Human Geography By James Rubenstein

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Human Geography By James Rubenstein

• Chapter 8
• Key Issue 1
• Where Are States Located?

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State

• An area organized into a political unit and ruled
  by an established government with control over
  its internal and foreign affairs.
• A state occupies a defined territory on Earths
  surface and contains a permanent population.

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Sovereignty

• Ability of a state to govern its territory free
  from control of its internal affairs by other
  states.
• The term country is a synonym for state.

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United Nations Member Countries of the Western
Hemisphere
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United Nations Member Countries of the Eastern
Hemisphere
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Antarctica

• The only large landmass on Earths surface that
  is not part of a state.
• The Treaty of Antarctica, signed (by 7 countries)
  in 1959 and renewed (by 24 countries) in 1991,
  provides a legal framework for managing
  Antarctica.

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National Claims to Antarctica
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Problems of Defining States
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Korea One State or Two?

• After World War II, Korea was divided along the
  38o North Latitude.
• Starting in 1950, a three year war between the
  north and south ended with a cease-fire at the
  same 38o North Latitude.

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Reunification?

• Both countries are committed to reunification.
• North Koreas decision to develop nuclear weapons
  has halted efforts for reconciliation.
• In 1992, both North and South Korea were admitted
  into the U.N. as separate countries.

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Nighttime satellite of North and South Korea
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China and Taiwan One State or Two?

• According to mainland Chinas government
  officials, Taiwan is not a separate country, but
  a wayward province.
• Until 1999, Taiwan agreed, but thought of
  themselves as the government of the mainland.

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Taiwan

• In 1949, the Nationalists lost a civil war to the
  Communists and fled to Taiwan.
• The Nationalist proclaimed that they were the
  legitimate rulers of mainland China and expected
  to one day replace the communist government.

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Taiwan

• Most governments of the world consider Mainland
  China and the Nationalists of Taiwan two separate
  countries.
• In 1971, the U.S. finally recognized the
  Communist as the government of the mainland.

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The United Nations

• In 1971, the members of the U.N. voted to
  transfer Chinas seat from the Nationalists to
  the Communists.

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Western Sahara (Sahrawi Republic)

• Most African nations view Western Sahara as a
  sovereign nation, but . . .
• Morocco claims it as a territory.

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Ceuta and Melilla

• Two cities in Morocco that are controlled by
  Spain.

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Ceuta and Melilla(owned by Spain)
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Varying Size of States

• The largest state is Russia with 6.6 million
  square miles.
• China and Canada have 3.6 million square miles
  each.
• The United States has 3.5 million square miles.

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Microstates

• A state that encompasses a very small land area.
• The smallest country in the United Nations is
  Monaco with .6 square miles.
• The Vatican City is the smallest country with .1
  square miles.

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Vatican City
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Vatican City
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Development of the State Concept

• Prior to the 1800s, Earths surface was
  organized into city-states, empires, and tribes.
• Much of the surface consisted of unorganized
  territory.

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The Fertile Crescent

• Site of ancient states.
• Eastern edge referred to Mesopotamia - From the
  Persian Gulf westward to the coast of the
  Mediterranean Sea.
• Center of land and sea communication.

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Fertile Crescent
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City-States

• A sovereign state comprising a city and its
  immediate hinterland.
• Usually a walled city surrounded by agricultural
  land that provides food for the urban residents.

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Acropolis of Athens
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Mesopotamia

• The eastern edge of the Fertile Crescent, between
  the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
• Home to a succession of empires that began as
  city-states.

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Early European States

• The European portion of the Roman Empire
  fragmented around A.D. 500.
• Consolidation of neighboring estates under kings
  in around A.D. 1100 formed the basis of modern
  European states.

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Colony

• A territory that is legally tied to a sovereign
  state rather than completely independent.

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Colonialism

• Attempt by one country to establish settlements
  and to impose its political, economic, and
  cultural principles in another territory
  (uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land).

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Motives for Colonialism

• God Colonies were places to promote
  Christianity.
• Gold Colonies provided resources for the
  European economy.
• Glory Colonies indicate relative power of the
  European countries.

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Colonial Possessions
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Imperialism

• Control of territory already occupied and
  organized by an indigenous society.
• The United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Spain,
  Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and
  Belgium all built colonial empires.

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Colonial Practices

• The French attempted to assimilate colonies into
  the French culture.
• The British established a decentralized system
  of governance, which aided in the transition to
  independence.

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Remaining Colonial Possessions, 2003
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Pitcairn Island

• The worlds least populated colony (UK) with 54
  people on less than 2 square miles.
• Settled in 1790 by British mutineers form the
  ship Bounty, Commanded by Captain William Bligh.

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Pitcairn Island