Fig. A political boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as a country or state, from another. A political boundary is the area of land on a map that separates regions of government such as states and nations. (Not one more death! Encourage students to use the information in the Religions, Mountains and Rivers, and Languages maps in their explanations. They illustrate how the world is divided into different political entities. The lines dividing up Antarctica are antecedent boundaries because the location of human settlements did not need to be taken into account when they were drawn. Political boundaries allow societies to organize themselves, demarcate sovereignty over land, and avoid political disputes over land ownership. This was once the only crossing point for non-Germans. This was especially common during the Cold War, when several Eastern European borders were redrawn in deference to a common commitment (or, in many cases, subjugation) to Marxist-Leninist socialism. The evolution of both types involved 2 distinct stages. Explain the function of a demilitarized zone. Each of these boundaries is clearly defined, and both sides are aware of the situation along each side of the boundary. Specifically, maps can help demonstrate how borders intersect physical and human geographical features, and how those intersections can lead to cooperation and/or conflict. natural or artificial line separating two pieces of land. The Great Wall of China is a famous example of a relict boundary because it is no longer a border between two distinct regions. A political boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as a country or state, from another. Frontier: A zone of territory where no state has governing authority. These often left cultural groups separated by arbitrary demarcated boundaries. Instruct students to use the information in three of the mapsReligions, Mountains and Rivers, and Languagesto determine where they would place borders in the Outline map and draw them. Political boundaries help us figure out who's in charge of what. They are often used to protect countries from invasion or to control the movement of people and goods. Artificial boundary lines at the scale of sovereign states were quite uncommon until modern times. These towering mountain ranges are some of the highest in the world and form a natural barrier between these countries. All the advice on this site is general in nature. They discuss other factors that could impact where borders are established. These disputes might arise due to a natural resource both groups want, like in the case of . Many African countries, for example, do not have adequately surveyed borders, and the process of doing so can drag on for years or even decades, even if neighbouring countries are allies. Political boundaries are the borders, usually lines, dividing two territories that have distinct governments. This river, which runs for nearly 2,000 miles, marks the border between these two countries and is an important natural feature in the region. Carroll, F. M. (2021). Select the BEST answer. African countries had their boundaries superimposed on them as a result of European colonialism. Have students build on their ideas from Step 1 to explore the question of how land and resources are divided among countries. When political entities cannot agree on a border (either through negotiation or imposition), that border is said to be contested. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. How are borders defined? From there, the Westphalian system expanded worldwide with European colonialism and the Western-dominated world political, economic, and scientific systems. Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. An example of a militarized boundary is the border between North and South Korea. 1 - Antecedent boundaries (red) in Antarctica. Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Lotto Joseph Sanchez. Were 1800s US frontier land parcels really based on antecedent boundaries, though? 1 - An 1884 conference in Berlin, Germany eventually led to the Scramble for Africa. What is an antecedent boundary? Some proponents have suggested easing or eliminating immigration laws and replacing them with expeditious residency approvals to encourage a wider pool of labor and a more blended global community. Political boundaries demarcate the sovereignty of different political entities. The Korean War (1950-1953) created this boundary, and the U.S. military is still responsible for guarding it. A demilitarized zone is an area where military activity is officially forbidden. Create and find the best flashcards for Political Boundaries Political Boundaries: lines on land and/or water separating the territories of countries or sub-national entities such as states, provinces, departments, counties, and so forth. Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. Suggested open border policies vary wildly. This includes farmland, fossil fuels, precious metals, lumber, fresh water, and even human labor. 1. The _______ of 1648 established the basis for modern political boundaries. The political boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina is an internal political boundary within the country of the United States. An internal political boundary divides the authority of regional political entities; these entities are collectively accountable to a central government. Enjoy subscriber-only access to this articles pdf. Consequent boundaries are drawn with the cultural landscapes of ethnic nations in mind. Geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Human Geography, National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. Hutus are the vast majority in each country, and Tutsis the minority. These disputes might arise due to a natural resource both groups want, like in the case of Sudan and South Sudan, or in an attempt to gain more political power, as in the case of Pakistan and India in the Kashmir region. Have small groups present and compare borders. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. The geography of political territories means that each separate, sovereign state and its subdivisions control a physical territory with limits, known as boundaries. Emmy Scammahorn, National Geographic Society A boundary dispute is a situation in which a political boundary is contested. Political boundaries have evolved out of the need to define territory. This boundary was created in 1948 after the Israeli Declaration of Independence and the British Mandate for Palestine. In Africa, despite Rwanda and several other examples, post-independence countries have kept their superimposed boundaries at all costs rather than engage in the kind of consequent boundary drawing seen elsewhere in the world. