Chronology of changes in the political map of the world. Modern political map of the world. Complete lessons

The political map of the world is a thematic map that shows the state borders of all. It is called the mirror of the era, since it reflects all the processes taking place in the world at different stages of the development of human society.

By geographic location, there are:

island (,);
mainland (,);
landlocked (, Republic of Korea,);
landlocked (,);

By the size of the territory:

very large (, Canada, China);
large;
medium;
small;
"Microstate" (,).

By number:

From the largest with a population of more than 100 million people - to small ones with a population of less than 1 million.

By ethnic composition of the population:

uni-national (Japan),
multinational (Russia, China).

By form of government:

constitutional - Norway, Great Britain;
absolute - Japan, Saudi Arabia
theocratic -.

republics

presidential -,;
parliamentary - most Western countries.

By state structure:

federal -, Russia;
unitary -, France.

By the level of socially - economic development:

economically developed countries - Japan,;
developing - India,;
countries with economies in transition - most post-socialist countries.

The place of any country in the typology is not constant and can change over time.

Stages of the formation of a modern political map. Features of the modern stage.

Formation process political map the world has several millennia, so we can talk about the existence of several periods in its formation. Usually distinguish: ancient (up to the 5th century A.D.), medieval (5th - 15th centuries), new (16th - end of XIX c.) and the latest periods (from the beginning of the XX century).

Over the course of modern history, political changes have been especially active. During the Great Discoveries, the largest colonial powers were and. But with the development of manufacturing, England, France, and later the United States came to the forefront of history. This period of history was characterized by large colonial conquests in America, Asia and.

In the recent period of history, serious territorial changes are associated with the course of two world wars and the post-war reconstruction of the world.

First step(between the First and Second World Wars) was marked by the appearance on the world map of the first socialist state (the RSFSR, and later the USSR). The borders of many states have changed (some of them have increased their territory - France, in other states it has decreased). So, Germany, having lost the war, lost part of its territory (including Alsace-Lorraine) and all its colonies in Africa and Oceania. A large empire, Austria-Hungary, collapsed, and in its place new sovereign countries were formed: Hungary, Czechoslovakia, the Kingdom, and the Slovenes. Independence was proclaimed and. The Ottoman Empire was divided.

Second phase(after World War II) was characterized by significant territorial changes on: on the site of the former Germany, two sovereign states were formed - the FRG and the GDR, a group of socialist states appeared in Eastern Europe, in Asia and even in (Cuba). Very large changes on the political map were due to the collapse of the world colonial system and the formation of a large number of independent states in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America.

Since the early 1990s, a third stage has been distinguished recent history... The collapse of the USSR in 1991 can be attributed to the qualitatively new changes on the political map of the world, which had a great impact on the socio-economic and socio-political life of the entire world community during this period. Later, most of the republics of the former Union (with the exception of three states) became part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (). The perestroika processes in the countries of Eastern Europe led to the implementation of the predominantly peaceful ("velvet") people's democratic revolutions of 1989-90. in the countries of this region. In the former socialist states, there has been a change in the socio-economic formation. These states have embarked on the path of market transformations ("from plan to market").

In October 1990, the two German states of the GDR and the FRG united. On the other hand, the former federal republic of Czechoslovakia split into two independent states - and (1993).

The SFRY collapsed. The independence of the republics was proclaimed, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (as part of the autonomous region of Kosovo). The most acute political crisis of this former federation poured into civil war and interethnic conflicts continuing to this day. At the end of the 90s, the countries carried out military aggression against the FRY, as a result of which Kosovo was practically separated from it.

The process of decolonization continued in the world. Independence was gained - the last of the colonies in Africa. New sovereign states were formed: the Federated States, the Republic of the Islands, the Commonwealth of the North Mariana Islands(former "wards" of the US territory, which received the status of states freely associated with the US).

In 1993, the independence of the state was proclaimed (the territory that was formerly one of the provinces on the coast, and even earlier, until 1945, a colony of Italy).

In 1999, under the jurisdiction of the Chinese People's Republic(China) returned (Xianggang), the former possession, and in 2000, the former Portuguese colony - Macau (Macau). There are very few non-self-governing territories (possessions of other states) left on the modern political map of the world. These are mainly islands in and. There are also disputed territories in different regions the world (Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, etc.).

All changes on the political map can be divided into quantitative ones - related to territorial gains, losses, voluntary concessions. And qualitative - the change of one formation to another, the conquest of sovereignty, the introduction of a new state structure.

The typology of the countries of the world is one of the most difficult methodological problems. It is being solved by economists, political scientists, sociologists and representatives of other sciences.

