Human Geography: Elements of Culture Learning Goals: Explain different economic and government systems Analyze major religions Explain how urban areas develop

Population Geography

Population Distribution Where are these people? Not evenly spread out throughout the world. Almost 90% of the population lives in the Northern Hemisphere! Why is this area well-suited for a large population? More land Climate is warm enough and wet enough to make agriculture possible!

Population Density: helps geographers understand how heavily populated an area is

Explain how urban areas develop…

Growth of Urban Areas Today, much of the population of the world lives in cities. Cities are often the birthplace of innovation and change within a society.

Urban Areas Suburbs: the built-up area around the central city

Urbanization: the dramatic rise in the number of cities and the changes in lifestyle that result. Why have cities grown over the past 2 centuries? People looking for work!!

What is Culture? Culture: –The knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors shared by and passed on by the members of a specific group. What do the following have in common? We SHARE and BORROW from ALL cultures around the world!

Innovation – taking existing technology and resources and creating something new Diffusion – The spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of behavior Cultural Hearth – A site of innovation From which basic ideas, Materials, and Technology diffuse to Many cultures Acculturation – When society changes because it accepts or adopts an innovation

Changing Culture? QUESTION: Does culture EVOLVE or remain the SAME? ANSWER: Culture is ALWAYS changing! Change can occur or

Language Helps to build cultural identity –Builds group identity and unity among those speaking the SAME language. Impact of multiple languages within a or culture: Can lead to divisions among people –Ex: Canada (French and English)

Language How many languages are spoken throughout the world? –Between 3,000 and 6,500 What is the term for different versions of a language spoken within a culture? DIALECT! –Examples: Southern drawl, Boston accent, and street slang

Types of Religion Very influential in cultures Religion Categories: 1.Monotheistic Belief in one god 2.Polytheistic Belief in many gods 3.Animistic Belief in divine forces in nature How religions spread throughout the world: Religion spreads through diffusion and converts.

FAITH FOLLOWERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD… These are estimations!!

Religions and Region

Religions Judaism: –Oldest of the Southwest Asian religions –Concentrated in Israel –Established more than 3,200 years ago –Oldest monotheistic religion –Basic laws & teachings come from Torah (Holy book) Christianity: –Evolved from the teachings of Judaism (2,000 yrs. ago) –Monotheistic –Based on teachings of Jesus Christ (Son of God to Christians) –New Testament of Bible –Found on every continent Groups: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox

Religions Islam: –Based on teachings of Prophet Muhammad –Monotheistic –God is Allah (Arabic) –Close ties to Judaism and Christianity –Holy Book = Qur’an –2 major divisions: Sunni and Shiite Hinduism: –One of the world’s oldest religions (dates back 5,000 years) –“Ethnic” religion (India) –Polytheistic –One or many gods represent an aspect of the divine spirit, Brahman –Includes a Caste system (shapes lives and culture)

Hindu Caste System

Religions Buddhism: –Offshoot of Hinduism –Developed in India (563 B.C.) Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha/Enlightened One) –Rejected Hindu caste system –Focused teachings on correct way to live to reach enlightened spiritual state called NIRVANA

Types of Government Representative Democracy: Citizens hold political power; “Rule by the People” (U.S.) Monarchy: A ruling family, headed by a king or queen, holds political power (UK) –What is a constitutional monarchy?

Dictatorship: An individual or group holds COMPLETE political power (North Korea, Cuba) –Military dictatorship: where the government resides within the military.

Economic Systems Traditional: “Barter”; trade without use of money Command: Government determines and owns all means of production Market: “Capitalism”; based on Supply and Demand—consumers play large role Mixed: Combination of command and market