AP Human Geography Unit 3

Long-Lot Settlement Pattern 

 A settlement system where land is divided into long, narrow parcels that extend back from rivers or roads, giving each property access to transportation routes.

Material Culture 

The physical objects, resources, and spaces that people create and attach meaning to, reflecting their cultural practices.

Nonmaterial Culture 

The intangible elements of a culture, including values, beliefs, norms, and ideas that shape social behavior.

Cultural Trait 

An individual feature of a culture, such as a belief, tool, or practice.

Local Culture

 A group of people in a particular area who maintain shared customs and traditions to preserve their identity.

Indigenous Culture 

The culture of people who have long-standing historical ties to a region, often passed down through generations.

Popular Culture 

Cultural patterns that are widespread across large populations and influenced by mass media, consumption, and global trends.

Cultural Attitudes

 The shared ideas, values, and perspectives a group holds about what is acceptable or important.

Language

A structured system of communication using symbols, speech, or writing that conveys meaning and sustains culture.

Polyglot.

 A person who can speak, read, or write in multiple languages, reflecting exposure to different cultures

Religion

 A system of beliefs and practices through which people engage with the sacred, often providing moral guidance and social cohesion.

Ethnic Group

 A community of people sharing common ancestry, cultural traits, or historical experiences.

Race

 A socially constructed category of people distinguished by physical characteristics such as skin color.

Ethnic Geography

 The study of the spatial distribution, migration, and interaction of ethnic groups.

Multiculturalism

 A societal approach that values and promotes the coexistence of diverse cultural traditions.

Ethnocentric Approach

 Evaluating or judging another culture based on the standards and values of one’s own culture.

Cultural Relativism

 Understanding and interpreting another culture in terms of its own norms and values rather than comparing it to one’s own culture.

Physical Landscape

 The natural features of a region, such as mountains, rivers, and climate, that influence human activity.

Placelessness

 A loss of uniqueness in a place due to standardization, resulting in spaces that feel generic or interchangeable.

Modernist Architecture

 A style of building emphasizing function, simplicity, and new materials, often breaking from traditional designs.

Postmodern Architecture

 A style that combines modern and traditional elements with ornamentation, symbolism, and historical references.

Sequent Occupance

 The layering of cultural influences over time in a place, where each group leaves an imprint on the landscape.

Sacred Spaces

 Locations with spiritual or religious significance, often linked to rituals or beliefs.

Secular

 Cultural practices, spaces, or ideas that are not connected to religious belief.

Subculture

 A group within a larger society that maintains distinct customs, values, or identity while coexisting with mainstream culture.

Sense of Place

 The emotional or symbolic meaning that people attach to a specific location.

Placemaking

 The process of shaping a space to reflect a community’s cultural identity, values, and needs.

Centripetal Force

 Cultural, social, or political forces that bring people together and strengthen unity.

Centrifugal Force

 Factors that create division, conflict, or weaken social cohesion in a society.

Secularization

 The process by which religion loses influence over social, political, or cultural life.