Articulation Culture Some Not in Book

Culture Concepts Cultural Trait – single feature of a culture (Material Trait) artifacts - Material culture (Material Objects) Mentifacts – non material culture (religion, myths, folk stories Sociofacts – educational, political religious organizations, family structure, type of families

How culture spreads Cultural diffusion – movement of people and ideas, goods from one area to another. Blending of cultures, ideas and goods Cultural Hearth – where new ideas and innovations originate and spread outward Cultural barriers – Hindrance to diffusion. Example: Taboo Hinduism did not diffuse because of caste system. Dietary restriction of culture Muslims do not eat pig BACON Jews don’t eat pork.

Acculturation, Assimilation and Globalization Acculturation – A change when a culture adopts a practice another culture. Mongol invasion of China. Mongols adopted Chinese Culture. Kept their fierceness … Adapts some values and costumes and behaviors from the other culture but remains distinctive to their own culture Transculturation – equal exchange of traits between groups. Syncretism – Birth of a new culture by the blending of two. Spanish impose Christianity on the Americas. Indigenous peoples incorporated old gods and goddess into statues of Christian saints. Assimilation – total integrated into society or culture

Cultural Differences Environmental Determinism Possiblismm Language is the most important channel for the transmission of culture