AP Human Geography Unit 3 Review

Cultural Geography

the study of how cultures vary over space

Culture

a particular group's material characteristics, behavioral patterns, beliefs, social norms, and attitudes that are shared and transmitted

Cultural Hearth

a place where innovations and new ideas originate and diffuse to other places which can include Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus River Valley, etc

Habit

a repetitive act that a particular individual performs

Custom

a repetitive act that a particular group performs

Material culture

values items such as clothing, furniture, and artifacts that are physically tangible

Non-material culture

values customs, traditions, folk stories, myths, religion, oral and written languages (mentifacts) in addition to religious organizations, political and educational institutions, etc (sociofacts) that are intangible. For instance: Folk music may tell stories about daily activities such as farming in an agrarian society and is passed down to generations.

artifact

an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.

mentifact

Nonmaterial parts of a culture such as language, religion, artistic pursuits, folk stories, myths, etc.

Sociofact

institutions of culture that link people: family structure, political ideas

Folk Culture

-Traditionally practiced primarily by small homogeneous groups living in isolated rural areas and may include a custom such as wearing a sarong in Malaysia or a sari in India. -Cultural practices that form the sights, sounds, smells and rituals o everyday existence in the traditional societies in which they developed. Reflects the local environment.

Popular culture

-Found in large, heterogeneous societies that share certain habits (such as wearing jeans) despite differences in other personal characteristics. Larger scale is covered by a popular culture than folk culture. -Convey a notion of cultural productions fueled by mass media and consumerism. Usually found in large, heterogeneous societies. Relatively uniform across space but rapidly changes over time- "fads"

Globalization

the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. It involves the interconnection of global economies, cultures, technologies, etc., leading to increased interaction and integration between people, companies, and governments worldwide.

Relocation Diffusion

the spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another

Contagious Diffusion

The rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population.

Hierarchical Diffusion

the spread of a feature or trend from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places

Stimulus Diffusion

The spread of an underlying principle, even though a specific characteristic is rejected.

Gender Inequality Index

measures a country's loss of achievement due to gender inequality, based on reproductive health, employment, and general empowerment

Ethnicity

group of people who share a common identity and cultural traditions of a hearth

Ethnic neighborhoods

When the ethnicity is forced to one area it is a ghetto- least desirable part of the city Ex. Chinatowns

Diaspora

experiences of people who come from a common ethnic background but who live in different regions or ethnic neighborhoods

Nationality

identity with a group of people who share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular country

Self-determination

ethnicities have the right to govern themselves

Nation-state

territory corresponds to that occupied by an ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality Ex. Denmark

Nationalism

loyalty and devotion to a nationality

Centripetal Force

attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state. Ex Star- Spangled Banner, 9/11

Centrifugal Force

forces that tend to divide a country - such as internal religious, linguistic, ethnic or ideological differences.

Multinational State

contain two ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully by recognizing each other as distinct nationalities

Ethnic Cleansing

the more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes the less powerful ethnic group to make a homogenous nation-state. Ex Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Jews in WW2, Romas

Language

one of the oldest, geographically diverse, and most complex cultural traits on earth. System of communication through speech, symbols, and/or writing

Dialects

geographically distinct versions of a single language that vary from the parent form Ex. English in U.S. vs. London, English in South and North

Isogloss

word-usage boundary, boundary lines of different words coaslesce in some locations to form regions

Language Family

a collection of many languages, all which came from the same original tongue long ago, but have since evolved different characteristics Ex. Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan

Language Groups

Further division from family to group, set of languages with a relatively recent common origin and many similar characteristics Ex. Romance languages

Official Language

language in which all government business occurs, is established by a country.

Lingua Franca

language of international communication (often to facilitate trade). Ex. English

Pidgin

new language with some characteristics of at least two languages, which occurs when two groups with different languages meet

Creole

pidgin language that evolves to the point at which it become the primary language. Ex. Colonizer language with indigenous language, such a Afrikaans (Dutch + Other languages, like Malay, Portuguese, and Bantu)

Language Extinction

language is no longer in use by living people. Ex. Colonialism in Africa destroyed some languages

Universalizing religions

religions that seek to unite, attempt to be global and appeal to all Ex. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism

• divided into branches, denominations and sects

Ethnic Religions

appeals primarily to one group of people, living in one place, more spiritually bound to particular regions. Ex. Hinduism, Judaism

Evangelical Religions

expand their membership by using missionaries to recruit new followers Ex. Christianity

Monotheistic Religion

Teach the primacy of a single god

Christianity

Universalizing, monotheistic religion with origins in Judaism, Jesus was the chosen messiah, most widespread- 2 billion. Three major branches: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox

Islam

universalizing, monotheistic religion, stemming from Judiasm, belief that thereis a god Allah and that Muhammah was Allah's prophet. Observe Koran and the five pillars. More than 1 billion worldwide. Two main branches- Shia and Sunni (larger branch)

Buddhism

Universalizing. Founded by Siddhartha Gautama in 6th century B.C. Teaches that suffering originates form our attachment to life and worldly possessions. Nirvana is the goal for Buddhists to achieve.

Hinduism

Largest ethnic religion. Closely tied to Indian culture such as the caste system, cows are holy etc.

