Cultural Diffusion Characteristics Types Methods

CULTURAL (SPATIAL) DIFFUSION (spread of ideas, innovations) – two models Expansion – ideas spread to new places as different cultures adopt idea Has “Contagious” & “Hierarchical” Subtypes Relocation – ideas spread to new places as culture groups migrate there

Percentage of Population That Adopts the Idea or Innovation Laggards S-Curve of Adoption of Innovations (non-spatial diffusion model) Percentage of Population That Adopts the Idea or Innovation Majority Adopters (early and late) DISCUSSION: * Why is the S-curve considered a temporal rather than a geographic issue? * At what point in time on the S-curve does the number of adopters increase the fastest? * Think about your personal life? Are you an innovator or a laggard in fashion? What about technology purchases? Innovators Time

Spatial Models of Cultural Diffusion

West Indies (combined team) Won 1975, 1979 Canada England Netherlands Pakistan Won 1992 Bangladesh India Won 1983 West Indies (combined team) Won 1975, 1979 Pakistani cricketer Sri Lanka Won 1996 Kenya Zimbabwe Australia Won 1987, 1999, 2003 New Zealand Namibia South Africa

Diffusion - Two related concepts 1. The two-way blending of cultures that results from increased interaction is called cultural convergence 2. The fusion of two distinctive cultural traits into a unique new hybrid trait is called syncretism

Religion: Diffusion and Landscape Classification of Religions Paths and Types of Diffusion Sacred Spaces on the Landscape Religion systems of formal or informal worship, faith, ritual … influences cultural landscapes – values and attitudes, rhythms of everyday life, calendar events, consumption of food/drink …

Classification of Religions Universalizing: claim to the “universal truth” – seen as applicable to all humans Seek to convert new members; open to all people Spread mainly by expansion diffusion (any sub-type) Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism Ethnic: associated with a particular culture; membership by birth or identity with that ethnic group Not evangelical (don’t actively seek to convert new members) Spread mainly by relocation diffusion from origin area Examples: Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, East Asian religions, folk and traditional (tribal/Animist) practices

Approximate Membership of Selected Religions (estimated number, in millions, as of 2003) Christianity (total all forms) 2,025 Islam (total all forms) 1,215 Hinduism 820 Chinese folk religions (syncretic) 390 Buddhism (total all forms) 360 Other Asian religions (various syncretic) 125 Sikhism 25 Judaism 20 All other ethnic/tribal religions (hundreds) 265 Non-Religious and Atheist 1,100

Principal World Religions

Religious Regions of Lebanon Small-scale world religion maps fail to show local details Understanding religion regions is key to several current conflicts

Innovation and Diffusion of World Religions Note hearth areas and diffusion paths of four largest religions (contrast Hinduism to 3 universalizing religions)

Diffusion Paths of Christianity Spread mainly by hierarchical process, then by contagious expansion in Europe … then by relocation & expansion to European colonies

Diffusion Paths of Islam Spread mainly by expansion diffusion through 17th century through Asia, North Africa. Now world’s fastest growing religion; spread by both expansion and relocation diffusion.

MOSQUE STYLES IN INDONESIA Melang, Java Grand Mosque, Banda Aceh, northern Sumatra MOSQUE STYLES IN INDONESIA Jepara, southern Sumatra

Diffusion Paths of Different Forms of Buddhism Origin in Northern India; different forms spread by expansion and hierarchical diffusion outward; blended in East Asia (syncretism). Hinduism later reclaimed dominance in India.

Diffusion of the World’s Religions History of Religion

Examples of Religion on the Cultural Landscape Places of worship Shrines, pilgrimage sites Cemeteries, mausolea Sacred spaces Stonehenge, southern England (Druid site)

Sites of special religious significance (experiences, events) Sacred Spaces Sites of special religious significance (experiences, events) Hallowed grounds that are preserved across generations For believers, places endowed with divine meaning Paha Sapa Kin Wiyopeya Unkiyapi kte sni yelo!! We never sold the Black Hills!! (Lakota expression)

Shrine at Lourdes, southern France Cathedral at Chartres, France Shrine at Lourdes, southern France

(Russian Orthodox), Red Square, Moscow Methodist-Congregationalist (Protestant) church, southwest Quebec, Canada St. Basil’s (Russian Orthodox), Red Square, Moscow

Recoleto Cemetery Buenos Aires Mid-City Cemetery New Orleans

Synagogue, Jewish quarter, Prague Western (Wailing) Wall, Jerusalem (13th century) Western (Wailing) Wall, Jerusalem Jewish cemetery, Chicago Temple Beth El (1973), Bloomington Hills, Mich.

Buddhist stupa, Thailand (Hemispherical shape is typical, but different forms of Buddhism use differing types and levels of ornamentation.) Statue of Buddha

Hindu temple, Northern India Taj Mahal (Agra, India) – Islamic mausoleum Hindu cremation ceremony, India

Friday prayers, Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: The Hajj

How similar to, and how different from, “sacred space”? Memorial Spaces How similar to, and how different from, “sacred space”?

Memorial Spaces Monuments, memorials, shrines, museums, and preserved sites used to commemorate and sanctify the past From D. Alderman (2000): “Public commemoration is a socially directed process: before historical events and figures can be regarded as memorable, people must judge them worthy of remembrance and have the influence to get others to agree.” “Places of memory make history visible and tangible. … Memorial sites shape how we interpret and value the past.” “Memorial landscapes are in a constant state of redefinition as governments rise and fall, as the heritage and cultural tourism industry continues to expand, and as marginalized populations seek public recognition.” From O. Dwyer (2000): “The narrative content of these memorials reflects the types of archival materials that survive, the intentions of their producers, and contemporary politics regarding [historical events]. In turn, through their symbolic power and the large number of visitors who travel to them, these landscapes play a role in contemporary America’s ... politics.”

Great Buddha Sri Lanka

Mnt ararat, turkey, christianity

Pueblo Bonita ruins, NM; ethnic Native american religion

Tori gate Mnt Fuji Tokyo; shinto

White sand dunes; NMX ethnic native american

Parthenon Greece; Ancient Ethnic

Angkor Wat; cambodia, Buddhist/hindu

Temp.KuKulkan, Chichen iza; MX; Ethnic Maya

Blarney Stone, Cork Island, Ire.; historic monument

1. Statue of Great Buddha; Sri Lanka; Buddhist 2. Mt. Ararat; Turkey; Christianity 3. Pueblo Bonita Ruins; N. MX; Ethnic Native Am. 4. Tori Gate; Mt Fuji, Japan; Ethnic Shinto 5. White Sands Sand Dune; N. MX; Ethnic Native Am. 6. Parthenon; Greece; Ancient Ethnic 7. Angkor Wat; Cambodia; Hindu/Buddhist 8. Temp.KuKulkan, Chichen iza; MX; Ethnic Maya 9. Blarney Stone, Cork Island, Ire.; historic monument An