AP Human Geography Unit 3

pidgin language

often emerges when two or more languages coexist in a small geographic area. It involves the natural combination of two or more languages into one fluid and changeable dialect.

slang

an informal, often short-lived kind of language used in place of standard words

time-space convergence

the process of travel time diminishing as technological advancements in transportation and communication bring places closer together

animism

Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and life

colonialism

the process by which one nation exercises near complete control over another country which they have settled and taken over

imperialism

the practice of a country extending its power and influence over other countries, typically through the use of military force, economic coercion, or cultural domination.

reverse hierarchical diffusion

when culture spreads from the bottom of a hierarchy to other parts that are considered the bottom, which completely bypasses the top

relocation diffusion

When people move, or relocate, they spread ideas along with them

cultural appropriation

a situation where a dominant social or cultural group takes an expression, idea, or product from an oppressed cultural group and uses it for its own benefit

theocracy

the government is presumed to be divinely ordained by God

fundamentalism

Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion.

blue laws

laws restricting or banning certain activities on specified days, usually Sundays in the western world

sharia

the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Muslim beliefs

nationality

Identity with a group of people that share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular place as a result of being born there.

neolocalism

The seeking out of regional culture in response to uncertainty of the modern world

ethnic island

an area predominantly populated by a single ethnicity

charter group

the early arriving ethnic group that created the first effective settlement and established the recognized cultural norms to which other, later groups are expected to conform

diaspora

a community of people who are dispersed throughout the world, but retain their cultural, religious, or ethnic differences

cultural realm

a geographical region where cultural traits maintain homogeneity

cultural region

a geographic region that is characterized by a predominanly uniform culture

linguist

a scientist who specializes in the nature of human language

indo-european languages

family of languages spoken in most of Europe and areas of European settlement

romance languages

a group of related languages all derived from Vulgar Latin

isogloss

a boundary line between two distinct linguistic regions

contemporary architecture

the current style of architecture.

post modern architecture

tries to design buildings that are visually pleasing to human beings and provide modern humans with a link to their past

traditional architecture

traditional building styles of different cultures, religions, and places

placelessness

a phenomenon that happened when a place/location loses its distinctiveness or its uniqueness

built environment

the tangible human creation on the landscape

nonmaterial culture

Anything on the landscape that comprises culture that cannot be physically touched (e.g., language and religion)

sociofacts

the structures and organizations of a culture which influence social behaviour

menifacts

The shared ideas, values, and beliefs of a culture

material culture

Anything that can physically be seen on the landscape

adage

A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth

official language

The form of a language used for official government business, education, and mass communications

homogeneous

A population composed of similar people

adherent

A person who supports a certain religion

ethnic religion

relate closely to culture, ethnic heritage, and to the physical geography of a particular place

polytheism

the belief that there is multiple gods or divine beings

monotheism

the belief that there is only one god or divine being

karma

the notion that every action a person takes, whether good or bad, has a consequence in the future

caste system

System in India that gives every Indian a particular place in the social hierarchy from birth

gurdwara

a place of worship for Sikhs

pilgrimage

Voluntary travel to a sacred site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site

homogenization

the tendency toward uniformity of ideas, values, technologies, and institutions

nativism

the practice of supporting the wants and needs of residents of a given area over the interests of immigrants

global culture

the interconnectedness and shared values, beliefs, practices, and behaviors that have emerged as a result of increased global communication, transportation, and globalization

globalization

a broad term that describes the increased inter connectivity between different regions and countries across the globe

indigenous culture

the unique customs, traditions, languages, and social structures of native or original inhabitants of a particular region or country

folk culture

describes cultural traditions that are done at a local level and which are derived from longstanding cultural practices

taboo

A restriction on behavior imposed by social custom

cultural complex

The group of traits that define a particular culture

Acculturation

the process by which people within one culture adopt some of their traits of another while still retaining their own distinct culture.

Artifacts

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced that are part of a culture

Assimilation

category of acculturation in which the interaction of two cultures results in one culture adopting almost all the customs, traditions, language, and other cultural traits of the other

Buddhism

the oldest universalizing religion, which arose from a hearth in northeastern India sometime between the mid-sixth and mid-fourth centuries BCE and is based on the teachings of SIddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha

Centrifugal force

a force that divides people and countries

Centripetal force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state

Christianity

A universalizing, monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus it began in the West Bank and Israel around the beginning of the common era and has spread to all continents.

Contagious diffusion

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

Creolization

The blending of African, European, and some Amerindian cultural elements into the unique sociocultural systems found in the Caribbean.

Cultural convergence

the contact and interaction of one culture with another

Cultural divergence

the process by which cultures become less similar due to confliciting beleifs or other barriors

Cultural hearth

a center where cultures developed and from which ideas and traditions spread outward

Cultural landscape

the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape

Cultural relativism

the practice of judging a culture by its own standards

Cultural trait

The specific customs that are part of the everyday life of a particular culture, such as language, religion, ethnicity, social institutions, and aspects of popular culture.

Culture

Beliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.

Dialects

Local or regional characteristics of a language. While accent refers to the pronunciation differences of a standard language, a dialect, in addition to pronunciation variation, has distinctive grammar and vocabulary

Diffusion

The process of spread of a feature or trend from one place to another over time

Ethnic neighborhoods/Enclaves

a neighborhood, typically situated in a larger metropolitan city and constructed by or comprised of a local culture, in which a local culture can practice its customs

Ethnicity

Identity with a group of people that share distinct physical and mental traits as a product of common heredity and cultural traditions.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

Expansion diffusion

the spread of a cultural trait outward from where it organized.

Hierarchical diffusion

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

Hinduism

Ethnic religionthat arose a few thousand years in South Asia and is closely tied to India.

Islam

A universal religion based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed that originated in the hearth of Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century.

Judaism

the world's first monotheistic religion, which developed among the Hebrew people of Southwest Asia about 4,000 years ago.

Language

distinct system of communication that is the carrier of human thoughts and culural identities.

Language branch

A collection of languages related through a common ancestor that existed several thousand years ago. Differences are not as extensive or as old as with language families, and archaeological evidence can confirm that the branches derived from the same family.

Lingua franca

A language mutually understood and commonly used in trade by people who have different native languages

Multiculturalism

A perspective recognizing the cultural diversity of the United States and promoting equal standing for all cultural traditions

Popular culture

Culture found in a large, heterogeneous society that shares certain habits despite differences in other personal characteristics.

Religion

the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

Sense of place

the subjective feelings and memories people associate with a geographic location

Sequent occupancy

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

Sikhism

the newest universalizing religion, founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak who lived from 1469 to 1539, in the Punjab region of northwestern India.

Stimulus diffusion

a process of diffusion by which a cultural trait or diea spreads to another culture or region but is modified to adapt to the new culture.

Syncretism

process of innovation combining different cultural features into something new.

Toponyms

The name given to a portion of Earth's surface.

Traditional culture

long established behaviors, beliefs, and practices passed down from generation to generation

Universalizing religions

A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location.