1. Why are different places similar?
Diffusion
Why are different places similar?

2. Objectives
Today we will be able to analyze the main types of diffusion to gain a better sense of why different places around the world share similar characteristics.

3. Diffusion Defined
The process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time.
Origination location of an innovation is called the hearth
Technology influences speed of diffusion from hearth
Example – Cultural, political and economic features of the US traced back to hearths in Europe and the Middle East

4. Relocation Diffusion
The spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another.
When people move, they carry culture with them.
Language in the Americas

5. Expansion Diffusion
The spread of a feature from one place to another in a snowballing process.
Three types of expansion diffusion
Hierarchical diffusion
Contagious diffusion
Stimulus diffusion

6. Hierarchical Diffusion
The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places.
Ideas spread from political leaders, the social elite, etc..
Ideas spread from nodes of power, such as large urban centers to rural communities
Hip-hop

7. Contagious Diffusion
The rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population.
When innovations spread like a disease; very fast without regard to hierarchy or the permanent relocation of people
Example – Ideas stemming from the world wide web… when things go viral.

8. Stimulus Diffusion
The spread of an underlying principle of something even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse.
The computer mouse
Fast food in other countries

9. Economic and Cultural Diffusion
The spread of economic systems and culture from nodes or hearths of origin to other regions.
Spread rapidly through tech advances
Three hearths: North America, Western Europe, and Japan to the “periphery”

10. Diffusion Buzzfeed!!!