CULTURE – What’s that?

Culture What is culture? What goes in to culture? Clothing, music, government, etc. School is a culture!

5 Themes of Geography All of the 5 themes of geography relate to culture. How?

What is culture? (1) The unique way in which a group of people live (2) Generally refers to the patterns of human activity (3) "The total, generally organized way of life, including values, norms, institutions, and artifacts, that is passed on from generation to generation by learning alone." CULTURE IS: An entire way of life of a particular group of people who live in the same place.

WHY IS CULTURE SOMETIMES COMPARED TO AN ICEBERG? YOU CAN’T SEE YOU CAN SEE 1.Facial expressions 2.Religious beliefs 3.Foods 4.Eating habits 5.Paintings 6.Concept of self 7.Work ethic 8.Styles of dress 9.Literature 10.Concept of fairness 11.Childraising beliefs

Elements of Culture LANGUAGE: People have common forms of communication. Sign language, written language, spoken language PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: People found common ways to cope with the environment where the people lived which included the climate, vegetation, and land. HOUSING & CLOTHING: Shelter is built with the same materials & in similar styles. Clothing is made from similar materials & designed in a common style.

Elements of Culture RULES FOR LIVING: Laws & Rules are made for living together. People agree to abide by the rules for the good of all. Those disobeying the laws are punished in a way established by the people. ECONOMY: Common trade system – people trade goods for goods* or money for goods Common exchange system – the same money is used or the same product is used for trade

Elements of Culture VALUES, MORALS, RELIGION People in the same culture find the same things important. People have the same values (ex: the same things are important to them, like education, art, or physical activities) Morals – the same beliefs about what is right and wrong (ex. Physical punishment is wrong) Religion – people have common religious beliefs (ex. One God / Many Gods)

Elements of Culture Food and Movement All people grow similar crops & eat similar animals. People move around using the same means of transportation (foot, boat, horse, camel).

Cultural Diffusion & Assimilation Cultural Assimilation- taking elements of one’s culture and making it your own (absorbing into a new culture) Tacos! Cultural diffusion- the exchanging of ideas from one culture to another usually done through trade and warfare Ex. Baseball in Japan Other examples??