The 8 Elements of Culture

What is Culture????? Culture is the way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs.

Element 1. Language (Sharing the same Language) Dialects- A local form of a language that may have a distinct vocabulary and pronunciation

Element 2. Religion (Answer questions about life’s meaning) Major Religions Judaism Abraham Islam Muhammad Hinduism Unknown Christianity Jesus Christ Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama

Element 3. History (Shapes how a culture views itself and the world) Stories about the challenges and successes of a culture support certain values and develop pride and unity: EX: American History- Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day,

Element 4. Daily Life (Basic Human Needs) Food, Clothing, Shelter that reflect the culture and the physical surroundings.

Element 5. Economy (How people earn a living) Economic System—The method used to answer three questions: 1. What goods and services to produce 2. How to produce them 3. Who will receive them

Element 6. The Arts (How people express what they think is meaningful) Through music, painting, sculpture, dance and literature, the arts can tell stories about important figures and events in culture.

Element 7. Government (Rules in order to live without together without conflict) Types of Government: Democracy---Power is held by the people Dictatorship– The leader rules by force Monarchy----- a government led by a king or queen by a ruling family

Element 8. Inventions & Technology (Important advancements) Civilizations—Highly developed cultures Cities, forming governments, founding religions , developing writing systems Industrial and Agricultural Revolution Advances in Communication

Cultural Words to Remember Cultural Diffusion—The Process of spreading ideas, languages, or customs from one culture to another Globalization—The development of a worldwide culture with an independent economy