AP Human Geo Chapter 4 & 7

Culture

The beliefs, customs, arts, and way of life of a group of people

Folklore

Traditional stories, songs, and customs passed down within a culture

Cultural Trait

A specific custom or practice that is part of a culture (like food, clothing, or language)

Diffusion

The spread of ideas, people, or things from one place to another

Relocation Diffusion

When people move and bring their culture with them to a new place

Expansion Diffusion

When a cultural idea spreads outward from its origin without people moving

Hierarchical Diffusion

When ideas spread from powerful or influential people to others (like trends from celebrities)

Stimulus Diffusion

When an idea spreads, but it changes or is adapted along the way

Taboo

A behavior or practice that is strongly avoided or forbidden in a culture

Imperialism

When one country dominates another for power or resources, often spreading its culture

Indigenous Culture

The original culture of people who have lived in a place for a very long time

Local Culture

A small group of people with a shared culture that stays limited to a specific area

Popular Culture

Widespread cultural traits or trends shared by large groups, often through media

Globalization

The process of the world becoming more connected through trade, travel, and communication

Material Culture

The physical objects made and used by a culture (like buildings, clothing, or tools)

Non-Material Culture

The ideas, beliefs, and values of a culture (like religion, language, or morals)

Placelessness

When places start to look the same due to global brands and buildings (like every town having the same fast-food chains)

Genocide

The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially because of their ethnicity or religion

Cultural Relativism

Understanding a culture by its own standards rather than judging it by your own culture

Cultural Convergence

When cultures become more similar due to sharing ideas and customs

Cultural Divergence

When cultures become more different from each other due to isolation or conflict

Ethnocentrism

Believing your culture is better than others

Small-Scale Processes

Local-level cultural or social changes that happen in a small area

Time-Space Convergence

The idea that technology makes distant places feel closer and more connected

Cultural Landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the land (like farms, cities, or temples)

Cultural Regions

Areas where people share the same cultural traits

Cultural Hearths

Places where a culture began and from which it spread

Sequent Occupancy

Layers of history left by different groups living in the same place

Traditional Architecture

Old-style buildings based on local culture and materials

Modern Architecture

New, simple, and functional building designs

Ethnicity

People sharing culture, language, or heritage

Race

Grouping people by physical traits like skin color

Ethnic Enclaves

Neighborhoods where many people of one ethnicity live

Sense of Place

Feelings or meaning tied to a place

Centripetal Force

Things that unite or bring people together

Centrifugal Force

Things that divide or separate people

Multiculturalism

Many cultures living together and respected

Ethnic Cleansing

Forcing an ethnic group to leave an area

Assimilation

Adopting another culture and losing your own