AP Human Geography Unit 3

Vocab/Definitions and Key Concepts for Unit 3 of AP Human Geography

Culture

The shared beliefs, practices, values, customs, and social behaviors of a group or society, influencing their way of life and interactions.

Cultural Trait

A single characteristic of a culture, such as language, food, or traditions, that defines a group's way of life.

Traditional Culture

Cultural practices and customs that are passed down through generations, often emphasizing social norms, rituals, and community values.

Popular Culture 

Cultural elements that are widespread and constantly changing, often influenced by mass media and globalization, reflecting the preferences of a large, diverse society.

Local Culture

A group of people sharing similar cultural traits and practices, often characterized by their distinct identity and connection to a specific geographic area.

Artifact

An object made by humans, typically reflecting the cultural practices, beliefs, and technologies of a particular society or group.

Sociofact

The social structures and organizations that shape a culture, including family patterns, political systems, and economic relationships.

Mentifact

A component of culture that embodies the beliefs, values, and ideas that shape a society's worldview and behaviors.

Cultural Relativism

The process of evaluating a culture by its own standards rather than comparing it to others.

Syncretism

The blending of different cultural traditions and practices, resulting in a new, combined culture.

Acculturation

The process by which one cultural group adopts traits of another while keeping some of its own traits. 

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of an idea through the physical movement of people.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread from influential people or places to others (Top-Down).

Stimulus Diffusion

Spread of an underlying idea, even if a specific trait fails to diffuse.

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid, widespread Diffusion of a trait through direct contact.

Cultural Hearth

The geographic origin of a cultural trait or innovation. 

Cultural Convergence

When cultures become more similar through interaction.

Cultural Divergence

When cultures become more different due to isolation.

Standard Language

A form of language used for official government, education and media.

Dialect

A regional variation of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation.

Language Family

A group of related languages stemming from a common ancestor.(Language Family)

Language Branch

A smaller grouping within a language family related by a common ancestor that existed thousands of years ago.(Romance Branch and Germanic Branch)

Subfamily

A smaller division in a language family.

Lingua Franca 

A common language used for trade and communication among speakers of different native languages.

Pidgin Language

Simplified language that develops between groups without a shared language.

Creolization

Process by which a pidgin language becomes more complex and becomes a native language.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Polytheism

Belief in many Gods.

Animistic Religion

Belief that objects and natural events have spirits 

Secularized

When a society or culture becomes less influenced by religion. 

Placelessness

The loss of unique local cultural features, creating uniform landscapes.

Assimilation

Process by which a minority group adopts the dominant culture’s traits.

Race

A socially constructed category based on perceived physical traditions from a homeland. 

Ethnicity

Identity with a group sharing cultural traditions from a homeland.

Gendered Space

Areas designed for or dominated by one gender.

Isogloss

A boundary between religions where different linguistic features occur. La

Language Divergence

When a language splits into new langauges due to isolation. 

Langauge Convergence

When languages come together due to consistent interaction.

Toponymy

The study of place names and their meanings.

Universalizing Religions

A religion that seems to appeal to all people worldwide.

Ethnic Religion

A religion closely tied to a specific ethnic group or religion.

Pilgrimage

A journey to a sacred place for religious reasons.

Sacred Sites

Locations with special religious significance. 

Sect

A smaller group that has broken away from an establishment.

Denomination

A division within a larger religious tradition that shares core beliefs.