© CSCOPE 2009 Introduction to Cultural Geography Also known as Human Geography

© CSCOPE 2009 Physical v. Cultural Geography Physical GeographyCultural Geography Rocks/MineralsPopulation/Settlements/Urbanization LandformsEconomic and Political Systems Animal and Plant LifeTransportation SoilsHuman Migration Atmosphere/Climate/WeatherSocial Systems EnvironmentRecreation Rivers/Oceans/Other bodies of WaterReligion/Belief System Cultural Geography is the study of the Earth’s human landscape.

© CSCOPE 2009 Definition: Shared patterns of learned behavior that are passed on from generation to generation. Components: Beliefs, Values, Customs Languages, Ethnicity, Religion Institutions (Economic, Political, Educational) Art, Music, and Technology CULTURE

© CSCOPE 2009 A field that studies spatial aspects of human cultures. Major components focus on:  Cultural Landscapes  Culture Hearths  Cultural Diffusion  Culture Regions CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY

© CSCOPE 2009 Cultural Landscape The composite of human imprints on the earth’s surface. Carl Sauer’s definition: “ the forms superimposed on the physical landscape by the activities of man” “ from Recent Developments in Cultural Geography, 1927

© CSCOPE 2009 Culture Hearth The source areas from which radiated ideas, innovations, and ideologies that change the world beyond. What are some examples?

© CSCOPE 2009 Cultural Diffusion The spreading of a culture element (ex: technological innovation) Can you think of any examples of cultural diffusion, past or present? Culture Region Distinct, culturally discrete spatial unit; a region where certain cultural norms prevail.

Diffusion The spreading of cultural ideas

Spread of New Products Silk Road Silk Road Columbian Exchange Columbian Exchange New products today New products today

Silk Road Land route that connected Ancient China, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire. Land route that connected Ancient China, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire. Merchants from many different cultures used this route to trade goods. Merchants from many different cultures used this route to trade goods.

Columbian Exchange The exchange of goods between the Americas and Europe. The exchange of goods between the Americas and Europe. Europe to Americas: horses, sheep, cattle, wheat, onions, carrots, lettuce, grapes Europe to Americas: horses, sheep, cattle, wheat, onions, carrots, lettuce, grapes Americas to Europe: Corn, beans, chocolate, peanuts, squash, tobacco, potatoes, peppers. Americas to Europe: Corn, beans, chocolate, peanuts, squash, tobacco, potatoes, peppers.

Spread of New Products Today Today technology allows for the exchange of new products to be much faster and easier. Today technology allows for the exchange of new products to be much faster and easier. Transportation is much faster and more broad today. Transportation is much faster and more broad today.

Spread of Ideas Contact between cultures can also lead to the exchange of ideas. Contact between cultures can also lead to the exchange of ideas. Ex: Islam spreading to North Africa, Spain, and Southeast Asia. Ex: Islam spreading to North Africa, Spain, and Southeast Asia.

Spread of Cultural Traits Cultural traits from one culture can become traits to another culture through cultural diffusion. Cultural traits from one culture can become traits to another culture through cultural diffusion.

Examples of Spread of Traits Clothes, art, food, music Clothes, art, food, music Ex: the popularity of Chinese and Mexican food in the United States. Ex: the popularity of Chinese and Mexican food in the United States. Ex: the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna being famous worldwide. Ex: the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna being famous worldwide.

Global Reach of American Popular Culture Radio Radio Movies Movies TV shows TV shows T-shirts T-shirts Blue Jeans Blue Jeans Fast Food: McDonalds and Taco Bell Fast Food: McDonalds and Taco Bell

Pandemics; Spread of Disease A negative effect of diffusion. A negative effect of diffusion. Disease can spread through trade. Disease can spread through trade. Ex: Bubonic Plague- devastated Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages. Ex: Bubonic Plague- devastated Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages.

Cultural Convergence When one or more cultural traits comes into contact with one another. When one or more cultural traits comes into contact with one another. Tex Mex Tex Mex

Cultural Divergence When a culture is isolated and has little or no contact with other cultural ideas, traits, or people. When a culture is isolated and has little or no contact with other cultural ideas, traits, or people. North Korea North Korea Cuba Cuba

© CSCOPE 2009 Ethnicity What is ethnicity? Common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background An Example of Ethnic and Religious Conflict: The Balkans: Ethnic war between the Croatian Catholics, the Bosnian Muslims, and the Serbian Orthodox.

© CSCOPE 2009 Conclusion Think about your own culture: your belief system, institutions that you are part of, technology you use everyday. Cultures change over time, but the historical aspects are very important for understanding today’s cultures. Culture must be examined from different perspectives. Know the terms cultural landscape, cultural hearth, cultural diffusion, and culture region- these terms describe the ways in which cultural geographers view the world.