Judaism

Ethnic religion. first major monotheistic religion based on sense of ethnic identity

Fundamentalism

literal interpretation and strict and intense adherence to basic principles of a religion (goes against current global culture)

Standard Language

a dialect that is well established and widely recognized as the most acceptable for government, business, education, and mass communication.

Language Branch

collection of languages related through common ancestral language that existed several thousand years ago.

Branch

Large and fundamental division within a religion

Denomination

a division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body

Sect

relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination

Missionaries

individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion

Pagan

follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times

Pilgrimage

a journey for religious purposes to a place considered sacred

Race

identity with a group of people who share a biological ancestor.

Multiethnic State

a state that contains more than one ethnicity

Balkanization

The process through which a state breaks down due to conflicts among its ethnicities—as most notably experienced by Eastern Europe during early 20th century.

Taboo

social or cultural prohibitions that dictate what actions are considered unacceptable within a particular group. Ex. Muslims not eating pork

Monotheistic

teach the primacy of a single god

Polytheistic

believe in numerous gods or spiritual powers

Gendered Spaces

• Clarifies the importance of cultural values on the distribution of power in societies

• Throughout history, in many cultures, certain behaviors have been acceptable for only one gender, and often only in certain spaces

• Men often get more freedom in public spaces, while certain private spaces have been reserved for Women. Ex. Women belong in the kitchen

Acculturation

the process by which ppl in one culture adopt some traits of another culture while maintaining their own cultural traits. Ex. When someone from India stops wearing a traditional kurta and starts wearing blue jeans

Assimilation

Having people conform with the customs, attitudes etc of an existing group Ex. Native American assimilation in the U.S.

Cultural Divergence

when people start to "leave" their culture. Most times this is a loss of traditional values.

Cultural convergence

when everyone starts to have one mass global culture Ex. The prominence of English in the world

Multiculturalism

Cultural pluralism or diversity within a society like in the United States

Syncretism

blending of cultures and ideas from different places Faith, cultures and customs bouncing off of each other and fusing together Sometimes because of trade, colonialism etc. Ex. Spanglish, Creole languages

Cultural Landscape

ombinations of physical features, agricultural and industrial practices, religious and linguistic characteristics, evidence of sequent occupancy, and other expressions of culture including traditional and postmodern architecture and land-use patterns.

Sequent Occupance

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

Land Use patterns

How humans reside/use land in their culture- residential, agricultural, commercial, urban, transportation etc.

Ethnocentrism

use your own culture as the center/correct one and evaluate all other cultures based on that. Ex. "Ew, you eat insects in your culture?"

Cultural Relativism

refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right, wrong, strange or normal. Instead we should try to understand cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context. Ex. "I have never tried eating an insect but let me try it or why do you eat insects?"

cultural landscape

Made up of structures within the physical landscape caused by human imprint/human activities; how human activities modify and shape the natural world. Analogy:

sequent occupancy

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

gender gap

differences in socioeconomic and political power and opportunity between men and women.

female infanticide

deliberately causing the death of an infant girl due to a preference for male children in certain societies.

Dowry Deaths in India

the murders or suicides of women who are killed or driven to end their lives by continuous harassment and torture by husbands and in-laws attempting to extort an increased dowry.

barrio

a Spanish-speaking neighborhood

sense of place

The feeling that an area has a distinct and meaningful character

placelessness

locations or environments that lack unique characteristics and appear generic or homogenous due to globalization and commercialization.

environmental determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

Possibilism

The physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to their environment.

cultural determinism

the belief that the culture in which we are raised determines who we are at emotional and behavioral levels. This supports the theory that environmental influences dominate who we are instead of biologically inherited traits.

Maladaptive diffusion

Adoption of diffusing traits that are not practical or reflective of a region's environment or culture. Ex: the spread of grass lawns and monoculture crops which are both actively very harmful to the environment and the popularity of wearing blue jeans in any weather despite the impracticality of wearing them in extreme heat or cold.

Laggards

individuals or groups who adopt a new idea, product, or technology after the majority of society has already done so. They are typically skeptical about innovation and change.

Diffusion S Curve

Pattern of diffusion of a cultural trait, characterized by early adopters, majority adopters, then late adopters.

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.

Imperialism

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

the scramble for Africa

Sudden wave of conquests in Africa by European powers in the 1880s and 1890s. Britain obtained most of eastern Africa, France most of northwestern Africa. Other countries (Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and Spain) acquired lesser amounts.

Trade Routes impact on diffusion

centers of more people, which means more cultures coming together. The establishment of trading routes such as the Silk Road led to further trading and communication connections to arise.

Silk Road

an ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea. It played a significant role in economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions.

2 Large Scale Forces for Diffusion

Globalization and Urbanization

Urbanization

the population shift from rural areas to urban areas, the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas

Positives of Globalization

Greater access to goods, services, and information throughout the world

Negatives of Globalization

loss of cultural uniqueness/folk cultural traditions, loss of indigenous languages(decreased linguistic diversity)

How does diffusion occur in urban area?

social mixing

social mixing

bringing together people from different social backgrounds within shared spaces or activities, with the aim of improving community cohesion and reducing social inequalities.