AP Human Geography Unit 3: Culture

Culture

complex system of learned beliefs, practices, and material creations that shape a society’s way of life

Material Culture

physical objects, artifacts, items that hold significance to a group

Non-material Culture

non-physical components of culture like ideas, beliefs, values, languages

Artifact

any object made, used, or modified by humans that serves as a material representation of culture

Mentifact

non-material component of culture consisting of the core ideas, values, and beliefs that shape a society’s identity

Sociofact

a social institution and the norms and customs that structure how a culture’s members interact and organize their society

Cultural Relativism

the principle that a person’s beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on their own culture and not judged against the standards of another

Ethnocentrism

the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others, leading to the evaluation of other cultures based on standards and values of one’s own culture

Individualism

a cultural perspective that values personal independence, self-expression, and individual success

Collectivism

a cultural perspective that prioritizes the needs and goals of the group over individual desires

Cultural Landscape

the visible modifications of the natural environment shaped by human culture, practices, beliefs, and values (architecture, land use patterns, agricultural methods, and toponyms

Traditional Architecture

style of architecture deeply rooted in a specific region’s ethnic culture, usually constructed from locally sourced materials and techniques passed down through generations, embodies the adaptation of a community’s built environment to the climate, social conditions, and history of the region, reflect a deep sense of cultural identity

Modernist Architecture

rejection of historical ornamentation in favor of functionality, clean lines, and minimalist aesthetic, emphasizes the rational and efficient use of space, and incorporates modern materials like glass, steel, and concrete to create open floor plans and large windows, (function over form)

Post-modern Architecture

style that emerged in the late 1970s as a reaction against the minimalist and functionalist principles of modernism, characterized by its use of humor, irony, and eclecticism, incorporating a variety of shapes, colors, form and function (often wavy and bright colors)

Long-lot Settlement

a linear settlement where land is divided into narrow, rectangular lots that extend back from a river or road, giving each person equal access to the resource

Township and Range

a method for subdividing land in the US, creates a grid by dividing land into six mile square townships which are further divided into 36 square-mile sections

Ethnic Enclave

a geographic area (usually smaller like a neighborhood) with a high connection of a distinct ethnic group, maintaining its cultural identity through shared language, customs, and social practices, providing support for immigrants, creating a sense of community

Culture Region

a geographic area (usually bigger, can span over countries) with a shared set of cultural traits like language, religion, and customs, which create a distinct identity

Cultural Divergence

the process where different cultures become increasingly distinct over time due to factors like geographic, social, or political isolation

Cultural Convergence

when different cultures become more similar due to interaction, a process driven by globalization through increased communication, trade, and travel

Centripetal Force

forces that pull people together and unify groups in a society

Centrifugal Force

forces that push people apart and create different groups and interests in society

Cultural Hearth

the starting point of a cultural phenomenon

Cultural Diffusion

the process of a cultural trait, idea, or phenomenon spreading from its point of origin (cultural hearth) to other places

Relocation Diffusion

culture and ideas spread through people physically moving and bringing cultural phenomena, innovations, diseases and more, weakens cultural hearth because people leave

Expansion Diffusion

culture and ideas spread from person to person, ideas spread without the people actually moving

Contagious Diffusion

the cultural phenomenon spreads rapidly to almost everyone regardless of age, gender, race

Hierarchical Diffusion

culture and ideas spread hierarchically—starting with someone of power in society and spreading down the social hierarchy

Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion

culture and ideas spread from less populated areas and smaller towns up to larger cities and people of power

Stimulus Diffusion

the full idea does not spread, but the main or underlying idea spreads, new but related

Creolization

the process of cultural blending that results in new hybrid cultural identities, particularly through the interaction of different groups in contexts like colonization and migration, creating new languages, food, music, and other cultural practices by mixing elements from multiple original cultures

Diaspora

a group of people who have dispersed from their original homeland but maintain cultural ties to it

Acculturation

the exchange of cultural traits while both cultures remain distinct

Assimilation

the process where a minority group or individual completely adopts the cultural traits of a dominant group, often leading to the loss of their original culture, most often forcefully

Folk culture

traditionally practiced by small, homogenous, and often isolated groups

Pop culture

widespread, rapidly diffused cultural traits in large, diverse, societies

Subculture

a group within a larger culture that has its own distinct set of values, beliefs, norms, and practices, groups often emerge around shared interests like music or lifestyle, ethnicity, religion, or age, and maintain a unique identity while still being influenced by the mainstream culture

Built Environment

all human-made surroundings providing settings for human activity, representing tangible cultural elements that shape society, health, and daily life, and reflecting cultural values and needs

Dialect

a regional or social variety of a language that is distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation, often reflecting a specific cultural identity, variations of a single language, can be influenced by factors like migration

Language Branch

subdivisions of a language family, contain languages that share a common ancestor confirmed by archeological evidence

Language Family

a group of languages that share a common, ancient ancestor language called a proto-language

Lingua Franca

a common language used for communication between people with different native languages, often for trade, diplomacy, or cultural exchange

Glocalization

blending of the words “globalization” and “localization” describing how global forces are modified by local contexts

Isogloss

a geographic boundary that separates different linguistic features, such as a specific word, pronunciation, or grammar, used to map and understand dialectical differences, showing how languages evolve and vary across regions

Monotheism

religions that believe in one god

Polytheism

religions that believe in multiple gods

Multiculturalism

the coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a single society, where each group maintains its unique identity, traditions, and practices

Orthography

the system of spelling and writing symbols for a language, how languages are written can be a source of identity

Placelessness

places that are homogenous, uniform, could be anywhere

Sense of Place

emotional connection or perception of a particular place, often based on what makes it unique

Sequent Occupance

the idea that successive cultures leave layers of their imprint on a place, creating a cumulative cultural landscape that shows history, conflict, and adaption over time

Syncretism

the blending of two or more cultural traits resulting in a new, hybrid culture

Universalizing Religion

a faith that seeks to appeal to and convert people from all cultures, locations, and ethnicities worldwide, actively spreading through missionaries and outreach

Ethnic Religion

a faith tied to a specific cultural or ethnic group, deeply rooted in traditions, customs, and the physical geography of a particular place, not seeking converts

Colonialism

the practice of a powerful country establishing control over a foreign territory, often through settlement and resource extraction, to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles

Triangular Trade

the transatlantic trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas, fueled by the forced migration of enslaved people from Africa to the Americas

Pidgin

a simplified language that develops between groups with no common language, used primarily for communication in specific contexts like trade or colonization