What is Culture?

WHAT IS CULTURE? Culture is the way of life of people who share similar beliefs and customs. Social Scientists look at eight elements called traits. They study what groups a society is divided into, what language the people speak, and what religions they follow. They examine people’s daily lives and look at their history and artwork. They also look at how a society is governed and how the people make a living.

EIGHT ELEMENTS/TRAITS OF CULTURE Language Arts Religion Government Economy Daily Life Social Groups History

In some societies you are born into a social class. SOCIAL GROUPS One way of studying cultures is by looking at the different groups of people in a society. Societies are divided in many ways, there are ranking systems. Here in the United States it is based upon such things as: 1. Education 2. Money 3. Physical possessions 4. Who you know In some societies you are born into a social class.

SOCIAL GROUPS continued… Ethnic Groups – An ethnic group is a group of people who share a common history, language, religion, and some physical characteristics. One particular ethnic group in a country may be the majority group. This group in society controls most of the wealth and power. The other ethnic groups in that country are minority groups – peoples whose race or ethnic origin is different from that of the majority group in the region. The largest ethnic minority groups in the United States are African Americans, Hispanic Americans, & Native Americas.

SOCIAL GROUPS continued… FAMILY STRUCTURE Nuclear Family includes a wife, husband and their children This is the traditional family pattern in Industrial countries like the US Extended Family several generations living in one household may include grandparents, parents, children, aunts uncles, cousins, etc.

LANGUAGE Language is one of the strongest unifying forces for a culture. It is how cultures express their ideas and pass them on from one generation to another Language can be verbal, written, and may include many different dialects, or a local form of language that differs from the same language in other areas. For Example: Southern accent New York accent High and Low German Gaelic

Religion Religion helps people to answer basic questions about the meaning and purpose of life. Religion helps support the values of a culture Religion is often reflected in paintings, music, architecture Religious beliefs vary significantly around the world. Struggles over religious differences are a challenge in many countries. Religion has also been the source of many wars.

Religion CONTINUED… DIFFERENT GODS Monotheism: Polytheism: Is the belief in only Is the belief in two one god. or more gods. Examples: Examples: Christianity Hinduism Judaism Paganism Islam Egyptian

Daily life What you eat and how you eat it reflect your culture. Ex. Using silverware, fingers, chopsticks – reflect their culture What people wear also reflects cultural differences. How people build their traditional homes in their societies.

History & Customs/Traditions History shapes how we view the world. People remember the success of the past. We often celebrate holidays to honor heroes and heroines who brought about those successes. People also remember the bad times in history, such as wars and natural disasters and other dark moments. These experiences, too, influence how a group of people sees itself.

History & Customs/Traditions CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS Help to teach and enforce a society’s rules and expectations These can include the idea of what is considered “right” and “wrong” behaviors. These can include ceremonies, holidays, family gatherings or events.

Arts and Literature Cultures express their ideas and beliefs through their arts. Art is not just paintings and sculptures, but also architecture, dance, music, theatre and literature. Folk tales and other literature can express the view points of various cultures. Art, music, and literature help to strengthen a culture’s identity.

GOVERNMENT Governments were originally formed to help people meet their basic needs. People need rules in order to live together without conflict. keeping order protecting their society from outside threats Food Shelter “Government” refers to the people or person in control and the laws and political institutions

Government continued… For much of human history, people lived in small groups. Government was fairly simple, usually chiefs or councils made decisions for the tribe or group. As society expanded, government become more complicated. Early societies were often led by Priest-Kings, who were the connection between the gods and the people.

GOVERNMENT CONTINUED… What makes up a Government? Someone or some body of people who make the important decisions. There are laws and punishments for breaking those laws. There is a means of enforcing those laws. There are officials to help run the government. Governments must raise funds so they can function.

TYPES OF GOVERNMENT WHO HOLDS POWER? Direct Democracy - All citizens vote directly on issues. Representative Democracy People vote for representatives who lead the country and make laws. Constitutional Monarchy A monarch inherits the right to rule but is limited by laws and a law- making body elected by the people. Absolute Monarchy A monarch inherits the right to rule and has unlimited power. Dictatorship A dictator makes all the laws and suppresses any opposition. Communist Single party system, states that all industry, businesses, transport, public utilities etc. are owned by 'the people‘, i.e. “the state”.

Types of government examples TYPES OF GOVERNMENT EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES Direct Democracy - Parts of Switzerland, Some New England towns Representative Democracy United States, Russia, France Constitutional Monarchy United Kingdom, Japan, Sweden, Jordan Absolute Monarchy Saudi Arabia Dictatorship Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Germany under Adolf Hitler Communist China, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba

Economic Systems WHAT IS ECONOMICS? Social science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services What does economics have to do with Culture? Culture includes economic activities, or how the people in society earn a living. Some people farm or manufacture products. Some people provide services.

Economic Systems continued… There are FOUR Economic Systems Traditional Economies Command Economies Market Economies Mixed Economies Each addresses the three basic economic questions of life: “What goods and services should we produce?” “How should we produce them?” “For whom should we produce them?”

ECONOMICS SYSTEMS CONTINUED… TRADITIONAL ECOMOMIES People produce most of what they need to survive hunting, gathering, and growing their own crops make their own clothes, tools, etc. if they have extra they trade for other goods MARKET ECONOMIES Individuals answer the basic economic questions they buy and sell goods and services they work for money to buy these goods government is not involved in the market place

ECONOMICS SYSTEMS CONTINUED… COMMAND ECONOMIES The government controls what goods are produced, how they are produced, and what they cost individuals have little economic power the government controls the factories and the stores MIXED ECONOMIES Individuals make some economic decisions and the government makes others government might make regulations about a product but private businesses make the products