Era of Industry and Empire
Second Industrial Revolution
Key Concepts
- S.I.R.: Characterized by rapid industrialization due mainly to the increase in the importance of the financial sector.
- Cartels: Agreement to share the market and avoid competition.
- Trusts: Vertical associations formed by various companies working in different industries to control the market and avoid competition. Controlled by one person or bank.
- Holding Companies: Stock companies that earned profits by buying and holding shares.
New Energy Sources
- Electricity:
South America, Africa, and the Caribbean: A Geographic Perspective
Andes Mountains
The Andes are the longest mountain range in the world, located in western South America, stretching from Venezuela to Chile.
Lecture 1: Key Geographic Questions
Geographers explore the location of things, the reasons behind their placement, and how humans interact with their surroundings.
Divisions of Geography
- Physical Geography: Study of natural landscapes (mountains, rivers).
- Human Geography: Study of human societies (cities, cultures).
- Regional Geography: Study of specific regions.
Regionalization
Defining
Read MoreWorld Continents: Demographics, Industries, and Societies
Europe
Europe is a large Eurasian peninsula with over 700 million inhabitants. It features high life expectancy (around 78 years for women and 70 for men) and low birth rates, with an average of 1.42 children per woman. Natural vegetation is scarce due to development. Much of the population lives in cities, with about a quarter residing in rural areas.
European Economy
The European economy is primarily oriented towards industry and services. Agriculture employs a small fraction of the population but
Read MoreThe Tertiary Sector: Services, Trade, and Tourism
The Tertiary Sector
Services: All the activities which do not produce tangible goods, but help to satisfy the needs and wants of people. The tertiary sector has expanded greatly in the 20th and 21st centuries. Developed countries have experienced the process of tertiarization.
Public Services
They are financed by the state from taxes. In developed countries, the state receives the name of Welfare State.
Private Services
They are offered by private companies or individuals.
Trade
Trade is the exchange of
Read MoreSpain’s Road and Rail Transport Networks
Road Network in Spain
The road network connects the various villages, making it a key infrastructure for accessibility and organization of the territory.
Features:
- The network has a radial design, centered in Madrid. This model was started in the eighteenth century by the Bourbons. Since 1960, the road network was modernized and expanded, favoring a centralized model connecting the capital with the main peripheral areas.
- Powers over the network are shared with the state: the state network links the
Key Economic Shifts in Modern History
Why Britain Led the Industrial Revolution
Western Europe was split into Catholics and Protestants. The Protestant Reformation positively affected literacy and political, religious, and economic freedom.
Conditions Favoring Industrialization
There was a commercial boom in Great Britain due to:
- England had one of the highest wage rates in Europe.
- Agricultural productivity had increased, and less than 50% of the labour force was in agriculture.
This boom fueled demand.
While the English Crown exercised absolute
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