V.V. Volsky understood the type of country as an objectively formed relatively stable complex of inherent conditions and developmental features that characterize its role and place in the World Community at this stage of World history.

In a sense, the typology of countries is a historical category. Until the beginning of the 90s, it was customary to divide all countries into: socialist, capitalist and developing countries.

Lesson topic

The purpose of the lesson

to form students' understanding of the political map of the world
familiarize with the modern political map of the world, learn how to use it.

Lesson Objectives

learn to use the political map of the world, find countries on the map.

Lesson plan

The structure of the political map. Country classification
The history of the formation of the political map
Stages of the formation of a political map in modern times

The structure of the political map. Country classification

Thematic map, on which the borders of all countries of the world, state borders of all countries of the world are shown with certain highlights. It tends to change over time.

Nowadays, there are about 230 countries that differ among themselves in various indicators, namely:

Geographical location;

The size of the territory;

The number and national composition population;

Form of government;

State structure;

The level of socio-economic development.

1.monarchy

Constitutional - Norway, Sweden, Great Britain;

Unitary - Hungary, France.

The history of the formation of the political map

The beginning of the formation of the political map of the world has several millennia, and is divided among themselves into several periods

Ancient (before the 5th century AD),

Medieval (V - XV centuries)

New (XVI - late XIX century)

The newest periods (from the beginning of the XX century)

How the map of Europe has changed over 100 years

As already noted, the political map tends to change over time, since the last territorial changes are associated with the course of two world wars, in which some states disappeared from it, others, on the contrary, arose.

Stages of the formation of a political map in modern times

First step was, which lasted between the end of the first and the beginning of the second world wars, gave rise to a great state (the RSFSR, and later the USSR). Other equally significant states were also created, such as Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary. To countries. Another great country, the Ottoman Empire, underwent collapse.

Second phase, which began at the end of the Second World War, the post-Hitlerite Germany disintegrated into two separate states: the FRG and the GDR. The socialist state of Cuba was created, and other states in Asia, Oceania, Africa, and Latin America.

The beginning of the 1990s gave rise to third stage in recent history. This period saw the decline of the most powerful state that ever existed - the USSR. After its collapse, many republics became part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Since October 1990 the two parts of the German state, the GDR and the FDR, were reunited. Czechoslovakia split into two smaller independent states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 1999, Great Britain returned Hong Kong to the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China (PRC). To our time, there are not many dependent states left, which are mainly located in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Political map of the world from 1800 to 2011

The changes taking place on the political map are referred to as quantitative and qualitative.

Quantitative - these are changes associated primarily with acquisitions, losses of dependent territories.

Qualitative are characterized by the change from one formation to another, the introduction of a new state university to replace the old one.

World typology- this is a problem that economists and political scientists, as well as representatives of other sciences, have been dealing with for a long time. It is generally accepted that typology belongs to historical categories. Until the early 90s, existing countries were divided according to three topographic criteria:

Socialist

Capitalist

Developing.

Currently, under the influence of the market economy, such a criterion has been added as gross domestic product(this is the cost of all finished products per year), as well as the human development index.

Thus, all countries can be divided:

Economically developed countries

This includes the G7 countries, where GDP per capita ranges from $ 20,000 to $ 30,000.

Developing countries

Countries that are key to the global economy as a whole, but GDP per capita stands at around $ 350. This also includes oil-exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

The place of any country, both on the political map of the world and in typology, changes over time.

In 1999, Professor Chuvyrov found a fragment of a map in the Urals. It is a hefty slab, its dimensions are about one meter and a half, and its thickness is about 16 cm. The area depicted on it is very well known to scientists. This is the Ufa Upland, the Ufa Canyon, this is a rift crust, stretching from Ufa to Sterlitamak, is the most important point of evidence. Geological surveys confirmed the location of a fault in the earth's crust in the place indicated on the map. In 2007, the Military Topographic Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces carried out a space survey and issued a corresponding conclusion.
The map is three-layered. A very durable stone, dolomite, was used as a base. It is covered with a layer of so-called. "Diopside glass". It is on this layer that the volumetric relief of the area is reproduced. Finally, the third, two-millimeter protective layer is made of white matte porcelain of special strength. Such a map can only be made using the currently fashionable nanotechnology.

Who hasn't believed that words are the most powerful weapon in the world? What word can create and destroy empires? And these claims are proved by the political world map Typomaps, created by German designer Dirk Schachter, which combines elements of typography and topography.

