AP Human Geography: Unit 3 Chapter 7 - Practice Questions (Cultural Change)

Diffusion

The process by which a cultural trait spreads from one place to another over time

Cultural hearth

A place in which a cultural trait often originates and initially diffuses, or spreads from

How does diffusion occur?

Imperialism, Colonialism, Mass media, the Internet

Categories of diffusion:

Relocation diffusion, Expansion diffusion, Contagious diffusion, Hierarchical diffusion, Stimulus diffusion

Relocation diffusion

The spread of cultural traits or ideas through the movement, or relocation, of people—either individuals or groups

How do religions often spread through relocation diffusion?

Migrants carry their religious beliefs and practices, establishing communities where their rites and rituals continue in their new home.

How did the dominant European languages (Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French) become widespread in the Americas?

The languages spread first through relocation diffusion (settlers arriving), and then through expansion diffusion (adoption by others).

Which religious faiths did Europeans primarily bring to the Americas, and what was the main mechanism of their spread?

Europeans brought Christianity and Judaism, spreading them through relocation diffusion (settlers) and through force/conquest (expansion diffusion).

The African diaspora, resulting from the forced migration of 10 to 12 million people during the transatlantic slave trade, is a primary example of which type of diffusion?

Relocation diffusion

What characteristic of traditional African music was carried to the Americas and what did it eventually influence?

Rhythmic, community-based music (involving playing, singing, and dancing), which went on to influence blues, jazz, and rock music.

According to the text, what specific agricultural practices and foods were introduced to the Americas by enslaved Africans?

New foods such as okra, melons, and bananas, along with new techniques for farming rice.

The Great Migration is an example of relocation diffusion that occurred between 1916 and 1970, involving the internal migration of millions of African Americans from where to where?

From the rural South to industrialized cities in the Northeast, Midwest, and West.

Which of the following were the primary "push factors" that drove the Great Migration from the South?

Racial discrimination, segregation laws, and widespread financial difficulties.

The culture brought by African American migrants during the Great Migration—including their literature, music, theater, and visual art—spread through which mechanism after their initial arrival?

Relocation diffusion (the movement of the people) followed by the adoption of cultural traits by the greater population in the new regions.

The movement of a CEO and their successful management ideas from one company to another is an example of relocation diffusion occurring on what scale?

Regional scale: The diffusion of ideas within the business world.

When a CEO moves to a new company, what are the types of cultural traits they often bring with them, illustrating relocation diffusion?

Ideas, tools, or systems that made the original company successful.

When a new CEO is hired to make positive changes to a company's "company culture," how do these changes typically occur?

Through a combination of relocation diffusion—the CEO bringing the new culture—and expansion diffusion, the culture spreads throughout the new company.

The founding of Africatown by former slaves brought on the Clotilda is a clear example of what type of population movement and diffusion?

It is an example of relocation diffusion, which occurred as a direct result of forced migration during the African diaspora.

What evidence of cultural continuity and tradition did the founders of Africatown establish after buying the land?

They built a church that faced east toward Africa and passed their cultural traditions down to their descendants.

The Christ the Redeemer statue symbolizes which type of diffusion that occurred when Portuguese colonists arrived in Brazil in the 1500s?

The statue symbolizes relocation diffusion, as Portuguese colonists brought their language and Roman Catholic religion with them to the new territory.

What is the modern-day demographic significance of the Catholicism that spread to Brazil through relocation diffusion?

Today, Brazil has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, with an estimated 126 million Catholic Brazilians.

What is the main difference between expansion diffusion and relocation diffusion?

With expansion diffusion, cultural traits spread outward from the hearth, yet the people who are a part of that culture do not relocate from the place of origin.

What is the defining characteristic of contagious diffusion and the classic example used to illustrate its spread?

Contagious diffusion spreads adjacently, or to people or places that are next to one another, similar to how an outbreak of a disease spreads through direct person-to-person contact.

