Geographers study culture to understand… …how place affects culture. …how culture affects place. …the distributions of culture groups and reasons for those distributions.

Definition of Culture Culture is a group’s way of life, including the shared set of meanings and symbolic practices, transmitted between generations. Culture can be seen as “learned behavior.”

Culture Traits …are single elements of normal practice in culture.

Culture trait examples Silence Private space Touching Hand gestures Eye contact Greetings Perceptions of time Gift giving

A culture group a group of people with shared culture traits

A Culture Region …an area showing the location of a culture groups. **in the modern world there are 1000s of culture groups

A Culture Realm… …is a group of culture regions that share a common culture system.

trait/group/region/realm Combine traits to make a groups Map groups to make a region Many regions make a realm

Culture and HEI Cultural ecology …the study of the relationship between a culture and its environment. High Island (Maori) Low Island

Culture and HEI Cultural landscape…is the imprint of a culture on the earth’s surface.

Culture and HEI Environmental determinism is the belief that the physical environment (especially climate) is the major factor influencing culture.

Culture and HEI Possibilism is the belief that people and not the environment shape culture. Lagos, Nigeria

Culture and HEI Some locations are “luckier” than others--mild climate, fresh water, fertile soil, resources.

A culture hearth is a region where cultural traits developed.

What do cultures leave behind? Artifacts are the tangible aspects of culture. Cooking utensils (in India) Voting machines A judge’s gavel

What do cultures leave behind? Sociofacts are the social behaviors of a culture. Dietary restrictions of a culture (Many are vegetarian.) The political process The court system

What do cultures leave behind? Mentifacts are the ideas, values, beliefs of a culture. Religious beliefs. (Cows are sacred.) Ideas about democracy Ideas about justice

Culture Change Innovation refers to the use of existing technology to create something new.

Culture Change Cultural diffusion is the process of spreading an idea or an innovation from one area to another

Culture Change Assimilation – becoming part of a new culture

Culture Change Acculturation occurs when a society changes as it comes into contact with a dominant culture.

Culture Change Transculturation occurs when two strong cultures come together and create a blended culture--neither one dominates.

Acceleration of diffusion Travel is faster Communication is instananeous.

Barriers to diffusion… Distance Physical environment Lack of acceptance or resistance to change.

Are we creating a global culture?