1. Also known as Human Geography Hanks HS
Cultural Geography
Also known as Human Geography
Hanks HS

2. Physical V. Cultural Geography
Physical Geography
Rocks/Minerals
Land Forms
Animal & Plant life
Climate/Weather
Environment
Soils
Rivers/Oceans/Water
Culture Geography
Population/Settlements
Urbanization
Economic & Political Systems
Human Migration
Social Systems
Religion/Belief System

3. Culture
Shared patterns of learned behavior that are passed on from generation to generation.
Components:
Beliefs, Values, Customs
Languages, Ethnicity, Religion
Institutions (Economic, Political, Educational)
Art, Music, and Technology

4. Cultural Geography
A field that studies spatial aspects of human cultures.
Major Components focus on:
Cultural Landscapes
Culture Hearths
Cultural Diffusion
Culture Regions

5. Cultural Landscape
The composite of human imprints on the earth’s surface.
Carl Sauer’s definition: “the forms superimposed on the physical landscape by the activities of man” “ from Recent Developments in Cultural Geography, 1927

6. Culture Hearth
The source areas from which radiated ideas, innovations, and ideologies that change the world beyond.
What are some examples?

7. Cultural Diffusion
The spreading of a culture element (ex: technological innovation)
Can you think of any examples of cultural diffusion, past or present?

8. Culture Region
Distinct, culturally discrete spatial unit; a region where certain cultural norms prevail.

9. Ethnicity What is ethnicity?
Common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background
An Example of Ethnic and Religious Conflict:
The Balkans: Ethnic war between the Croatian Catholics, the Bosnian Muslims, and the Serbian Orthodox.

10. Conclusion
Think about your own culture: your belief system, institutions that you are part of, technology you use everyday.
Cultures change over time, but the historical aspects are very important for understanding today’s cultures. Culture must be examined from different perspectives.
Know the terms cultural landscape, cultural hearth, cultural diffusion, and culture region- these terms describe the ways in which cultural geographers view the world.