1. What is Culture?

2. Clifford Geertz (anthropologist) in “The Interpretation of Cultures” states: “We are, in sum, incomplete or unfinished animals who complete or finish ourselves through culture—and not through culture in general but through highly particular forms of it: Dobuan & Javanese, Hopi & Italian, upper-class & lower-class, academic & commercial.”

3. anthropology: the systematic understanding of cultural aspects of human behavior - tries to account for cultural differences/similarities - how do cultures “operate”? - language & religion *Culture assumed to be a “learned behavior”

4. Cultural Geography is concerned with … …how place affects culture …how culture affects place …the distributions of culture

5. A. Culture is…. The ways of life of people… learned behavior mental thoughts & feelings group beliefs, attitudes, rules, or traditions human adaptations

6. Why is “culture” so varied? How do we explain the differences & similarities between people? * If a shaman (witchdoctor) claims he can fly, can he? * Is the mental thought itself unreal? * What about the case of the sacred cow in India?

7. culture traits: units of learned behavior (the “building blocks” of culture)  An object  A technique (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QItAyep AnI)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QItAyep AnI  A belief

8. culture region: populations sharing similar cultural traits

9. cultural ecology: the study of the relationship between a culture group & the environment

10. B. Cultural Boundaries:  geographic areas defined by a shared culture  a cultural border is a social construct that is developed from a political situation  conflict may occur at such borders known as shatter belts Examples: Language Religion