Ch. 2-What is Culture??? How do we see Culture??? Types of Culture??? Culture is defined as the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior transmitted by the members of a society

Human Geo Equals…? CULTURAL LANDSCAPE The imprint of humans on the land (Carl Sauer) Transformation of “Physical” landscape into “Cultural” landscape How do we do this??? Building roads, canals, bridges, dams, trees cut down to build farms.

Chicago in 1803

Chicago in 2014

How do we know past cultures / societies have been here??? Leaving a mark… How do we know past cultures / societies have been here??? Sequent Occupance What evidence can we see of past societies on the landscape??? Sequent Occupance- Successive societies leave their cultural imprints on a place, contributing to a cumulative cultural landscape Parthenon in Greece

New Orleans- Founded by the French, Spanish Control, French Control again, English Control, American Many buildings were built by French and Spanish settlers in the 1700-1800’s. English and American style architecture is also found in New Orleans.

How do Cultures originate? Birthplaces of “cultures” and new ideas? (Cultural) Hearth Culture Hearths- Sources of civilization or cultural growth and achievement (birthplace of new ideas)

Ancient Culture Hearths West Africa- Use of Iron tools which spread throughout africa as a result, domesticated agriculture (palm oil and yams)

Causes for movement…? What might cause a culture / people to move (diffuse) ? PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS

Cultural Development Limitations What controls Cultural (Human) development? Environmental Determinism? How??? -Idea that Human behavior is strongly affected by the physical environment -Used to thing that we were RULED by this and that temperate climates are the best for developing advanced societies

How can / do Humans overcome environment??? Possibilism Key to Human development is TECHNOLOGY!!! Idea that the natural environment doesn’t DETERMINE how we live, it merely serves to limit the range of choices available to a culture. Flaw is that this still asks what the physical environment will allow, and ignores that humans have always pushed the boundaries of what is environmentally possible.

Humans… Centripetal Force What DIVIDES a People? Centrifugal Force What UNITES a people? Centripetal Force What DIVIDES a People? Centrifugal Force Examples in Physics: Gravity is a centripetal force, and a Centrifuge in science (spinning substance to separate ingredients) Examples in Human Geography: Centripetal-religion, nationalism, a “charismatic” leader, a powerful external threat, good transportation/communication systems Centrifugal- different religion (Indian Hindu/Muslim violence, Hindu/Buddhist violence in Sri Lanka), different ethnic groups, cultural diversity, physical boundaries

How does Culture Spread??? Diffusion (Cultural) 2 types…

Two types of Diffusion 1. RELOCATION DIFFUSION Culture being physically carried one place to another through Migration / Immigration of people -Migration of Christianity from Europe to America because of immigration, reason Chicago has great food

2. EXPANSION DIFFUSION Idea starts in a source area Stays strong there while idea (not people) spreads outward

2 forms of EXP. DIFF. CONTAGIOUS DIFFUSION Something transmitted over space because people who carry it are close to each other

2. HIERARCHIAL DIFFUSION – Element diffuses through a population to those who are SUSPECTIBLE to it (hits certain groups, leapfrogs others). Missionaries often tried to convert kings and tribal leaders first New fashion ideas affect the wealthy/fashion conscious community in major cities, sometimes never touching smaller/poorer communities

Through Diffusion & Contact…? When 2 cultures come in contact…? Acculturation- Assimilation- Transculturation- Acculturation- Less dominant culture adopts some elements of dominant culture Assimilation- Complete acceptance of dominant culture Transculturation- Spain/Aztec

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