How has technology and the internet changed the nature of contagious diffusion?

Technology has allowed traits like memes, songs, or fads to spread virtually, independent of physical proximity, to everyone a person has contact with online.

What is the spatial pattern that defines hierarchical diffusion?

Hierarchical diffusion is the spread of an idea or trait from a person or place of power or authority to other people or places.

What two examples are used to illustrate the top-down spread of a cultural trait through hierarchical diffusion?

The spread of a trait from a large urban center down the urban hierarchy to smaller cities, and the spread of a new fashion trend from a popular celebrity to the general public.

How does a new, expensive farming method (like a new plow) often spread hierarchically?

It is first adopted by wealthier farmers who can afford the new equipment, and later diffuses to smaller farms as it becomes cheaper.

What is the term for diffusion that occurs from the bottom of the hierarchy to the top?

This process is sometimes referred to as reverse hierarchy, where a trait spreads upward from a group with lower status.

How did blue jeans begin their diffusion path, according to the text?

They were first designed for miners during the California Gold Rush, and were soon adopted by cowboys and other laborers.

What was the full diffusion path of blue jeans, from their origin to becoming a global staple?

They traveled up the hierarchy from laborers to actors (like James Dean), then down to teens and the middle class, and finally spread globally.

What is stimulus diffusion?

It occurs when the fundamental idea behind a cultural trait stimulates a new innovation, even if the original trait itself does not spread.

How does John Deere's steel-bladed plow illustrate stimulus diffusion?

The idea of older wood plows, which worked poorly in Illinois, stimulated him to modify the design into a new steel plow.

Why did Elon Musk release Tesla's patents, and how does this relate to stimulus diffusion?

He hoped his technology would stimulate or trigger others to come up with new innovations to make all electric cars better.

How did the television spread through a combination of diffusion types?

It first spread through hierarchical diffusion as an expensive luxury in large cities, then spread through contagious diffusion from household to household as it became more affordable.

When is the spread of an idea online, such as "going viral," considered contagious diffusion?

It is contagious when the idea, trend, or meme is passed between contacts without regard to status or wealth.

Why can online activity also be described as hierarchical diffusion in its structure?

Hierarchies exist because not everyone has equal access to the internet or speaks the language in which a trend is shared.

The spread of a fashion trend from a popular social media star with millions of followers is a clear example of what?

This is an example of hierarchical diffusion, as the influencer holds a position of power and influence over the average user.

How does relocation diffusion through forced migration primarily differ from relocation diffusion through voluntary migration?

Forced migration is driven by involuntary push factors where culture is often suppressed, while voluntary migration is driven by pull factors where culture is more openly practiced.

How does the spread of pizza from New York City's Italian neighborhoods outward to every corner of America represent both relocation and expansion diffusion?

It began as relocation diffusion when Italian immigrants physically moved and brought pizza to their new enclaves, then became expansion diffusion as the idea was adopted by the wider population and spread outward from those enclaves.

How do the three types of expansion diffusion (contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus) differ in their relationship to wealth and power?

Contagious diffusion is largely indifferent to wealth/power; hierarchical diffusion is fundamentally driven by it; and stimulus diffusion is often facilitated by it, as wealth provides the resources to innovate on an idea.

Which type of cultural diffusion results in the greatest change to the original cultural idea or trait, and why?

Stimulus diffusion results in the greatest change because the original trait itself does not spread; instead, the fundamental underlying idea stimulates the receiving culture to create a completely new innovation.

Identify the type of diffusion from the image provided.

Contagious diffusion

Identify the type of diffusion from the image provided.

Hierarchical diffusion

Identify the type of diffusion from the image provided.

Stimulus diffusion

The lasting influence of West African culture on Brazil's Carnival and national identity is a prime example of which specific type of diffusion?

Relocation diffusion, because the cultural traits were physically carried by the millions of West Africans who were forcibly moved to Brazil as enslaved labor.

