide. They command and control global economic networks and cultural trends.

Flashcard 60: Which model describes sectors radiating from the CBD?

Answer: The Hoyt Sector Model. Shows how transportation routes create wedge-shaped land use patterns.

Flashcard 61: What is an exurb?

Answer: An exurb is a prosperous area beyond the suburbs. Rural areas beyond suburbs where wealthy residents seek space and privacy.

Flashcard 62: Identify a key feature of the Latin American city model.

Answer: A prominent commercial spine and peripheral squatter settlements. Shows economic inequality with wealthy commercial areas and poor informal settlements.

Flashcard 63: What are edge cities?

Answer: Edge cities are suburban business districts. Located outside traditional downtown areas but function as economic centers.

Flashcard 64: What is an exurb?

Answer: An exurb is a prosperous area beyond the suburbs. Rural areas beyond suburbs where wealthy residents seek space and privacy.

Flashcard 65: Identify a factor that leads to suburbanization.

Answer: Desire for more space and better living conditions. Pull factors include lower costs and perceived safety of suburban life.

Flashcard 66: What is urban sprawl?

Answer: Urban sprawl is the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. Often results from automobile dependence and low-density development.

Flashcard 67: What defines a metropolitan area?

Answer: A metropolitan area includes a core city and its surrounding suburbs. It forms a continuous urban region for economic and social activities.

Flashcard 68: Identify a challenge of rapid urbanization.

Answer: Strain on infrastructure and resources. Urban growth often outpaces the ability to provide adequate services.

Flashcard 69: What is mixed-use development?

Answer: Mixed-use development combines residential, commercial, and cultural uses. Creates walkable communities that reduce car dependency and urban sprawl.

Flashcard 70: Identify a characteristic of early cities.

Answer: Early cities were often centers of trade and religion. These functions made cities essential gathering places for early civilizations.