1. AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY *Chapter 2 Class Notes*
Cultures, Environments, and Regions

2. What is Culture? Culture Trait – A single attribute of a culture
EXAMPLES?
Wearing a Turban in Muslim / Indian culture (Dress)

4. Building blocks… Culture Trait… Culture Complex Culture Systems
Cultural Region
Culture Realm

5. Human Geo Equals… Cultural Landscape –
The imprint of humans on the land (Carl Sauer)
Transformation of Physical landscape into Cultural landscape (everything we build)

6. Chicago in 1803

7. Chicago in 2013

8. Leaving your mark…
Sequent Occupance –
Notion that successive societies leave their lasting cultural imprints on a place over time
Can see evidence of past societies on landscape

9. But never forgetting where you came from…
(Cultural) Hearth-
Location where a specific culture
first arose (Birthplace, Origin )
Egyptian Culture: Nile Valley
Islam: Mecca

10. Environmental Determinism-
Limitations
Environmental Determinism-
Human Behavior / Development is controlled by the Physical Environment
Earthquakes rip Cities apart
Volcanoes Erupt & Burn Cities

13. Or is it…? Possibilism- Response to Env. Det. (favored in H. Geo)
Human Decision Making is the crucial factor in Development
Technology is KEY
Earthquake “proof” Buildings

15. Humans Building… Centripetal Force – Forces that Unite
Language, culture, religion
Centrifugal Force –
Forces that Divide

16. How Culture Spreads… Diffusion – Spatial Spreading
Cultural Diffusion – Spreading & Adopting of cultural element from original place to wider area
2 types…

17. Two types of Diffusion
1. RELOCATION DIFFUSION
Culture being physically carried one place to another through Migration / Immigration
Colonists (Puritans) to America
2. EXPANSION DIFFUSION
Idea starts in a source area
Stays strong there while spreading outward
Islam – start (Hearth) in Saudi Arabia

18. 2 forms of EXP. DIFF. CONTAGIOUS DIFFUSION –
Something transmitted over space because people who carry it are close to each other
(Common Cold)

19. Form 1

20. 2. HIERARCHIAL DIFFUSION –
Element diffuses through those who are SUSPECTIBLE to it (hits certain groups, leapfrogs others).
HIV – spreads in cities first and fast, but only among certain populations
(gay pop., drug users, hemophiliacs, unprotected sex)

21. Form 2

22. Diffusion of Islam

23. Through Diffusion & Contact…
Acculturation – One culture dominates the other
Weaker adopts more from dominant
Assimilation – Total domination of stronger culture
Weaker culture usually erased

24. A fair trade… Transculturation – A more even exchange between cultures
Both cultures are sources and adopters

25. Causes for movement… PUSH FACTORS
Something that forces you out of the place where you are
Usually a negative
Storm wrecks your house, forces you to move elsewhere
Persecution

26. PULL FACTORS
Something that attracts you to go to another place
Warm weather in FLA
Job opportunity in NY

27. Remember!!!! YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE!
PUSH and PULL FACTORS are NOT PRO & CON