Term | Definition |
Pollution | Unclean or impure elements in the air, water, and land. |
Natural Increase | Growth rate |
Doubling Time | The number of years it takes for a population to double in size. |
Migration | The movement of people from place to place. |
Death Rate | The number of deaths per year for every 1,000 people. |
Birthrate | The number of births per year for every 1,000 people. |
Free Trade | The removal of trade barriers so goods can flow freely among countries. |
Natural Resources | Substances on earth that are not made by people, but can be used by people. |
Developed Countries | Countries that have a great deal of technology and manufacturing. |
Developing Countries | Countries working toward greater technology and manufacturing uses. |
Industrialization | The spread of industry. |
Population Distribution | The pattern of human settlement. |
Population Density | The average number of people living on a square mile or square kilometer of land. |
Oligarchy | Any system of government in which a small group holds power. |
Democracy | A system of government in which leaders rule with the consent of the citizens. |
Traditional Economy | A system in which tradition and custom determine economic activity. |
Market Economy | A system in which individuals and private groups make decisions about what to produce. |
Mixed Economy | A system in which the government supports and regulates free enterprise through decisions that affect the marketplace. |
Command Economy | The government owns or directs the means of production and controls the distribution of goods. |
Culture | The way of life of people who share similar beliefs and customs. |
Language Families | Large groups of languages having similar roots. |
Ethnic Group | People who share a common language, history, place of origin, or a combination of these elements. |
Culture Region | A region of the earth with common cultural characteristics. |
Cultural Diffusion | The process of spreading new knowledge and skills from one culture to another. |
Culture Hearths | Early centers of civilization whose ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas. |
Unitary System | A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government. |
Federal System | Divides the powers of government between the national government and the state or provincial governments. |
Autocracy | A government in which the power and authority to rule belong to a single individual. |