The Handy Geography Answer Book. Paul A Tucci

Revolution.

      What was the Industrial Revolution?

      The Industrial Revolution began in the eighteenth century in England with the transformation from an agricultural-based economy to an industrial-based economy. It was a period of increased development in industry and mechanization that improved manufacturing and agricultural processes, thereby allowing more people to move to the cities. It included the development of the steam engine and the railroad.

      How much of the world’s population is devoted to agriculture?

      In less-developed countries, such as Asia and Africa, a majority of the population is engaged in agricultural activity. In the more-developed countries of Western Europe and North America, less than one tenth of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihood.

       What is the Green Revolution??

      The Green Revolution began in the 1960s as an effort by international organizations (especially the United Nations) to help increase the agricultural production of less developed nations. Since that time, technology has helped improve crop output, which is reaching all-time highs throughout the world.

      How were animals first domesticated?

      Dogs were probably some of the first animals to become domesticated. Wild dogs probably came close to human villages scavenging for food and were quickly trained as companions and protectors. Over time, early agriculturalists realized the value of domesticating other animals and proceeded to do so. Many different kinds of animals were domesticated in different areas of the world.

      What are the El Castillo Cave Paintings?

      The artwork that adorns the walls of this cave located in Cantabria, in the north of Spain, is currently thought to be the oldest works of human artwork found to date. The artwork has been dated to have been created around 39,000 B.C.E. and depicts three handprint stencils using a material called red ochre, created on a wall of the cave.

      What are the Caves of Lascaux?

      There are many examples demonstrating that humanity has been interested in its surroundings since the beginning of recorded history. In fact, written on the walls of caves in Lascaux, France, are three dots indicating the brightest stars in the sky, which are estimated to have been drawn around 14000 B.C.E. Neolithic wall paintings found in Çatalhöyük, Turkey, show an early city plan from around 7500 B.C.E.

      The Caves of Lascaux in France have clearly visible drawings of such things as human hands and animals, as well as star configurations.

PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES

      What is the largest country in the world, in terms of land?

      Russia is by far the largest at about 6.592 million square miles (17.075 million square km) and occupies about one tenth of the Earth’s habitable land. Russia is followed in size by Canada, China, the United States, Brazil, Australia, India, Argentina, Kazakhstan, and the Sudan.

      Which country has the longest coastline?

      The coastline of Canada and its associated islands is the longest in the world, about 164,663 miles (265,523 km) long. The United States has the second-longest coastline at about 82,836 miles (133,312 km).

      Which countries have the fewest neighbors?

      Approximately thirty-seven independent island nations (such as Australia, New Zealand, and Madagascar) have no neighbors. If you include territories, dependencies, and places managed by other countries, this number swells to seventy-five. Many nations, including Brunei, Cyprus, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, are island nations that share an island.

      Which non-island nations have the fewest neighbors?

      There are ten non-island countries that share a land border with just one neighbor: Canada (neighboring the United States), Monaco (France), San Marino (Italy), Vatican City (Italy), Qatar (Saudi Arabia), Portugal (Spain), the Gambia (Senegal), Denmark (Germany), Lesotho (South Africa), and South Korea (North Korea).

      Which countries are the most remote, in terms of how connected they are to the rest of the world?

      According to the World Policy Institute, which publishes the World Policy Journal, several countries in the world are extremely remote in terms of how they are connected to the world. These countries include North Korea, Somalia, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Timor-Leste, Madagascar, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, and Papua New Guinea. These countries are very difficult places to visit.

       Which country has the most neighbors?

      China is bordered by fourteen neighbors: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam.

      Which countries in the world have the most neighbors?

      There are quite a few countries in the world that share borders with other countries, including Austria (8), Brazil (10), China (14), France (8), Germany (9), Hungary (7), India (7), Iran (7), Mali (7), Niger (7), Poland (7), Russia (14), Saudi Arabia (7), Serbia (8), the Sudan (7), Tanzania (8), Turkey (8), Ukraine (8), and Zambia (8).

      What percentage of the world’s population can travel without obtaining a visa?

      According to experts at the World Tourism Organization, 39% of the world’s population does not need a visa in order to travel to their destination.

      How does a city get chosen to host the Olympics?

      The International Olympic Committee chooses a city as an Olympic site through a complex process lasting two years. Candidate cities (and their countries) must prepare answers to two rather detailed questionnaires, which describe how well the city is prepared for such criteria as environmental impact, climate, security, medical services, marketing, Olympic Village/housing, and transportation. Cities eagerly spend millions of dollars in construction and preparation for possible selection as a host city as an investment in the city’s future.

      What countries in the world do not use the metric system?

      The metric system has been used for more than two hundred years. Yet, three countries still do not use the system. They are Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States.

      How is a capital different from a capitol?

      The capital is a city, and a capitol is a building. The capitol is located in the capital. To remember the difference, think about the “o” in the word capitol as being the dome of a capitol building. Capital cities are often the largest cities in a country or region.

      What is geographic literacy?

      In 1989, the National Geographic Society commissioned a survey to find out how much Americans and residents of several other countries knew about the world around them. The most recent study of 2006 assesses the geographic knowledge of young American adults between the ages of 18 and 24 and asks respondents how much they think they know about geography and other subjects, as well as their views on the importance of geographic, technological, and cultural knowledge in today’s world. According to experts at the National Geographic Society, geographic literacy is achieved when someone understands the interactions and interconnections between people and our physical world and their implications.

      Almost all countries in the world use the metric system, with the exception of those marked in black on this map.

      What were the results of the 2006 National Geographic–Roper Public Affairs Geographic Literacy Study?

      The 2006 study is the latest in a series of surveys commissioned by the National Geographic Society, with the previous poll conducted in 2002. The countries that scored highest in the poll