Political GeographyAP Human Geography

What is political geography?The study of how people have organized the

Earth’s land surface into countries.

Key QuestionsWhat are the reasons for the arrangement/

organization of different countries?Why do conflicts arise from arrangements/

organization of different countries?

Political vs. Physical Geography

State vs. Nation vs. Country These three terms can mean the same

things…or not.

State/ CountryAn area organized into a political unitRuled by an established governmentHas control over its internal and foreign

affairs.Has a defined territoryHas sovereignty= independence from othersFormal/ uniform regionExamples: Mexico, China, U.S.A., but not

Texas, Illinois, Florida, etc.

NationNation can be another way of saying state

“What nation are you from?”“I am from South Korea.”

However, nation can also refer to a tightly-knit group of people which share a common culture, but do not necessarily occupy an area of land

Examples: Palestinian people, Nation of Islam, Cherokee Nation

Nation-StateA state whose

territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnic group.

Iraq is not a nation state, but could be if divided into 3.

Examples: Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Japan, Israel

The United KingdomAs a whole, the UK

is viewed as a multi-national state.

However, it is made up of 4 nation-states.

State SizesBig States Micro StatesRussiaCanadaU.S.ChinaBrazilAustralia

MonacoVatican CityAndorraBahrainLichtensteinMost are small islands in

the Caribbean, Pacific, and off the coast of larger countries.

Microstates of Europe

Ancient City StatesToday, city-states are not

widespread, although the Vatican is an example.

Historically, city-states included a city and it’s surrounding countryside.

Each city is sovereign/ no unity.

Example: Ancient Mesopotamia (Ur) or Medieval Italy

ColoniesTerritory legally tied to a sovereign state and

is not completely independent.e.g. 13 American colonies under the BritishMotives include God (spread Christianity),

Gold ($$$), and Glory (power/ prestige)The British had colonies world wide,

including India, Australia, much of Africa, Eastern N.A., Middle East

Most gained independence after-WWII.Puerto Rico is still a colony of the U.S.