Cultural Geography Culture: a way of people’s life Passed to children via teaching, example, imitation Examples: Language, religion, economics, government, beliefs, technologies, morals

Cultural Traits Cultural traits: activity and behaviors that people often take part in

Cultural Regions Cultural regions: the way people use the land, the role of women in society, the form of government Cultural region: area in which people have many shared cultural traits Japan has one dominant culture, Iraq has several Ethnic group: a human population that shares a common culture or ancestry

Culture Change Cultural traits change over time Acculturation: adopting or accepting traits of another culture When/how might this happen?

Innovation and Diffusion Innovation (invention) – what a culture accepts over time Diffusion – when an idea spreads (it is dispersed to another person or group) Can be slow due to mountains, language, rivers, water Can be quick due to language and communications

Types of Diffusion Expansion diffusion: information spreads throughout a society Example: technology Relocation diffusion: when people move and take culture with them Example: religion Hierarchical diffusion: spread from an important place to a lesser important place Example: fashion

Globalization Globalization: the process in which connections around the world increase and cultures become more alike (different cultures blend together) Example: the EU (European Union)

Traditionalism Traditionalism: following long time practices and opposing new, modern technologies and ideas Contributes to cultural diversity Fundamentalism: reaction to the spread of modern culture People believe in the strict following of certain established principles or teachings

Items that have originated in other countries… HAMBURGER, FRANKFURTER = GERMANY CHOCOLATE = AZTECS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT = GREEKS HALLOWEEN = CELTS NUMBERS = ARAB/HINDU HOCKEY = CANADA PAPER MONEY = CHINA TELEVISION = UNITED KINGDOM (Scotland) SPINNING WHEEL = INDIA BALL POINT PEN FOR HANDWRITING = ARGENTINA PIANO = ITALY PORTLAND CEMENT = ENGLAND WIRELESS ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION = ITALY BIKE = LONDON