Cultural Geography WG.3c, 10b-c

Cultural Characteristics  Cultural characteristics are parts of a groups everyday life. They are the ideas and themes which the group will teach to all members. These same characteristics can also link or divide a region.

 Examples of cultural characteristics would be language, religion, and ethnic heritage

Examples of cultural characteristics  Language  Arabic unites the Arab world  Spanish unites the Hispanic world

 Brazil is the only South American nation which does not speak Spanish. It speaks Portuguese.

 Canada is a bilingual nation. French and English is its official language.

Examples of cultural characteristics  Switzerland has multiple languages but very little conflict between the groups  English is now considered the world language and is used for most business transactions around the world

Examples of cultural characteristics  Ethnic Heritage  In Yugoslavia, many ethnic groups were made into one country (Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Albanians).

 When strong leadership died out, the different groups fought a very bloody civil war and now they all have separate countries

Examples of cultural characteristics  In the countries of Rwanda and Burundi in Africa, Two ethnic groups are dominate, the Tutsis and the Hutus.

 The Hutus are dominate in one and they persecute the Tutsis, and the Tutsis are dominate in the other

 and they persecute the Hutus. It has led to almost constant war between the groups.

Examples of cultural characteristics  The United States and Switzerland have peacefully merged multiple ethnic groups in their countries.  Korea and Japan have primarily one ethnic group

 On the island of Cyprus, the Greeks and the Turks try to gain control

Examples of cultural characteristics  Religion can be both a unifying force.  There are five major religions in the world today--Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

 They have millions of followers all believing the same thing.

Examples of cultural characteristics  Religion can also be a dividing force around the world.  Hindus and Muslims fight in India (Hindu) and Pakistan (Muslim)

 There are conflicts between Catholics and Protestants (two forms of Christianity) in Northern Ireland

 Jews, Christians and Muslims all claim Jerusalem as their religion’s holy site. They are constantly fighting over the land

Spatial divisions  Spatial divisions are how we divide the livable space found on the earth by establishing social, economic, and political control.

 You can be a member of more than one spatial group.  Spatial divisions can also cause conflicts or cooperation

Spatial divisions  Examples of Spatial Divisions--  Countries  Economic alliances  European Union (EU)  Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Examples of Spatial Divisions- Economic Alliances cont.  North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)  Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Spatial divisions  Examples of Spatial Divisions  Political alliances  North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)  Commonwealth of Nations  Organization of American States (OAS)

Examples of Spatial Divisions Political alliances cont.  League of Arab States  African Union (AU )

Spatial divisions  Reasons for spatial divisions  differences in culture, language, or religion  keeping of historical boundaries  imperial conquest and control  economic similarities and differences

Reasons for spatial division conflicts  Boundary and territorial disputes--Syria/Israel, Western Sahara/Morocco, China/Taiwan, India/Pakistan, Iraq/Kuwait

Reasons for spatial division conflicts  Cultural differences (language and religion)-- Indonesia, Canada (Quebec), Ireland, Sudan  Nationalism--(the belief that your nation is superior to all others)

Reasons for spatial division conflicts  Economic differences-- fertile land, access to fresh water, access to the coast, fishing rights, natural resources, different economic philosophies

Reasons for spatial division conflicts  Ethnic differences--Balkans (Europe), Cyprus (Europe), Rwanda and Burundi (Africa), Kashmir (India)

Examples of Cooperation  Humanitarian--Red Cross, Red Crescent  Economic Alliances-- NAFTA, Law of the Sea, multinational corporations, OPEC

Examples of Cooperation  Cultural Alliances--French speaking world, Commonwealth of Nations  Military Alliances --NATO  Problem-solving Alliances-- United Nations (UN), Antarctica Treaty

Examples of Cooperation  Programs to promote international understanding --  Peace Corps  Foreign Aid  Alliances for environmental preservation