APHG Unit 3 Study Guide ⏳ Lesson 2.6.1

Culture

Refers to the beliefs, values, practices, behaviors, and technologies shared by a society and passed down from generation to generation.

Cultural Trait

An attribute of a culture that can be artifacts, sociofacts, or mentifacts.

Artifacts

The visible objects and technologies that a culture creates, which can include necessities, religious expression, and recreation.

Sociofacts

Structures and organizations that influence social behavior and establish rules that govern behavior.

Mentifacts

Central, enduring elements of a culture reflecting shared ideas, values, knowledge, and beliefs, which are slow to change.

Popular Culture

The widespread behaviors, beliefs, and practices of ordinary people in society at a given point in time.

Traditional Culture

Behaviors, beliefs, and practices passed down from generation to generation, opposite of popular culture.

Cultural Norms

Shared standards and patterns that guide the behavior of a group, upholding traditions and resisting change.

Ethnocentrism

The tendency of ethnic groups to evaluate other groups according to preconceived ideas from their own culture.

Cultural Relativism

The evaluation of a culture solely by its unique standards, requiring suspension of personal cultural criteria.

Cultural Landscape

A natural landscape that has been modified by humans, reflecting their cultural beliefs and values.

Identity

How humans make sense of themselves and how they wish to be viewed by others.

Ethnicity

The state of belonging to a group of people who share common cultural characteristics.

Ethnic Neighborhoods

Cultural landscapes within communities of people outside of their areas of origin.

Race

Traits shared genetically, such as skin color, which are somewhat meaningless in defining groups.

Sequent Occupance

The notion that successive societies leave behind their cultural imprint on a geographic region.

Traditional Architecture

Established building styles influenced by the environment and localized needs and construction materials.

Postmodern Architecture

Using cultural features to show diversity in design.

Toponyms

Place names that define a location's unique geographic features or history.

Religions

Systems of spiritual beliefs that shape cultural perceptions, attitudes, and values.

Gendered Spaces

Spaces designed to accommodate gender roles, which can be supportive or restrictive.

Third Place

Communal spaces that are separate from home or work, important for social interactions.

Safe Spaces

Acceptance spaces for marginalized groups, such as LGBTQIA+ communities.

Centripetal Force

A unifying force that creates solidarity and stability within a group.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide groups of people and can lead to conflict or unrest.

Cultural Hearth

Where a trait originates and begins to spread.

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of cultural traits through the movement or relocation of people.

Expansion Diffusion

The outward spread of a cultural aspect from its origin, while still remaining in place.

Contagious Diffusion

Spread of an idea or cultural trait to adjacent people or places.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread from a person or place of power to others.

Stimulus Diffusion

When an idea behind a cultural trait stimulates a new innovation.

Colonialism

The establishment of settlements by a powerful country in a less powerful country for gain.

Imperialism

Policies to extend a country’s influence over others through diplomacy or force.

Lingua Franca

A common language used among speakers of different languages.

Cultural Convergence

When cultures become more alike through shared traits.

Cultural Divergence

When cultures resist outside influences to preserve their unique identities.

Creolization

Interactions between cultures resulting in a blending of cultural elements.

Acculturation

Adoption of traits of another culture while retaining distinct elements of one's own culture.

Assimilation

When a culture adopts almost all traits of another, losing its own.

Syncretism

Blending of two or more cultures to create new customs or ideas.

Multiculturalism

Coexistence of diverse cultures within a shared space.

Collectivist Culture

Cultures where collective responsibility and obedience to family elders are expected.

Cultural Appropriation

The adoption of elements of one culture by a dominant culture.

Language Divisions

Organizing languages into categories based on similarities or differences.

Isolate

A language with no known relationship to any other language.

Language Family

The largest grouping of related languages sharing a common ancestral language.

Language Branch

A collection of languages sharing a common origin but distinct enough for mutual non-comprehension.