What historical fact underscores the immense scale of the African cultural diffusion into Brazil?

Brazil enslaved 37 percent of all Africans taken during the transatlantic slave trade and was the last Western country to abolish slavery in 1888.

What are two prominent aspects of Brazilian culture, particularly visible at Carnival, that are direct examples of cultural syncretism resulting from the interaction between African and Christian traditions?

Samba, an African-influenced style of music and dance, and Candomblé, a religion that mixes Christian and African rituals and traditions.

When enslaved West Africans arrived in Brazil with none of their belongings, how were they able to continue the diffusion of their culture?

They carried their non-material culture in their hearts and minds and continued to recreate those practices as they were able.

The city of Salvador, which hosts the massive Carnival festival that displays African heritage, is the capital of which Brazilian state?

Salvador is the capital of Bahia, a state in northeastern Brazil that was a major center for the sugar and mining industries.

What are the three primary historical processes, besides the influence of powerful nations, that have facilitated the global spread of ideas and cultural patterns?

Trade between different cultures, migrations of all kinds, and military conquest of new lands have all impacted cultures worldwide.

What is the term for a powerful country establishing settlements in a less powerful country for economic or political gain?

Colonialism

What is the concept occurring when a country enacts policies to extend its influence over other countries through diplomacy or force?

Imperialism

In which three centuries did European dominance on the world stage lead to widespread colonization and the massive spread of European culture?

17th, 18th, and 19th centuries

Which European country set up a colony at the southern tip of Africa in the 17th century to act as a supply port for ships traveling to Asia?

The Netherlands

What new language in southern Africa arose from the blending of the Dutch language with the languages of the native groups?

Afrikaans

The racist segregation policy known as apartheid was established in South Africa in 1948 but was eventually repealed in what year?

1994

During the 19th century, what two things were European countries primarily racing to obtain from their new colonies across Africa?

Raw materials and control over shipping routes

At which 1884 conference did European empires meet to divide up Africa's territory without including any African members?

Berlin

The British granted independence to India in 1947. Which three current countries resulted from the division of that land?

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

Besides the spread of English and Christianity, what is a clear cultural impact of British rule on India that is evident in popular sports?

Cricket, soccer, and field hockey

As a direct result of British rule, approximately how many Indians today speak English?

125 million

Why does military conquest cause cultural change to take place more rapidly than processes like trade or migration?

Military conquest causes change faster because conquerors impose their way of life on the conquered people.

Alexander the Great spread which culture from Macedonia to northern India, leading to the entire era being named the Hellenistic Age?

Greek culture

What was the main stated goal of the Spanish conquistadors when they conquered the Aztec and the Inca?

To spread Christianity

What are the two dominant cultural traits left by the Spanish conquest that define most of Central and South America today?

Spanish is the main language, and Catholicism is the most practiced religion.

What is a common language that is adopted and used among speakers of different languages (like English is globally today)?

Lingua franca

What two historical forces primarily led to English becoming a global lingua franca?

Expansion of the British Empire and the U.S.'s later dominance

What is the term for the process where two or more cultural elements blend together, incorporating parts of a new culture but giving them new meanings?

Creolization

The language Haitian Creole is a perfect example of creolization, resulting from the blend of which two main language groups?

French and several African languages

Which ancient trade network, stretching from East Asia to the Mediterranean, was responsible for the spread of Buddhism westward and Christianity eastward?

The Silk Road

What two key Asian technologies spread to Europe via the Silk Road and later helped inspire Gutenberg's printing press?

Paper-making methods and printing technology

What is one way countries try to prevent their culture from becoming too "Americanized" due to global trade in entertainment?

Restricting American films or subsidizing their own film industries

The Romance languages (like Spanish, French, and Italian) all developed from which ancient language, spread by the Roman Empire?

Latin

Which group of people introduced the entire cowboy culture—including the ten-gallon hat and the lasso—to the United States in the 19th century?

