1. Introduction to Cultural Geography
Also known as Human Geography
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2. Physical v. Cultural Geography
Physical Geography
Cultural Geography
Rocks/Minerals
Population/Settlements/Urbanization
Landforms
Economic and Political Systems
Animal and Plant Life
Transportation
Soils
Human Migration
Atmosphere/Climate/Weather
Social Systems
Environment
Recreation
Rivers/Oceans/Other bodies of Water
Religion/Belief System
Cultural Geography is the study of the Earth’s human landscape.
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3. CULTURE Beliefs, Values, Customs
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
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4. A field that studies spatial aspects of human cultures.
CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
A field that studies spatial aspects of human cultures.
Major components focus on:
Cultural Landscapes
Culture Hearths
Cultural Diffusion
Culture Regions
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5. 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
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6. Culture Hearth
The source areas from which radiated ideas, innovations, and ideologies that change the world beyond.
What are some examples?
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7. Cultural Diffusion Culture Region
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.
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8. 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.
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9. 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.
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10. Review Components of Culture
Language
Religious Beliefs
Economic Activities
Political Systems
Art and Music
Education Systems
Technology
Customs and Traditions
Ethnicity
Culture
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11. Political, Economic & Social Factors affect Cultures
Political: a system of government (dictatorship, communist, etc. may forbid religious practices, prohibit language spoken by indigenous people, forbid type of clothing, impose a specific religion, etc.)
Economic: (the diffusion of economic practices might go against a people’s value system, or customs and traditions.
Social Factors: (a region’s value system might contradict a religion’s ideals, a region’s education system may prohibit cultural practices.
Provide specific examples relevant to students.
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