Religion in the Cultural Landscape Religious beliefs shape spatial features in the real world.

The Impact of Religion on the Cultural Landscape n Structures n Sacred Places n Pilgrimages n Toponyms n Settlement Patterns n Distribution of Plants and Animals

Structures n Hinduism – temples and towers n Judaism – Wailing Wall and synagogues n Buddhism – temples, pagodas, stupas n Shinto – shrines and torii n Christianity – churches and cathedrals n Islam – mosques and minarets n Sikhism – gurdwara

Angkor Wat

The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka Thuparama Dagoba

Pagoda in Japan

Shinto Shrine

St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow Many Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches are highly elaborate.

Sikh Gurdwara

Sacred Places n From the Latin sacer – holy (sacrifice, consecrate, sacrilege, sacrum) n Sites of sacred buildings n Places associated with the dead n Landscape features

Cemetery in Hoctun, Yucatan The beautiful cemeteries in the Yucatan reflect the blending of Catholic and indigenous religions.

The Taj Majal, India The Taj Majal is a Muslim tomb built for a Mogul Emperor’s favorite wife in 1629.

The Cremation Ghat, Varanasi

Feng Shui

Mount Shasta, California Mountain peaks, such as Mount Shasta, and other high places are often revered. Mount Shasta is considered holy by 30 New Age cults as well as some Indian groups.

Holy Water Water is seen as holy in several religions. Many rivers, such as the Ganges, are holy, especially at the confluence of two rivers. Springs and waterfalls often become sacred places in the landscape.

Pilgrimages n Religious journey to a sacred place n Circumambulation n Economy n Exchange of ideas n Confirmation of faith n Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism

The Hajj In Islam making a pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the 5 Pillars of Faith. Kaaba

The Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France

Religious Toponyms Mecca, Saudi Arabia Religious toponyms are scattered all over the land, with place names such as San Francisco, Holy Cross, and Santa Rosa. To Muslims, Mecca is the most holy city and the name itself has come to mean desired. Only Muslims are allowed to enter the city.

Settlement Patterns n Mormon wards and stakes n Catholic diocese

Mormon Farm Villages, Utah Mormons have distinctive settlement patterns. Farms are not scattered throughout the countryside as is common in the western U.S. Farm villages have wide streets and are divided into 4 farms per city block.

The Mormon House Mormons were originally polygamous; men were encouraged to have more than one wife. The Mormon House accomodates this type of family by having two entrances.

The Law of the Indies, 1573

Distribution of Plants and Animals

The Sacred Bo-Tree

Holy Cow Bullocks are used as draft animals and provide 47% of the energy Milk important source of food 300 million tons of dung are gathered for fuel each year 340 million tons are used as fertilizer each year 20M cattle die each year, 19M hides used in the leather industry Non-Hindu and lower castes are allowed to eat meat

Religion has a Large Impact on the Cultural Landscape n Structures n Sacred Places n Pilgrimages n Toponyms n Settlement Patterns n Distribution of Plants and Animals