Homework

1. Mark on the contour map:

Federated (confederate) countries

Monarchies

Island states

2. Prepare cards with a list of European countries and their capitals

Used sources

1. Alekseev A.I., Nikolina V.V. Geography
2. Dushina I.V., Korinskaya V.A., Shchenev V.A. Geography
3. Dushina I.V., Pritula T.Yu., Smoktunovich T.L. Geography

Worked on the lesson

Spider web anna
Posynyak Oleg
Alekseev A.I.
Dushina I.V.

Composed and edited by Oleg Posynyak

You can raise a question about modern education, express an idea or solve an urgent problem at Educational Forum where an educational council of fresh thought and action meets internationally. By creating blog, You will not only increase your status as a competent teacher, but also make a significant contribution to the development of the school of the future. Guild of Educational Leaders opens doors for top-ranked specialists and invites to cooperation in the direction of creating the best schools in the world.

By its content cards can be:

General geographic

Thematic

Thematic maps

General geographic maps

By area coverage

A political map of the World

First step

Second phase

Socio-economic differentiation of the countries of the world

Historical stages of the formation of the territory of Russia

Target-programmed method

The program-target method in the conditions of the formation of market relations is important for the development of complex programs for industries and territories, covering all stages of work from collecting actual data, assessing the properties of territorial systems, establishing patterns of their functioning, from forecasting development to examining projects related to changes. territorial systems. Each program should be developed taking into account targeting and time constraints, contain tasks for specific performers and a detailed management system. Funding for these programs is carried out from the federal and local budgets.

System analysis method

The method of systems analysis is based on the principle of phasing, includes the definition of goals, objectives, setting scientific hypothesis, a comprehensive study of each of the territorial systems, features of location and development productive forces(the main criterion for optimal placement is production efficiency, the fullest satisfaction of the needs of the population). The method of systems analysis examines the integrity of the system, its internal and external relations, links complex sectoral and territorial problems, which is especially important in the context of the sovereignty of regions in the formation of market relations. This method clearly shows the economic complex of the country in its unity and diversity.

Balance method

The balance method is one of the main research methods that allows you to choose the most rational relationships between the industries that determine the profile of the economy. economic region, and industries complementary to this territorial complex... Balances are necessary in the development of options for the location of production, their economic justification, intraregional and interregional ties. Using the balance method, it is possible to determine the needs of the regions in resources and goods, in labor, to assess the degree of satisfaction of the region in products due to its own production, the volumes of import and export of the necessary products, and also to identify imbalances in development economic complex region and outline ways to eliminate them. The balances make it possible to assess the feasibility of placing a new economic facility on a specific territory, to determine its capacity and cost.

Statistical Methods

Based on reporting statistical information, industry and regional databanks, this method makes it possible to systematize the collected data, to give a quantitative characteristic to the factors affecting the condition of objects, to compare the objects themselves with respect to specific quantitative and qualitative characteristics.

Cartographic method

The cartographic method, being a part of modeling, has at the same time a relatively independent meaning and allows you to visually represent both the time slice of processes and phenomena, and their dynamics. Any map represents a mental, ideal creation and acts as a certain system of greater or lesser complexity, reflecting one or another side of an object as a source of new knowledge about it.

The socio-economic map adequately reflects the spatial processes and structure, carries detailed information about the spatial organization of society. The topic of socio-economic mapping is constantly expanding. Maps of distribution and spatio-temporal changes of phenomena and processes have been developed, forecast maps, maps of relationships and relationships have appeared.

Comparative method

It makes it possible to compare a number of territorial units using mathematical techniques.

Index method

It is used to determine the specialization of economic regions and the economic efficiency of the distribution of productive forces.

Taxoning method

Assumes the division of the territory into comparable or hierarchically subordinate taxa - equivalent or hierarchically subordinate territorial entities(administrative regions). In fact, the zoning process at any level is taxoning.

Variant method

It is most often used in the development of production layouts across the territory at the first stages of planning and forecasting. It provides for the consideration of options for the placement of individual sectors of the economy, various levels of economic development of territories of any taxonomic rank.

In addition, some other methods are used: geoinformation method - newest method associated with the accumulation, processing, storage and use of geo-information, methods of sociological research, methods of comparing the standard of living of the population and forecasting the development of social infrastructure.

The application of the above methods allows to ensure a rational distribution of productive forces, to create a more perfect territorial structure economy and contributes to increasing the efficiency of development of a particular region and the country as a whole.

9. The theory of J. Thünen. Launhardt's location triangle

Formation of placement theory(localization) it is customary to associate with the publication in 1826 of the book of the German economist Johann Heinrich Thünen (1783-1850) "An isolated state in its relation to agriculture and national economy." The main content of this fundamental work was identification of patterns of distribution of agricultural production... For the first time in the development of economic thought, the work objectively proves the influence of the distribution of productive forces on their development.

