Chapter 3 Cultural Concepts and Diffusion (Video Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and examples from the video notes on culture, diffusion, religion, and related topics.

Culture

The shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors that define a group and influence its way of life and interactions.

Cultural trait

A single distinguishing feature of a culture such as a belief, norm, or practice.

Architecture

The art or practice of designing and constructing buildings, often reflecting cultural values and historical influences.

Pyramids of Giza

An architectural example reflecting ancient Egyptian beliefs and engineering.

Cultural relativism

The principle that an individual's beliefs and activities should be understood in terms of that individual's own culture.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others and the tendency to judge other cultures by one’s own standards.

Cultural landscape

A geographic area including cultural and natural resources associated with historical events, activities, or people; the visible imprint of human activity on the land.

Sequent occupancy

The notion that successive societies leave their cultural imprints on a place, contributing to a cumulative cultural landscape.

Basque language patterns

Unique linguistic patterns found in the Basque region of Spain and France.

Traditional architecture

Building styles characteristic of a region, culture, or historical period, using local materials and methods.

Postmodern architecture

An architectural style from the late 20th century reacting against modernism with diverse elements and historical references.

Ethnicity

The state of belonging to a social group with a common national or cultural tradition.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes considered appropriate for men and women.

Ethnic neighborhood

A geographic area with a high ethnic concentration and related cultural and economic activities.

Indigenous community

A group native to a region with distinct cultural practices and languages.

Sense of place

The feelings and symbolism attached to a place based on experiences and memories.

Placemaking

A multifaceted approach to planning and managing public spaces to create vibrant, community-focused places.

Centripetal force

A force that unites people or states, promoting loyalty and belonging.

Centrifugal force

A force that divides people or states, leading to disunity or conflict.

Relocation diffusion

The spread of ideas or innovations through the physical movement of people.

Expansion diffusion

The spread of an idea or innovation from its origin outward in a ripple-like fashion.

Contagious diffusion

Rapid and widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population.

Hierarchical diffusion

Diffusion that spreads from persons or nodes of authority to other persons or places.

Stimulus diffusion

The spread of an underlying principle even if the characteristic itself does not diffuse.

Creolization

The blending of linguistic and cultural traditions to form Creole languages and cultures.

Lingua franca

A language systematically used to facilitate communication between people who do not share a native language.

Colonialism

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it, and exploiting it economically.

Imperialism

A policy extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Trade

The action of buying and selling goods and services; diffusion example: Silk Road linking East and West.

Urbanization

The process by which towns and cities form and grow as more people move to urban areas.

Globalization

The process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples and countries.

Time-space convergence

The reduction in the time it takes to travel or communicate between places due to technology.

Cultural convergence

The tendency for cultures to become more alike as they share technology and cultural traits.

Cultural divergence

The tendency for cultures to become less alike or distinct as they develop separately.

Indo-European language family

The largest language family, including English, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, and German.

Language family

A group of languages related through descent from a common ancestral language.

Language dialect

A regional or social variation of a language with differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

Cultural hearth

An area where new ideas and innovations originate and diffuse to other parts of the world.

Toponym

A place name derived from a topographical feature or other characteristic of the location.

Universalizing religion

A religion that seeks to appeal to all people and actively seeks converts.

Christianity

A monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus, with holidays like Christmas and Easter.

Islam

A monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad; includes the Hajj to Mecca.

Buddhism

A religion and dharma originating in India, focused on the teachings of the Buddha and the Four Noble Truths.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak, emphasizing equality, honest work, charity, and the Five Ks.

Ethnic religion

A religion that primarily appeals to a specific group or region and does not actively seek converts.

Hinduism

A diverse set of beliefs and practices native to the Indian subcontinent, emphasizing reincarnation and a multitude of gods.

Judaism

An ethnic monotheistic religion with traditions tied to the Jewish people, including Shabbat and Passover.

Acculturation

Cultural and psychological changes that occur when two cultures come into contact.

Assimilation

The process by which a person or group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group.

Syncretism

The blending of elements from different cultures or religions to form a new practice.

Multiculturalism

The presence or support of several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.

Language Branch

A group of languages within a language family that shares a common origin and structural similarities.

Language Group

A collection of languages within a language branch that are more closely related and share a more recent common origin.