Final answer:
Political entities are categorized as unitary governments, federations, or confederations based on the balance of power between central and regional authorities. This classification often reflects how the land was divided and the political units established during territorial acquisitions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political entities acquired by countries can be categorized as unitary governments, federations, or confederations, depending on the distribution of power between central and regional governments. A unitary government is a system where a single central government holds the majority of the power, with limited powers given to regional authorities. A federation is a political entity in which power is divided between a central government and various states or provinces, each retaining considerable self-governance. Lastly, a confederation refers to an association of sovereign member states that, while retaining their independence, delegate some powers to a central body for mutual benefit.
In studying the acquisition of territory, scholars use maps to interpret the division of land and the establishment of political units such as cities, states, or countries. The classification of a political entity after acquisition depends on how the establishing nation has defined the level of autonomy and governance structure within the acquired area.