Thünen's research featured high level abstraction. He assumed the existence of an economically isolated state from the rest of the world, within which there is a central city, which is the only market for agricultural products and a source of industrial goods. The state does not have external economic ties with agrarian specialization. The price of each product at any point in space differs from its price in the city by the amount of transport costs, which are taken directly proportional to the weight of the cargo and the distance of transportation.

J. Thünen proved that within the framework of certain assumptions the optimal layout of agricultural production is a system of concentric circles(belts, rings) of different diameters around central city separating the zones for the location of various types of agricultural activities.

Graphical layout of agriculture according to J. Thünen

Thünen identified six rings of agricultural activity placement.

A.G. Granberg, characterizing the theory of the placement of Thünen, writes that he saw “Thünen rings” in Cuba. These were schemes for the placement of new plantations on the plain around settlements - places of residence of agricultural workers and processing of products.

In spite of obvious shortcomings(abstractness, a large number of restrictions, taking into account only the transport factor of placement, etc.), Thünen's work became the first example of the use of abstract mathematical models in the theory of spatial economics. Thünen's problem is generalized and analyzed using a modern mathematical apparatus - linear programming.

In 1882 in Germany, Wilhelm Launhardt developed method of finding the point of optimal placement of a separate industrial enterprise regarding the sources of raw materials and markets for products (Launhardt method or the method of weighted location triangle). Launhardt chose a metallurgical plant as the accommodation facility. The decisive factor in the location of production at V. Launhardt, as well as at Thünen, is transport costs. Production costs are assumed to be equal for all points of the study area. The point of optimal location of the enterprise depends on the weight ratios of the transported goods and distances.

V. Launhardt's location triangle

Launhardt's problem has a geometric and mechanical solution. The method of finding the optimal location of an enterprise is also applicable for a larger number of points (types of raw materials, fuels and sales markets), provided that they form a convex polygon.

An example of a Launhardt triangle

In geography metallurgical industry There are many examples of the location of enterprises corresponding to the Launhardt triangle. In particular, such an example can be considered placement of Cherepovetsky metallurgical plant in the Vologda region: iron ore comes to the plant from the west (Olenegorskoye and Kovdorskoye deposits in Murmansk region and the Kostamuksha field in Karelia), coal from the east (Pechora coal basin - Vorkuta and Inta), the main consumers of finished products are located south of the enterprise (in the Central economic region).

10. Population and labor resources RF

The population is a complex collection of people living within certain territories and acting in existing social formations. It is characterized by a system of interrelated indicators, such as the size and density of the population, its composition by sex and age, nationality, language, marital status, education, membership in social groups and a number of others. The study of the dynamics of these indicators in conjunction with the characteristics of the socio-economic organization of society makes it possible to trace changes in the conditions and nature of population reproduction. These changes are determined by the laws of development of social formations.

The population is one of important conditions material and social life of society *.

* For a map of the population of Russia, see the appendix at the end of the book.

In the conditions of post-socialist society, people with their production experience and work skills were considered only as the main productive force, the creators of material and spiritual benefits of society. Economy transition Russian Federation on market relations forces to consider the population not only as an active participant in production and the main productive force of society, but also as the main consumer, completing the production process and reproducing the population itself.

The size of the population in a country or a separate region has a significant impact on their economic potential, on the development of the productive forces of society. However, there is no direct relationship between these two concepts. Thus, states with a high level of economic development with a smaller population produce tens of times more gross national product than states that surpass them in population size, but are inferior in technical equipment, labor productivity, and the level of qualifications of the labor force. The UK and Bangladesh are examples of such a comparison. With half the population, UK gross domestic product production is almost eight times that of Bangladesh. A much greater dependence is noted between the high population density of the regions, the provision of highly qualified personnel and the location of science-intensive industries and industries that determine scientific and technological progress.

The population of the Russian Federation as of January 1, 1997 was 147 million 976 thousand people. In terms of population, Russia ranks 6th in the world, behind China (1209 million people), India (919 million people), the United States (261 million people), Indonesia (195 million people), Brazil (154 million people). .).

