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Explores how borders are created, classified, and the physical or cultural logic behind their placement.
Why do some national borders follow the winding curves of a river while others are perfectly straight lines that look like they were drawn with a ruler? The answer explains why some regions live in peace while others face centuries of conflict.
Political boundaries are rarely random. An antecedent boundary is established before a large population settles in an area. Because the land is sparsely populated when the line is drawn, these borders often face less conflict. A classic example is the boundary between the U.S. and Canada along the latitude. In contrast, a subsequent boundary is drawn after a cultural landscape is already in place. These lines are often intended to accommodate ethnic, religious, or linguistic differences. For instance, the border between China and Vietnam reflects long-standing cultural distinctions developed over millennia. When a subsequent boundary specifically aims to divide different cultural groups, it is called an ethnographic boundary.
Quick Check
If a border is drawn across a wilderness area before any cities are built, what type of boundary is it?
Answer
An antecedent boundary.
Borders generally follow two types of logic: nature or math. Physical-political boundaries follow visible features of the natural landscape, such as the crest of the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France or the Rio Grande between the U.S. and Mexico. While they seem 'natural,' they can cause disputes if a river shifts its course. On the other hand, geometric boundaries are straight lines that ignore physical features and ethnic patterns. These are often defined by grid systems like latitude and longitude. While easy to map, geometric borders can be problematic if they split a single resource—like an oil field or an ethnic village—in two.
1. Identify the location: The border between North and South Korea. 2. Observe the shape: It is a straight line following a specific latitude. 3. Classify: Because it follows a coordinate () rather than a river or mountain, it is a geometric boundary.
Quick Check
Why might a river be a difficult physical-political boundary over long periods of time?
Answer
Rivers can change course due to erosion or flooding, potentially shifting the 'legal' border.
Not all borders are agreed upon by the people living there. A superimposed boundary is forced upon an existing cultural landscape by an outside power, such as a colonial government. The most famous example is the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where European powers carved up Africa with no regard for tribal or linguistic territories. This often leads to internal conflict. Finally, a relic boundary is a border that no longer functions as a legal divide but is still visible on the landscape. The Great Wall of China or the former border between East and West Germany are relic boundaries; they no longer stop travel, but they leave a lasting mark on the culture and economy of the region.
Consider the impact of the Berlin Conference: 1. External powers drew lines based on resource extraction rather than local history. 2. Result: Multiple hostile ethnic groups were often forced into a single state, while other groups were split across three different countries. 3. Classification: This is a superimposed boundary, which explains much of the geopolitical instability in post-colonial Africa.
The border between the United States and Canada along is best described as:
Which type of boundary is most likely to result from colonial 'Scramble for Africa'?
The Berlin Wall is an example of a relic boundary because it no longer functions as a political divide between two sovereign states.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list the four types of boundaries based on timing (Antecedent, Subsequent, Superimposed, Relic) and give one real-world example for each.
Practice Activity
Open a map of Africa and a map of Europe. Identify three borders that look 'geometric' (straight) and three that look 'physical' (jagged). Research if the straight lines were superimposed by colonial powers.