Intro Unit Lesson 1

Objectives  Identify the major elements of culture.  Explore the types of govt and economies that have developed.  Describe factors that cause cultures to change.

Warm Up  Pick a part of the world and list 3 things you’d like to learn about the lives of the people who live there.

Culture  How would you define culture?  “Elements of culture”?  All things that make up a people’s way of life.  Social org, customs, language, arts & lit, religion, govt, economy

Religion  Meaning & purpose of life  Transmits values  Monotheism vs. Polytheism?  Major world religions?

T-P-S: “Think-Pair-Share”  Religious differences often fuel conflict. Can you provide any examples?  N.Ireland Protestants & Catholics  Middle East Jews & Muslims  Indian Hindus & Muslims (Kashmir)  Russian Christians and Chechen Muslims  African Christians & Muslims (Sudan)

Government  Person/People in Power, Laws & Institutions  Purpose? Order & Security  Major Types Democracy – People govern ○ Republic – Elect officials Monarchy – King/Queen/Emperor Dictatorship – Rule by one or small group ○ “Democratic Republics” – are neither!

Economy  How society manages limited resources to satisfy unlimited wants & needs  3 Basic Questions: What to produce? How to produce? For whom to produce?

Economic Systems  Traditional Econ Relies on custom, subsistence (survival)  Command Econ Govt controls production & cost  Market Econ Relies on consumer choice (buy & sell)  Mixed Econ Govt involvement in markets

S-A-T: “Stop and Think”  Identify 3 elements that help give a culture its identity.  Religion  Government  Economy  Language  Arts, Lit, Customs

Cultural Change  What factors cause cultures to change?  Technology  Environment  Diffusion Mvmt of ideas from one place to another ○ War & Conquest ○ Travel & Trade

Cultural Change  New transportation & communication rapidly increase contact & change  Benefits? More goods & ideas to more people  Drawbacks? Threatens foundations/traditions Share bad things (disease, econ collapse)

Closure  Why is it important to increase awareness of other cultures?  Tolerance & acceptance  End ethnocentrism / racism  Interconnectedness

Homework  “Cultural Experience” Wiki Post. Go to  Open discussion tab ( ) and respond to “Cultural Experiences” prompt: Describe either an experience you've had with a culture different from your own or an experience unique to your culture.  You need to join the class wikispace as instructed on 1 st day (if membership not granted before class tomorrow, write on paper)