During the period of economic reforms (1992-1996), the total population of Russians decreased by 700 thousand people. The reason for the decline in the population of Russia is the natural decline, the indicators of which increased from -1.5 ppm in 1992 to -5.7 ppm in 1996. The natural decline took place in the territory of 82 administrative-territorial units of the Russian Federation, where 96.9 % of the total population of the country. Negative indicators of natural increase are observed in all regions of the Russian Federation, excluding the republics North Caucasus(except for the Republic of Adygea), the Republic of Altai and the Tyumen region of the West Siberian region, the Republic of Kalmykia, the Volga region, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) of the Far Eastern regions. The indicators of natural loss in the Tula, Tver, Novgorod, Ivanovo, Leningrad regions are 1.5-2.0 times higher than the national average (from -12.1 to -11.0 ppm versus -5.7 ppm in the Russian Federation). The excess of mortality over births is associated not only with the deterioration of socio-economic conditions in connection with market transformations in the economy, a decrease in the standard of living of most of the population of Russia, continued aging of the population, immigration processes, an increased loss of the working age population: the share of the working age population in the total number of deaths reaches 30%. The decrease in the indicator of the total population is also influenced by the unfavorable ecological state the environment in many regions of the Russian Federation. According to experts from the World Health Organization, up to 30% of population diseases are caused by anthropological pollution of the environment. Natural decline is also characteristic of states Western Europe(Germany, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania) and certain CIS countries (Ukraine and Belarus). However, Russia significantly surpasses these states in this indicator.

The positive dynamics of natural increase persists in national entities North Caucasus, Volga region, Eastern Siberia and Of the Far East... High population growth is noted in the Ingush Republic - 17.4 people, the Republic of Tuva - 7.0 people, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) - 5.5 people. for 1000 people population. This is due to the preservation of the historically established traditions of multi-family in these republics, as well as the large share of the population living in rural areas, where the birth rate remains high.

Migration growth from the countries of the near and far abroad does not overlap the indicators of natural decline. In addition, there has been a tendency towards a reduction in the migration flow. A positive balance of migration remained in the exchange of population with all CIS countries. The largest influx of the Russian-speaking population was due to the migration exchange with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. These states account for 64% of the total migration growth from neighboring countries. The number of forced migrants from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan continues to grow.

The emigration of Russians to non-CIS countries has practically stabilized.

The outflow of the population is noted in 16 regions of the country - in all administrative-territorial units of the Far East, in the republics of Komi, Tuva, the Chechen Republic in the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions of the Northern economic region and the Chita region of the East Siberian region. The number of other regions is replenished by migrants from the regions of the Russian Federation and migrants from neighboring countries. A positive balance of migration is noted in the republics of Dagestan and North Ossetia - Alania, the Ingush Republic, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Leningrad, Pskov, Kaluga, Tver, Belgorod, Samara, Volgograd, Astrakhan and Kaliningrad regions. In them, the migration balance is 2.5-3 times higher than the average for Russia and ranges from 142 to 107 people. per 10,000 inhabitants with an average growth of 42 migrants in the country.

An intensive migration outflow is observed in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Magadan, Sakhalin, Kamchatka regions, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk region and the Komi Republic.

As a result of a decrease in the positive balance of migration, an increase in the number of inhabitants Altai Territory, Oryol, Voronezh, Tambov, Penza, Kurgan, Chelyabinsk, Omsk and Tomsk regions gave way to decline.

A decrease in the population is observed in the territory of 70 regions of the Russian Federation, where 118.9 million people live, or almost 80% of the country's population. These include all administrative-territorial units of the Northern and Far Eastern regions, Central (except for the Bryansk, Kaluga, Smolensk, Tver regions), North-Western (except Leningrad region), Volgo-Vyatka (excluding the Republics of Mari El and Chuvash), Ural (excluding the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Orenburg region), West Siberian (excluding the Republic of Altai, Novosibirsk and Tyumen regions), East Siberian (excluding the republics of Tuva and Khakassia), etc. High rates of population decline persisted in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Sakhalin, Kamchatka and Magadan regions, the Chechen Republic, the Komi and Sakha (Yakutia) republics, as well as in the Murmansk region and are mainly due to the intensive migration outflow.

At the same time, in 19 regions of the Russian Federation, an increase in the population is noted. This trend continues in the republics of Altai, Dagestan, North Ossetia, in the Ingush, Kabardino-Balkarian, Karachay-Cherkess republics, as well as in the Tyumen region. It is related to both natural growth and with a migratory influx. The most noticeable population growth is characteristic of the republics of the North Caucasus, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, Belgorod, Astrakhan Regions, Kaliningrad Region and the Altai Republic.

11. Economic-geographical and political-geographical position of the country

The concept of "political and geographical position of a country" means its position in relation to other states pursuing a peaceful policy, or to hotbeds of international tension, international alliances, to areas of regional conflicts, to military bases. This concept is related to the concept of "economic and geographical location", since politics and economics are closely related. The economic and geographical position is understood as the position of the country, region, settlement relative to trade routes, centers of industry and agriculture, world markets, as well as their position relative to transport routes.

