1. 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.”

2. Culture Traits …are single elements of normal practice in culture.
…include beliefs, institutions, language, and technology.

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

4. A culture complex
…is an interrelated web of culture traits that are characteristic of a group.
Masai cows
Navajo Corn Maiden

5. A Culture Region
…is an area that shares common culture traits--an area within which a culture complex prevails.

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

7. Cultural landscape refers to the distinct imprint of a culture on the land.

8. The geographic perspective--cultural geography is concerned with…
…how place affects culture.
…how culture affects place.
…the distributions of culture
groups and reasons for those
distributions.

9. Human Interaction with the Environment
Cultural ecology…the study of the relationship between a culture and its environment.
High Island (Maori)
Low Island

10. Human Interaction with the Environment
Cultural landscape…is the imprint of a culture on the earth’s surface.

11. Human Interaction with the Environment
Environmental determinism is the belief that the physical environment (especially climate) is the major factor influencing culture.

12. Human Interaction with the Environment
Possibilism is the belief that people and not the environment shape culture.
Lagos, Nigeria

13. Are there environmental limitations to culture?
Some locations are “luckier” than others--mild climate, fresh water, fertile soil, resources.

14. A culture hearth is a region where cultural traits such as religion and agriculture develop.

15. The structure (framework) of culture
Artifacts are the material aspects of culture.
Cooking utensils (in India)
Voting machines
A judge’s gavel
Sociofacts are the social behaviors of a culture.
Dietary restrictions of a culture (Many are vegetarian.)
The political process
The court system
Mentifacts are the ideas, values, beliefs of a culture.
Religious beliefs. (Cows are sacred.)
Ideas about democracy
Ideas about justice

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

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

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

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

20. Acceleration of diffusion
Travel is faster
Communication is instananeous.

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

22. Are we creating a global culture?