Culture Unit 3 Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7

Cultural Geography Study of living cultures

Cultural Landscape The modification of the natural landscape by human activities

Cultural Ecology The study of the relationship between the natural environment and culture

Archaeology Study of past cultures

Assimilation the process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture

Cultural Diffusion Borrowing from other cultures – food, clothing styles, etc.; spread of culture to another area

Cultural Hearths The areas where civilizations first began from which the ideas and innovations radiated from

Acculturation Process by which a person from one culture adopts traits from another culture

Prejudice Unreasonable attitude or bias against a group or culture based on supposed characteristics

Bias Personal, distorted judgment that influences objective perception; one sided

Stereotype Over simplifies, commonly held opinion of a person or group, often a composite of traits; generalizations about a group Example: all Muslims are terrorists, all African Americans are lazy, all Italians are drunks, all French are rude

Ethnocentric (ethno=cultural group; centric=at the center) believing that one’s own culture is the best or better than others; negative if extreme; positive if establishes pride

Xenophobia (xeno=foreign; phobia=fear) a fear of foreigners and things foreign

In your notes On the side of your paper write out the ABC’s and stop at letter L Skip at least 3 lines between each letter. Title your notes ABC’s of Culture

A is for Appearance Clothing – special occasions, colors, how it is worn, uniforms Jewelry – special meanings, wedding rings, lapel pins Type of Material - bought, handmade, imported Hair Style - Physical Features – short, tall Make up; Tattoos

B is for Belief Systems Religion Superstitions Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, etc Superstitions Don’t step on a crack, don’t cross under a ladder, don’t step in the path of a black cat, etc.

C is for Communication Language Tone Sign Body signals Titles (presidents vs. kings vs. chiefs) Greetings (handshakes, bowing, etc)

D is for Dates History Ancestry Heritage Holidays

E is for Entertainment Art Music Crafts Dance Sports Songs Storytelling

F is for Food Types Spices Special Occasions Preparation How people eat Fasting Taboos F is for Food

G is for Government Laws Values Social Roles and Order How people act towards each other Social Groups/Clubs

H is for Housing Style and Materials Use of Rooms Shape and Size Color Arrangement of furniture H is for Housing

I is for Information Informal – education from relatives and peers Formal – education from school and life experiences

J is for Jobs Technology – scientific knowledge and tools Economy Ways of making a living Style/type of currency Transportation Communication

K is for Kind of Environment Location Climate and Weather Physical Features Vegetation This information explains relationship to the environment

Leftovers Leftover information that doesn’t fit into one of the categories Population, demographics, disease, etc.