The Study of Human Geography
What is Culture? The beliefs and actions that define a group of people’s way of life
Culture 1.Customs / Beliefs 2.Language 3.Religion 4.Technology 5.Institutions / Government
Customs / Beliefs (Lead to Traditions) Reflect the values of a society
Family Structure Parents may live with just their children. Other places parents, children, and extended family live together. Gender Roles: Roles specifically assigned to men and women. Changing Gender Roles: Women in America have seen many changes Traditional Roles Many countries in the world maintain traditional roles for women.
Language Needed to communicate
Religion Set of beliefs about the meaning of life and the supernatural Customs and practices deal with those beliefs
Major Religions Judaism Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Animism Sikhism
Technology Urban vs. Rural Modern vs. Traditional
Rural
Urban
Modern Technology
Traditional Technology
Institutions / Governments Institution –take care of social needs Government –protect from outsiders and regulate behavior
Schools
Hospital
Military
Cultural Hearth Point of origin of a cultural trait
Cultural Hearth
Cultural Convergence The contact and interaction of one culture with another
Spain introduces Roman Catholicism into Mexico
Mexican American culture introduces Roman Catholicism to the Southwest US
Spreading European Languages
Cultural Divergence restriction of a culture from outside influences
Cultural Divergence
Cultural Diffusion (also known as spatial diffusion) a cultural element is transmitted across some distance from one group or individual to another
Spread of Christianity from Europe to America
Spanish introducing horses to America
Movies made in America going to the rest of the world
Buddhism spreading into China
Islam spreading into Indonesia
Spreading European Languages