Language Group

Languages within a branch that share a more recent common ancestor.

Language

A set of sounds and symbols used for communication.

Dialect

A variation of a standard language distinguished by pronunciation and word choice.

Isogloss

A functional region characterized by a word usage boundary.

Proto-Indo-European

The hypothesized predecessor language of several ancient languages.

Origin of English

English developed from a mix of Celtic, Germanic, French, and Latin influences.

Endangered Languages

Languages at risk of disappearing due to declining populations and cultural pressures.

World Distribution of Religions

Religions are unevenly spread across the globe due to origins and cultural history.

Universal Religions

Religions attempting to appeal to a wide variety of people and open to all.

Ethnic Religions

Religions closely tied to a particular ethnic group in a specific region.

Religious Divisions

Smaller groups within religions, organized from branch to congregation.

Religious Branch

A large fundamental division within a religion.

Religious Denomination

Separate organizations uniting local congregations within a branch.

Religious Sect

A small group that has separated from an established denomination.

Religious Congregation

A local assembly that has branched out from a specific sect.

Christianity

Monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.

Islam

Universalizing religion emphasizing moral behavior and belief in one God.

Buddhism

Universalizing religion focusing on achieving spiritual understanding.

Sikhism

Universalizing religion teaching equality and devotion to one God.

Hinduism

Ancient ethnic religion centered on an eternal spirit and karma.

Judaism

Ancient ethnic monotheistic religion introducing the concept of one God.

Shintoism

Ethnic religion originating in Japan centered on the worship of kami.

Christianity: Main Beliefs

Monotheistic, salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as Son of God, Bible as sacred text.

Christianity: Cultural Hearth

Levant (Judea/Middle East).

Christianity: Major Divisions

Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy.

Christianity: Founders

Jesus Christ.

Christianity: World Distribution

Dominant in Europe, Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania; widespread globally.

Christianity: Important Cities

Jerusalem, Rome, Bethlehem, Nazareth.

Islam: Main Beliefs

Monotheistic (Allah), Muhammad as final prophet, Quran as sacred text, Five Pillars of Islam.

Islam: Cultural Hearth

Mecca, Arabian Peninsula.

Islam: Major Divisions

Sunni, Shia.

Islam: Founders

Prophet Muhammad.

Islam: World Distribution

North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, parts of Southeast Asia; growing globally.

Islam: Important Cities

Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

Buddhism: Main Beliefs

Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, karma, reincarnation, nirvana; achieving spiritual understanding.

Buddhism: Cultural Hearth

Lumbini (Nepal) / Northeastern India.

Buddhism: Major Divisions

Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana.

Buddhism: Founders

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).

Buddhism: World Distribution

East Asia, Southeast Asia.

Buddhism: Important Cities

Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Lumbini, Kushinagar.

Sikhism: Main Beliefs

Monotheistic (Waheguru), equality of all, service to humanity, Five Ks.

Sikhism: Cultural Hearth

Punjab region of India.

Sikhism: Major Divisions

Few formal divisions, some interpretative differences.

Sikhism: Founders

Guru Nanak.

Sikhism: World Distribution

Primarily Punjab (India), diaspora in UK, Canada, USA.

Sikhism: Important Cities

Amritsar (Golden Temple).

Hinduism: Main Beliefs

Polytheistic/henotheistic, karma, dharma, reincarnation, moksha, Vedas as sacred texts.

Hinduism: Cultural Hearth

Indus Valley (India/Pakistan).

Hinduism: Major Divisions

Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Smarism.

Hinduism: Founders

No single founder, developed over millennia.

Hinduism: World Distribution

Primarily India, Nepal, parts of Southeast Asia.

Hinduism: Important Cities

Varanasi, Ayodhya, Haridwar, Dwarka.

Judaism: Main Beliefs

Monotheistic, covenant with God, Torah as sacred text, observance of commandments (mitzvot).