1. Who lives on the Rock?The Story behind Earth’s Human and Cultural Geography

2. Population of the Earth Now at 6.6 billion (United Nations Study – June 2007) Growing at a rate of about 75 million per year Some areas experiencing negative or stagnant growth Central and Eastern Europe (due to low birth rates and high rates of emigration to other areas) Some regions in Africa (due to the AIDS epidemic) Western Europe (declining birth rates) Some areas experiencing moderate to high growth rates (declining death rates, high birth rates and / or high immigration rates – often coupled with better medicine, industrialization and job growth) Middle East Sub-Saharan Africa Latin America India United States (now 3rd largest country in the world with a summer 2007 estimate of just over 300 million people)

3. India and China – Huge population centers China Largest population in the world – 1.3 billion Largely stable with a small amount of growth Communist government has a “One Child Policy” which attempts to curb growth, especially among urban citizens India Second largest population in the world – 1.2 billion Big rate of growth (almost 25% since 1991), due largely to industrialization, better medicine and high birth rates Projected to surpass China in the next 20 years Together these two countries have approx. 2.3 billion people That’s about 1/3 of the world’s population combine that with the 235 million from Indonesia – the world’s 4th largest country, and it means that Asia’s “big 3” have almost 4 billion people (remember – the world itself has about 6.6 billion)

4. Global Urbanization and Overcrowding of Cities As the overall population has expanded, so has the growth of cities around the world Industrialization and Modernization have driven people off the farms Problem – overcrowding and extreme poverty has forced people into slums Urban sprawl is another issue, as is a lack of suitable infrastructure and sanitation Picture is of a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia after a heavy rainstorm

5. Major Religions of the World Western (Judeo-based) Religions Judaism (15-18 million) Christianity (2.1 billion) Islam (1.3 billion – also the fastest growing religion) Eastern (philosophical) Religions Hinduism (900 million) Buddhism (400 million)

6. Major Economic Systems Traditional Economy Based on local customs and laws Most often involves trading or bartering of some kind Oldest form of economy – impractical in the large scale economies of the modern age Market Economy (Capitalism) Characterized by private ownership of industries Prices and availability of products are based on supply and demand High supply + low demand = lower prices Low supply + high demand = higher prices Command Economy (Socialism) Government control of the economy Government control of society Most economies are a mix of command and market. It just depends how far a country swings to either side USA – mostly capitalism, but some socialism (welfare and minimum wage) Italy – High amount of capitalism, but nationalized industries such as healthcare, telephone company, airlines and others China – Socialism, but with some private ownership – moving towards capitalism North Korea – Hard line Socialism -- resisting capitalism

7. Major forms of government around the world Monarchy Old form of government not seen much in the modern world noble families -- rule generally passes from father to son Democracy Direct – citizens vote on laws – mostly seen today in small communities Indirect – citizens vote for representatives – reps vote on laws True democracy (rule by the people) is rare Republic Representatives (mostly elected, but sometimes appointed) vote on the laws for the people Most countries today are republics USA – US Congress and the President China – National People’s Congress Dictatorship Where a person rules through fear and/ or force Mostly happens when a military general takes over in a coup Can happen in a republic if the dictator controls the representative body