At certain stages of history, the economic and geographical position exerted a noticeable influence on the development of individual states. So, at one time it was believed that the reason for the backwardness of Germany is its remoteness from the Atlantic Ocean, which is recognized as the main route of world trade. As social production develops, the country becomes less dependent on natural factors, therefore, the economic and geographical position changes and depends on the development of transport, trade, and international relations.

The economic and geographical position cannot explain the backwardness of some countries and the prosperity of others. For example, Japan, isolated from the United States and Western Europe, occupies a very prominent place in the world economy. But the unfavorable economic and geographical position still affects the development of the country. For example, countries deprived of access to the World Ocean incur large financial costs for the transportation of goods. Similar difficulties are experienced by the island states that lie away from the most important sea routes: Seychelles, Mauritius, etc.

Political and geographical position is a historical category, it changes over time. Events taking place in last years in the world confirm this.

Features of the formation of a modern political map of the world

The political map of the world is a thematic map that shows the state borders of all countries of the world.

By its content cards can be:

General geographic

Thematic

Thematic maps

Vegetation maps, for example, depict the distribution and composition of vegetation in different areas. There are also mineral maps, forest maps, relief maps, synoptic maps, industry maps showing major cities - industrial centers and their specialization. All these cards characterize geographic objects and phenomena on a specific topic: vegetation, relief, industry. That is why they are called thematic. For example, a political map will first of all give an idea of the location of countries, their borders.

General geographic maps

General geographic maps display a variety of elements the earth's surface- relief, vegetation, rivers, settlements, transport network, etc. For example, physical map Russia.

By area coverage distinguish between maps of the world, individual continents, countries and their parts (regions).

A political map of the World

A political map of the World- one of the most important cartographic sources in the course of the geography of the world, since this hag shows different countries, their capitals, routes of communication and other useful information.

Let's look at the political map. In addition to the borders of states on the political map, you see Largest cities and capitals of countries, routes of communication and seaports, the largest hydrographic objects (seas, rivers, lakes, bays, straits). Some other geographic features, such as terrain, may also be shown.

On the political crust of the world, you will find more than 230 countries and territories.

The borders of the state have been formed for a long time. They can change for various reasons: historical, political, economic, cultural, natural.

In order to know the political map of the world or individual continents and their parts, you must constantly refer to it, train in determining geographic location those or other countries or regions, follow the changes taking place in the world.

The most difficult is the political map of Western Europe.

The process of forming the political map of the world has several millennia, so we can talk about the existence of several periods in its formation. Usually they distinguish: the ancient (up to the 5th century AD), the medieval (5th - 15th centuries), the new (16th - the end of the 19th century) and the latest periods (from the beginning of the 20th century).

Over the course of modern history, the political map of the world has been changing especially actively. During the Great geographical discoveries the largest colonial powers were Spain and Portugal. But with the development of manufacturing, England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and later the United States came to the forefront of history. This period of history was characterized by large colonial conquests in America, Asia and Africa.

In the recent period of history, serious territorial changes are associated with the course of two world wars and the post-war reconstruction of the world.

First step(between the First and Second World Wars) was marked by the appearance on the world map of the first socialist state (the RSFSR, and later the USSR). The borders of many states have changed (some of them have increased their territory - France, Denmark, Romania, Poland, for other states it has decreased). So, Germany, having lost the war, lost part of its territory (including Alsace-Lorraine) and all its colonies in Africa and Oceania. A large empire, Austria-Hungary, collapsed, and in its place new sovereign countries were formed: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The independence of Poland and Finland was proclaimed. The Ottoman Empire was divided.

Second phase(after World War II) was characterized by significant territorial changes on the political map of the world: on the site of the former Germany, two sovereign states were formed - the FRG and the GDR, a group of socialist states appeared in Eastern Europe, Asia and even Latin America (Cuba). Very large changes on the political map were caused by the collapse of the world colonial system and the formation of a large number of independent states in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the third stage of modern history has been distinguished. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 can be attributed to the qualitatively new changes on the political map of the world, which had a great impact on the socio-economic and socio-political life of the entire world community during this period. Later, most of the republics of the former Union (with the exception of the three Baltic states) became part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The perestroika processes in the countries of Eastern Europe led to the implementation of the predominantly peaceful ("velvet") people's democratic revolutions of 1989-90. in the countries of this region. In the former socialist states, there has been a change in the socio-economic formation. These states have embarked on the path of market transformations ("from plan to market").

