AP human Geo Uni3 3

based on video

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid, wave‑like spread of a trait to nearby populations, similar to the spread of a virus.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Top‑down transmission of a cultural feature from influential centers or elites to less influential areas.

Language Family

Broad grouping of languages that share a common ancestral origin.

Multiculturalism

Coexistence of distinct cultural groups within a shared political space, each maintaining its own identity.

Cultural Diffusion

Spread of a cultural trait from one location to another.

Imperialism

Policy in which a state extends power over other territories for political or economic gain.

Cultural Relativism

Evaluating another group’s customs using that group’s own standards rather than one’s own.

Expansion Diffusion

Spread of a cultural element outward while the origin remains strong and intact.

Cultural Iceberg

Model distinguishing visible cultural traits from deeper, unseen values and thought patterns.

Globalization

Growing interdependence of societies through worldwide trade, technology, and cultural exchange.

Time‑Space Convergence

Decrease in perceived distance between places due to faster transportation and communication.

Urbanization

Demographic shift toward city living, increasing cultural interaction and exchange.

Colonialism

Settlement and control of foreign lands by an external power to exploit resources and influence.

Creolization

Creation of a new language blending elements of multiple parent languages.

Political Diffusion

Spread of political norms, standards, or policies from international bodies to individual nations.

Assimilation

Near‑complete adoption of a host society’s cultural traits, often resulting in loss of original identity.

Silk Roads

Ancient trade routes that enabled exchange of goods, ideas, and religions between East and West.

Centrifugal Force

Factor that divides a population and encourages regional or group separation.

Placemaking

Physical transformation of a location through construction or design to shape its identity.

Cultural Convergence

Process in which interacting societies become more alike as they adopt shared traits.

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture by one’s own standards, often accompanied by distrust or dislike of outsiders.

Centripetal Force

Factor that unifies a population and strengthens national cohesion.

Lingua Franca

Common language used for communication among speakers of different native languages.

Universalizing Religion

Faith seeking global converts, spreading through missionary activity and mass movements.

Sense of Place

Emotional meaning and attachment individuals associate with a location based on experience.

Stimulus Diffusion

Adoption of an underlying idea that leads to a new, locally adapted version of the original trait.

Economic Diffusion

Spread of consumer goods, technologies, and market practices through global trade networks.

Branch (linguistics)

Subdivision of a language family sharing similar grammar and core vocabulary.

Syncretism

Blending of multiple cultural elements to form a new, hybrid cultural expression.

Culture

Shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors passed across generations within a society.

Trans‑Atlantic Slave Trade

Forced migration of Africans to the Americas, spreading crops, music, and religious traditions.

Relocation Diffusion

Movement of people who carry cultural traits to new areas, such as colonists spreading religion abroad.

Dialect

Regional or social variation of a language differing in pronunciation, vocabulary, or grammar.

Mentifacts

(What a culture believes) like religion Example: Religion, language, folklore, political ideologies, ethics, and artistic, musical

Sociofacts

What a culture does (Family structures, educational institutions, government systems, religious organizations, and social etiquette)

Artifacts

The physical, material manifestations of a culture. Examples: Tools, housing, clothing, technology, art, and food.