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. English Language Arts, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography. In this explanation, we'll be focusing on the latter, but it's helpful to keep in mind what you already know about how people behave in and around their own boundaries, whatever the scale. A natural boundary is a geographical feature that separates two or more political entities, such as states, countries, or provinces. The Korean Armistice Agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone. 2 - Africa's international boundaries were mostly superimposed by Europeans without input from Africans. When a political boundary conforms to some feature of the physical landscapea stream, sea, mountain, desert, watershed, lake, marsh, and so forthit is a natural boundary. The term was first . Write the guiding questions for the activity on the board: How are regions defined? Geological features such as oil deposits or minerals, which can influence the economic development of a region and create conflicts over resources. 4. No one nation has sovereignty over the high seas, but certain activities may be regulated by the UN. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Which Korean politician attempted to establish the People's Republic of Korea? National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. In geography, these groups are often called nations, which is not always necessarily synonymous with the more legalistic terms of country and state. These disputes might arise due to a natural resource both groups want, like in the case of Sudan and South Sudan, or in an attempt to gain more political power, as in the case of Pakistan and India in the Kashmir region. In other situations, the term is used only to describe boundaries where people can cross the border freely. A political map is a type of map that represents political divisions, or human-created boundaries, of the world, continents and major geographic regions. These boundaries are used to define the areas over which a particular government or political entity has jurisdiction and the areas within which it can exercise its authority. This is because, if the process is collaborative, which it often is now, local people's concerns need to be taken into account. Brainstorm other factors that shape country borders. Which of the following is a common nickname for the DMZ in Cyprus? The Abyei area, a pocket of land between Sudan and South Sudan, was never divvied up by the two after the latter became independent and split from Sudan in 2011. one of the seven main land masses on Earth. of the users don't pass the Function of Political Boundaries quiz! 5. The governments of these countries have sent their military to control the border and prevent hostiles from crossing from one side to the other. of the users don't pass the Political Boundaries quiz! It may be a permanent or temporary line, but it is always clearly defined within a legal document. 3 - A border fence is the boundary of the US and Mexico on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The border between the United States and Canada, which was established as a result of negotiations between the two countries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Political boundaries can be internal or international. explanation of symbols and abbreviations used on a map, also known as a key. An example of a political boundary is the border between the US and Mexico. Political Borders Students think about regions and borders by determining where they would place borders in an artificial continent, based on a set of physical and cultural features of the area. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. Another example is Hadrians wall, which was a wall that marked the edge of the Roman Empire on the British Isles. Have students record ideas to refer to later in this unit. European colonialism established territorial boundaries without consulting affected local people. Joseph Stoltman, Western Michigan University Washington, DC 20036, Careers| Any boundary is also determined by either natural or geometric lines. Or, it could be as complex as a wire fence, military checkpoint, or even a line of landmines to prevent access. Where, approximately, is the Korean Demilitarized Zone located? Select ALL that apply. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Will you pass the quiz? Political boundaries help determine almost every civic aspect of your life. Explain to students that in this activity they will work, first independently and then in small groups, to set borders and define regions in an area of land. It is a straight line that separates two countries. In reality, they were superimposed (see below). The boundary between these countries was created as a result of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the declaration of independence by various constituent republics. What is an example of a political boundary? Superimposed boundaries are boundaries that are drawn without the consent or consultation of locals. When a political border is imposed on the physical landscape, it defines the area, shape, and size of the country, as well as the physical features and natural resources available. The DMZ is a buffer zone dividing the two Koreas, and the most heavily militarized political boundary in the world. As you might imagine, all of the above factors can be a source of conflict. A de jure political boundary is a boundary that is legally recognized by foreign political entities. True or False: DMZs MUST be political boundaries. An example of a relict boundary is _______. The border is a conceptual line that separates the U.S. from Mexico, but there are also physical barriers, like the US-Mexico fence (Trumps wall! Which of the following was not part of the General Act of the Berlin Conference? The political boundary between the United States and Mexico is an international political boundary between two countries. The US-Mexican border into the twenty-first century. A political boundary is the area of land on a map that separates regions of government such as states and nations. Ask: demonstrate how physical and cultural features could be used to define country borders, discuss their ideas about which features are most important in establishing good borders, explain and compare their border selections based on physical and cultural features, discuss other factors that could impact where borders are established, Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector. London: Routledge. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to as _______. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. Partly geometric and partly based on physical geography (the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte), this 3140-kilometre (1951-mile) political boundary, the busiest in the world, is also one of the most politicized, despite the fact that it divides two countries that are staunch allies. For example, the de jure political boundary of the Federal Republic of Somalia is not congruent with the territory that the Federal Republic of Somalia actually has under its control; the northwest portion of the country is under the de facto control of an unrecognized state called Somaliland. The Catalan independence movement in Spain, which is driven in part by Catalan cultural identity and the desire for greater autonomy. 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