WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL COMPONENTS OF THE GEOGRAPHIC SPACE? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The social components of the geographic space are the elements of human character that shape life in society. This composition can be based on the amount of population, location, customs, productive activities, among others.

Geography deals with the study of the Earth and the social geography of how the Earth influences social organization. The social components make mention of the composition of the population.

In any place where human beings live, social components are created, these determine factors such as the economy, culture and political organization in a society. In addition, they interact with each other and allow us to understand the diversity that a place can host. In turn, these determine the changes and future transformations of societies.

Sociologists think that the human being owes much of its existence to the Earth. Well, throughout history it has been a shelter and synthesis of customs, forms of organization and relations of production that are, to a large extent, determined by the geographical characteristics of the space.

Geography from the 16th century on, took a more scientific course both to establish study parameters and to make social inferences derived from geographic space.

Social components are one of the best finished products of man, thanks to elements such as communication, cooperation, understanding and the need to produce, man has created increasingly complex social components.

In addition, thanks to his ability to perfect the technique, these elements are constantly changing.

What are the social components?

The social components are the human movements that take place in a geographic territory. They are also understood as human activities that give meaning to life in society.

The social components in turn materialize in the beliefs, ethnic distribution, classes, urban distribution and group conflicts.

The study of social components occurs in the so-called social sciences, which frame sociology, psychology, anthropology or political science, among others.

These human movements are shaped by beliefs and ideas that give meaning to cultural identity and common characteristics. Thanks to the territory, the language and the need to interact, great societies have been built.

1- Social classes

Social classes are groups or subgroups of people who have similar social and economic characteristics in a society. Social stratification is directly proportional to the social and distributive regime that prevails in that society.

The social strata have become enormously complex since the Industrial Revolution. Before, there was only talk of upper, lower and middle classes. Now other intermediate layers have been added such as low medium, high medium or high medium, among others.

Social classes are a manifestation of the degree of inequality and way of life of a society.

In contemporary societies there is the phenomenon of “metropollination”, which infers that in the territory, “the center” is inhabited by the upper classes, while the lower classes remain “on the fringes”, close to the most risky geographical areas..

2- Urban distribution

It is the way in which the population is distributed based on access to public services and economic activities. The population of a geographic territory is divided into urban population and rural population.

The territories in which urban distribution predominates have -in general- a higher quality of life, given that education, electricity, water and opportunities are given on a greater scale and quality than in the territories known as rural.

The flow of migration of people from rural to urban areas has been increasing in the last two centuries throughout the world. This has caused a significant demographic deficit, as cities are overcrowded and fields are sparsely populated.

The urban distribution accounts, to a large extent, of the characteristics of the geographical space. These explain why groups tend to locate themselves in areas where they can develop holistically and not in areas that make their activities difficult.

3- Culture

Cultural components are the knowledge, customs, beliefs, and social behaviors that have been mediated through beliefs, values, and institutions throughout history.

Each geographic space keeps cultural aspects that determine its traditions and ways of life. One of the main culture-making factors is religion; whether theists or non-theists, they all have codes and systems of conduct that shape much of the culture.

Beliefs in a society are general idea systems that are common to most of the population. Every society has beliefs, myths, prejudices and knowledge that shape the identity of the beings that inhabit it

Cultural factors -in this way- are the set of philosophical, scientific, technological and historical knowledge, as well as the most general beliefs and behavior patterns that denote and characterize a group in a geographical space.

Natural components

In addition to the social components, there are the natural components of the geographic space, without whose existence the development of the social components would be impossible.

The natural components refer to the relief, fauna and topography of a territory. Natural components are properly studied by sciences such as biology, geography and chemistry.

Within the natural components, the mountains, rivers, seas, climate, plains, vegetation and soils are framed. From the point of view of human habitation, these factors determine where man can live and where he cannot.

The natural components have been decisive in the preservation of civilizations and safeguarding customs of native peoples.

In ancient times, entire civilizations were devastated by landslides, flooding of rivers and other natural phenomena.

In addition, anthropologists have highlighted the close relationship between the form of social organization of man and the natural elements that surround him, as well as the way in which these determine technique and work. What is common in one place can be vital in another for prestige and wealth.

References

1. Virtual library of law, economics and social sciences (2015) The components of culture. Recovered from: eumed.net.
2. Encyclopedia of Examples (2017). Examples of the social, economic and natural component of the geographic space. Recovered from: examples.co.
3. Ruiz, T. (2016) Components of the geographic space. Recovered from: estudioraprender.com.
4. Santoyo, C; Espinosa, M. (2006) Development and social interaction: theory and research methods. Editorial UNAM. Mexico.
5. University of Oviedo (1986) Theoretical and quantitative geography: concept and methods. Publications Service. Spain.