GEOGRAPHY.

1- Definition.

Geography studies the different environments, places and spaces of the Earth's surface and their
interactions.

2- History.

- Beginnings.
o First systematically studied by Greek: Strabo, Ptolemy, etc.
o Middle Age: Muslim world, Marco Polo journeys, etc.
o Modern Age: new geographical discoveries.

- Modern geography.
o One of the most important sciences.
o Fathers of geography: Humboldt, Ritter.

3- Branches of geography.

- Physical geography. It's the study of natural environments.

o Waters
o Mountains
o Relief
o Landscapes
o Climate
o Soils
o Vegetation
o Animals

- Human geography. It's the study of all human activities that affect the Earth.
It includes:
o Demography Rural areas
o Human settlements
Urban areas
o Political organisation
Primary sector
o Economic activity Secondary sector
Tertiary sector

- Regional geography.

It's the study of geographical units and their relationship with physical and human elements.

POLITICAL ORGANISATION

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We use the word politics for all the activities related to the organisation and government of human
activities.

1. Characteristics of the democratic states.

- Popular sovereignty.

People from a given country create and sustain the power of the government through the
representatives that they elect.

- Right of vote.

o Universal suffrage and freedom of opinion.

o Citizens choose their representatives for a limited period of time.

o All citizens can be elected as representatives.

o Freedom to create political parties.

- The rule of law.

All citizens are submitted to the constitution and the rest of the set of laws.

- The division of powers.

o Legislative power. The ability to make laws (Parliament)

o Executive power. To apply the laws and to make political decisions (Government).

o Judicial power. To resolve problems in accordance with the law (Court of Justice).

2. Types of democratic systems.

- Presidential system.

o There is a president who is both the head of the state and the head of the government, so he
has executive power.

o The president is elected in presidential elections, while the parliament is elected in different
elections. This way, the parliamentary majority can be hold by a different political party.

o Examples: USA and most of Iberoamerican countries.

- Parliamentary system.

o The executive power is exercises by a government composed by ministers and headed by a

president. It has to be supported by the representatives of the chambers.

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o Elections are unique for both the parliament and the government. Government is usually the
same party as majority group in the chambers (but not always).

o The head of the state (President of the republic or king) does not have executive power but,
just represents the state and arbitrate between the political parties.

o Examples: most of the European countries (Spain).

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 ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

Economy is related to any activity which is carried out by humans in order to satisfy all their necessities.

Human beings are able to obtain goods they need from factors of production, through means of activity
which are classified in three economic sectors and carried out by economic agents.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Economic goods Factors of Economic Economic

(and services) production sectors agents
- Direct from nature - Natural resources -Primary sector - People (families)
(raw materials) - Human resources -Secondary sector - Private companies
- Elaborated products - Capital: -Tertiary sector - The state
o Classified by: - Machinery
o Composition - Money
(consumable) - Facilities
o Function
(Intermediate/finished)
o Ownership
(public /private)

INTERACTION BETWEEN ECONOMIC AGENTS

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Economic agents' explanation.

People / Families
They are private economic agents. They form small production units that generate and consume
goods and services.

Companies.
They are private economic agents which do not consume the products or services they generate.
They sell the products for a profit. Companies can be small, medium or multinational companies.

The state.
It offers services to both people and companies. It obtains money by collecting it from people,
families or companies. It also manages the laws, services, security, education, healthcare,
infrastructures, etc.

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 ECONOMIC SYSTEMS.

There are three economic systems:

1. CAPITALISM.

It is an economic system that buys materials and technology (means of production) and labour
power to produce products and services to sell in order to obtain a profit.

- Capitalists are individuals who owns the means of production and derive (obtain)income
from investments .
- Adam Smith (XVIII century). The Wealth of Nations. The wealth of a country should be
judged by the total of its production and commerce. (GDP).
He also states that free market economies are the most productive and beneficial to their
societies.

Characteristics of capitalism:

- Goal of the system.

It is to invest money to make money. Create wealth.

- Bases of the system.

o Competition.
o 'The invisible hand'. The law of supply and demand.
o Consumerism.
o Continued growth.
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 - Ownership of the means of production.
Private.

- Why do poor exist?

o Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest and strongest).
o Overpopulation.

- What is the role of government?

o Hands of 'laissez faire' (dejen hacer, dejen pasar. Que los gobiernos no interfieran con la
libertad individual). Hands off.
o No government involvement.

Advocacies (a favor de) of capitalism:

- Economic growth.
- Increase the standards of living.
- Technological development.
- Political freedom.
- Self-organisation.

2. COMMUNISM.

- Goal of the system.

To promote social equality.

- Bases of the system.

Cooperation, planned economy and distribution of wealth.
.
- Ownership of the means of production.

- Role of the government.

Control of all the means of production and make economic decisions. Prohibit private property.

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 CURRENT ECONOMIC BLOCKS ACROSS THE WORLD.

Current economic blocks across the world

- World economic leaders: The United States, The European Union and Japan.
- The Asian Tigers: South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The Asian Tigers have joined to
other countries called Tiger Club economies such as, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines
and Thailand.
- Countries with petroleum: Saudi Arabia.
- BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

ECONOMICAL AREAS.

1- Traditional powers.
They base their economic production on high-tech industrial and agrarian products which has
led them to become leaders of global exchange.
A-Western P. E.U + USA + Canada + Australia + Japan .
B- Asian Tigers: South Korea + Taiwan + Hong Kong + Singapore.

2- Emerging powers.
Emerging countries base their production on industrialization which is characterised by low
salaries and the export of cheap of manufactured goods.
A- BRICS: Brazil + Russia + India + China + South Africa.
B- Other emerging countries: Mexico + Argentina + Turkey + Myanmar (Birmania) + Laos +
Cambodia.
3- Oil producers. (OPEC)
They base their economy on selling oil.
Venezuela + Algeria + Libya + Nigeria + Angola + Iran + Iraq + Saudi Arabia.

4- Underdeveloped countries.
They base their production on traditional agrarian activities. They have very little industry which
tends to be of poor quality.

KONDRATIEV WAVES (Capitalism sheet)

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 THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

RENEWABLE RESOURCES

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 THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Nowadays, societies demand a lot of natural resources depleting (finishing) the non-renewable
resources. It makes necessary a sustainable renewable development that exploits renewable
resources reasonably without harming natural spaces or their inhabitants.

The most affected territories because of the consumption of natural resources are:

- Tropical areas.
Trees are cut down to make grazing lands (pasto) for animals, obtain wood or extract minerals.
- Desert areas.
Petroleum, natural gas and mineral extraction is given in the Arctic and desert areas, causing
water pollution which affects inhabitants.
- Mountain areas.
Recreational areas spoil natural ecosystems and frighten wild animals.
- Coastal areas.
Construction of buildings spoils natural areas.
Oil extraction can leave dirt and waste which pollute ground water.

Natural resources are limited. We have to use them according to some economic, social and
environmental principles established by the United Nations.

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