In October 1990, the two German states of the GDR and the FRG united. On the other hand, the former federal republic of Czechoslovakia split into two independent states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia (1993).

The SFRY collapsed. The independence of the republics of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (as part of Serbia, Montenegro and the autonomous region of Kosovo) was proclaimed. The most acute political crisis of this former federation resulted in a civil war and interethnic conflicts that continue to this day. In the late 90s, the NATO countries carried out a military aggression against the FRY, as a result of which Kosovo was practically separated from it.

The process of decolonization continued in the world. Namibia gained independence - the last of the colonies in Africa. New sovereign states were formed in Oceania: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (former "wards" of the United States, which received the status of states freely associated with the United States).

In 1993, the independence of the state of Eritrea was proclaimed (the territory formerly one of the provinces of Ethiopia on the shores of the Red Sea, and even earlier, until 1945, a colony of Italy).

In 1999, Hong Kong (Xianggang), the former possession of Great Britain, returned to the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and in 2000, the former Portuguese colony - Macau (Macau). There are very few non-self-governing territories (possessions of other states) left on the modern political map of the world. These are mainly islands in Tikhiy and Atlantic oceans... There are also disputed territories in different regions of the world (Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, etc.).

The process of forming the political map of the world has several millennia. There are ancient, medieval, new and modern periods.

Ancient- until the 5th century. It falls on the period of the slave system. It is characterized by the emergence and collapse of the first states on earth: Ancient egypt, Carthage, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece... These states have made a great contribution to the development of world civilization due to the presence of a developed culture.

Medieval(5-15th century). Falls in the period of feudalism. On the basis of handicrafts, the internal market is gradually beginning to form. Differences appear in the level of economic development in individual countries. Production is expanding, there is a need to search for new territories for the sale of products and provide production with additional raw materials. This situation leads to territorial seizures and the search for sea routes to India, because land routes controlled by the Ottoman Empire. During this period, there were states: Byzantium, the Holy Roman Empire, England, Spain, Kievan Rus, etc. The political map of the world underwent strong changes during the period of great geographical discoveries. During this period, Portugal annexed Madeira, the Azov Islands, the Slave Coast in Africa, the fall of Constantinople, the opening South America Columbus and its colonization by Spain. Passed Vasco da Gama's travels to India, circumnavigating the South of Africa, the travels of Amerigo Vespucci and describing the Latin American continent with plotting it on a map, trip around the world Magellan, etc.

New period(15th century - before World War I of the 20th century). Characterized by the emergence of capitalist relations with the development of manufacturing, England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, later the United States, and then Japan enter the arena of history. There is a further division of the world and by the beginning of the 20th century it was completed.

Newest period represented by the following stages:

The end of the First World War and the emergence of the First Socialist State (first the RSFSR, then the USSR). The disintegration of Austria-Hungary takes place. The borders of many states changed, sovereign states were formed: Poland, Finland, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Austria, Hungary, and others. The Ottoman Empire collapsed, the colonial possessions of Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Japan expanded.
End of World War II. It is characterized by the collapse of the world colonial system (60s - the years when African states acquired independence), as well as the emergence of a social system of states (the formation of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance - CMEA and the conclusion of a pact by the Warsaw Pact countries).
The world from 2-pole becomes unipolar again: 1991 - the collapse of the USSR, the acquisition of sovereignty by the Baltic states, and then other union republics. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is formed, peaceful, velvet revolutions are carried out in the countries Central Europe... Unification takes place Arab states, The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic to the Republic of Yemen. On October 3, 1990, the GDR and the FRG unite to form a single state of the FRG with the capital Berlin. In 1991, CMEA and the organization of the Warsaw Pact ceased their activities, the Social Federal Republic of Yugoslavia disintegrated into the states of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, Union republic Yugoslavia as part of Serbia and Montenegro.
The processes of decolonization are continuing. Namibia gained independence, states were formed in Oceania, federal states in Micronesia (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia disintegrated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 1993, independence was proclaimed in Eritrea and Djibouti.