Mexican vaqueros

What are the three categories of cultural traits that change at different speeds: fast, slow, and extremely slow?

Artifacts change frequently (fast), sociofacts like marriage customs change slowly, and mentifacts like language and religion change extremely slowly.

What is the primary concept that describes how people across the world have become increasingly connected through travel, trade, and technology?

Globalization is the process by which people across the world have become increasingly connected through travel, trade, and technology.

What is the specific term for cultural ideas and practices being created by a group of people?

Socially constructed

What are the four main contemporary processes driving cultural change today?

Globalization, urbanization, migration, and technological advances

On a broad scale, what is the most critical tool in the contemporary spread of cultural ideas, making it possible to share or learn about aspects of a culture with a click?

The internet

How does popular culture typically differ from aspects of traditional culture, such as customs or beliefs?

Pop culture can often be traced to a specific person or group in a particular place, unlike traditional culture.

What specific city and decade did the popular culture genre of hip-hop begin in, before influencing global genres like K-pop?

The Bronx in New York City in the 1970s

K-pop first emerged in the early 2000s and became a global phenomenon in the 2010s. Which country is the native home of K-pop?

South Korea

What percentage of the world's population currently lives in urban areas?

55 percent

Why are cities considered major drivers of cultural change and innovation compared to rural areas?

Cities are centers of innovation, attract diverse populations, and expose people to a wider variety of cultural elements.

What type of diffusion best describes how a new fashion trend or food trend might spread from a large city like Paris or Tokyo to surrounding smaller cities and towns?

Hierarchical diffusion

What is a key insight from Ravenstein's laws of migration that relates migration to urbanization as a driver of cultural change?

Long-distance migrants tend to settle in urban areas, often clustering together and having a larger cultural impact.

The reaction of some people in Europe to Muslim immigrants wearing a hijab or burqa is an example of what cultural concept?

How people sometimes resist cultural change

What is the potential negative consequence of global access to the same music, movies, and TV shows through technology?

It can lead to a more uniform world perspective and a homogeneous culture, losing what makes places unique.

The general concept of culture changing due to contact with new traits is called cultural diffusion. What are the four ways contemporary processes (like globalization and technology) affect culture?

They affect culture through media, politics, economics, and social relationships.

What is the phenomenon called when cultures interact and become more similar by sharing and adopting one another’s ideas and traits?

Cultural convergence

What is the geographic principle that states, "the closer things are to one another, the more they are related," explaining why nearby cultures were historically more alike?

Tobler’s first law of geography

Which geographical model suggests that the farther an idea or trait travels from its hearth, the less likely people are to be affected by it, or that the idea will change or decay?

The distance decay model

The fact that people who speak the same language in different parts of the world have different accents or that a religion has different rites and rituals in different places is explained by what model?

Distance decay model

What development has significantly reduced the impact of the distance decay model by shortening the time it takes to travel or communicate between two places?

Time-space compression

What are three specific examples of cultural convergence from Hispanic culture that are now widely seen in the United States?

Quinceañeras, luminarias (Mexican lanterns), and Tex-Mex food

What is the phenomenon called when conflicting beliefs or barriers cause two cultures to become less similar?

Cultural divergence

How can contemporary drivers of change, specifically communication technologies, cause cultural divergence?

The technology gap will grow between people who have technologies like the internet and those who lack them, making cultures less similar.

Which traditional Christian group in North America chooses to reject many modern technologies (like cars and electricity) because they believe these conveniences hurt community and family life?

The Amish people

Besides the lack of technology, what are two main historical reasons why the indigenous Polynesian cultures of different islands (like Hawaii and New Zealand) diverged and developed differently?

They were separated by physical barriers (the Pacific Ocean) and developed in response to local physical geographies and colonizing forces.

What is the general term for a type of cultural barrier that includes taboos or outright bans on certain practices, such as the Hindu taboo against eating beef?

Cultural barriers