World economic relations North-South, West-East, their essence, dynamism, development prospects. World economic relations North-South are developing between economically developed countries of Western Europe, Central Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico and developing countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, Japan. Economic relations between these countries were formed for a long period of historical time. At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the developing countries were colonies of economically developed countries, which served as raw materials and fuel bases and provided the economy of these countries. mineral resources and cheap labor force... With the acquisition of independence, the developing countries have not lost economic ties with the developed ones. They have reached a higher quality level. These countries are still of interest to developed countries as sources of supply of cheap mineral products to world markets due to the fact that raw material bases developed countries are at a stage of exhaustion. In connection with the adoption of harsh environmental legislation in the territories of developed countries, as well as the restructuring of the economy aimed at the development of high-tech industries and services, the lower levels of the economy in these countries (resource-extracting and processing resources) are moved to developing countries to the sources of raw materials, fuel, cheap labor. ... The largest Transnational Corporations (TNCs) create their subsidiaries in these countries for the processing of agricultural products and organize the production of juices, jams, and confitures. Gradually, shipbuilding, the production of textiles, footwear, consumer electronics, and the automotive industry are being taken out on the territory of these countries, which makes it possible to develop in these countries industry composition an economy that is export-oriented. The enterprises of TNCs created on the territory of these countries are taking out modern technologies that allow them to produce competitive products in these countries. As a result of the accumulation of national capital, in these countries, the processes of industrialization of the economy begin to take place, allowing these countries to form a diversified national economic complex. New industrial countries are an example of such countries.

Economic relations West-East are formed between the developed countries of Western Europe, the USA, Canada and countries with economies in transition. Until the early 90s economic ties developed insufficiently fully, which was explained by the policies pursued in these states. With the transition to market relations in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the political situation in the world has changed and relations between the countries began to develop on the basis of mutual respect and good neighborliness. Financial resources were lacking for the structural transformation of the economy in the countries with economies in transition. Therefore, these countries pursued policies aimed at improving the investment climate in their countries in order to attract loan and entrepreneurial capital from developed countries. For developed countries, countries with economies in transition were also of interest, since these countries had capacious markets, highly qualified labor and cheap resources, a developed production and scientific and technical base. On the basis of cooperation, combination and specialization of production processes in the territories of countries with economies in transition, joint ventures and branches of subsidiaries of TNCs of the world began to be created. The use of modern technologies in the economies of countries with economies in transition made it possible in the shortest possible time to carry out a structural restructuring of the economy in these countries, to reduce the share of primary sectors of the economy that are competitive on world markets (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland).

The process of forming the political map of the world goes back several millennia. Its beginning is associated with the period of the primary stages of the social division of labor, the emergence of private property, which led to the social stratification of society. Its further deepening led to state building and the struggle for the limit of spheres of influence.

The change in social formations determined the time lines of the main stages in the development of the political map of the world:

1. Ancient stage(until the 5th century AD) is characterized by the formation and development of slave states in China, India, Mesopotamia. Many states of the Ancient World originated in the Mediterranean and are associated with the heyday of the Egyptian and Greco-Roman cultures.

2. Medieval stage(5-16 centuries). A large number of feudal states are emerging in Europe, trade ties between them are strengthening, territorial claims arise, which lead to numerous military conflicts. At this time, Byzantium, the Holy Roman Empire, Kievan Rus, Muscovy, Portugal, Spain, England appear on the world map. Outside of Europe, the most active state building took place in China, India and Asia Minor. On the American continent, this stage is associated with the flourishing of the states of the Incas and Aztecs.

3. New stage(from the 16th century to the First World War in 1914). Its beginning is associated with the era of the great geographical discoveries, which stimulated the colonial expansion of European states and the involvement of vast territories of Asia, Africa and America in the system of international division of labor. Capitalist relations are emerging and rapidly developing in the metropolitan states and their colonies. By the end of this stage, most of the land was divided between the largest colonial powers in Europe, the United States and Japan.

4. Newest stage(from 1914 to the second half of the 1990s) is associated with two wars of the 20th century (World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945)), the October Revolution in Russia (1917), the formation of a socialist and capitalist camps, with political and economic confrontation between them. This stage also includes the collapse of the colonial empires of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the USA, Japan and a number of other metropolises, as a result of which more than 100 new independent states emerge on the territory of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

5. Modern stage(from 1990 to the present day) is characterized by the most important events that radically changed the political map of the world. These include: the collapse of the socialist camp, the collapse of the USSR into 15 sovereign states, the reunification of the FRG and the GDR, the collapse of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia and the formation of new independent states on their territory (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo), Russia's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia (August 26, 2008) and South Ossetia (August 28, 2008), the separation of the independent state of Eritrea from Ethiopia, the reunification of Hong Kong with the PRC.

As a result of major changes in the political map in recent years, the world is being transformed from a bipolar to a multipolar one. If, before the collapse of the USSR, the USA and the USSR dominated the political and economic life of the planet, today we can already speak of at least five main centers: the USA, Western Europe, Russia, Japan and China. However, the listed centers of international political and economic life of the planet are not quite equivalent in their potential.