unit 3 ap human geography vocab

artifacts

Objects made or used by humans that hold cultural significance, often studied to understand past societies and their material culture

mentifacts

the core beliefs, values, and ideas that shape the cultural identity of a group or society

sociofacts

the structures and organizations of a culture which influence social behaviour

Cultural landscape

the visible imprint of human activity on the natural environment, showcasing the interplay between culture and nature

Cultural traits

The specific customs that are part of the everyday life of a particular culture

Cultural relativism

the principle that an individual human's beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture

Ethnocentrism

the belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others, leading to the evaluation of other cultures based on the standards of one's own

colonialism

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

ethnicity

identity with a group of people who share a common identity with a specific homeland or hearth

Cultural hearth

a place of origin for a widespread cultural trend

Sequent occupancy/ Sequent occupation

the process by which successive groups of people settle in a particular area, leading to layers of cultural influence and change over time

Indigenous communities

groups of people who have historical ties to a particular territory and maintain distinct cultural practices, languages, and traditions that are different from those of the dominant society.

Culture

A total way of life held in common by a group of people, including learned features such as language, ideology, behavior, technology, and government

Folk culture

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

pop culture

the set of ideas, practices, beliefs, and objects that are prevalent and widely accepted within mainstream society at a given time

Acculturation

the term used to describe the adoption of certain cultural and social characteristics of one society by another society

Assimilation

the process through which individuals or groups from one culture adopt the customs, values, and behaviors of another culture, often leading to a loss of their original cultural identity

Syncretism

the creation of a new culture through the combination of aspects of multiple cultures or religions

Sacred space

a place that is considered holy to a certain people

Indo-European (language)

a family (or phylum) of several hundred related languages and dialects, including most major languages of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and South Asia

Cultural diffusion

when certain cultural values, ideas, or even cultures are adopted by different cultures

Relocation diffusion

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

Expansion diffusion

the spread of an idea through a population where the amount of those influenced grows continuously larger

Contagious diffusion

the distance-controlled spreading of an idea through a local population by contact from person to person

Hierarchical diffusion

when an idea spreads by passing first among the most connected individuals, then spreading to other individuals

Stimulus diffusion

the process by which a specific trait or idea is spread from one culture or society to another, but is modified or adapted in the process

Language families

a group of languages that are related through descent from a common ancestral language, known as a proto-language

Ethnic religion

Religions that are closely tied to a specific cultural or ethnic group and do not actively seek converts

Universalizing religion

offer belief systems that are attractive to the universal population

dialect

regional or social variations of a language that differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar

Language branch

A group of languages which share common linguistic and have evolved from a common ancestor

Creolization/creole

the process through which new, mixed cultures emerge, primarily in regions where diverse ethnic groups come into contact, leading to the blending of languages, customs, and traditions

Lingua franca

a language that combines simple words from multiple languages so that people who need to understand one another, in order to conduct trade and facilitate business

Imperialism

the policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means

Pilgrimage

a journey to a sacred place for religious or spiritual reasons

Cultural convergence

the theory that two cultures will be more and more like each other as their interactions increase

Cultural divergence

the process through which distinct cultural groups become increasingly different from one another over time

Toponyms

a name given to a place or geographic feature, often reflecting the culture, history, or characteristics of that location

Describe Buddhism

• 3rd of the world’s major universalizing religion

• 365m adherents mainly in China and South Asia

• polytheistic (it’s not the main focus)

• cremate

• monasteries(viharas) (Architecture)

• universalizing

• reincarnation till one reaches attoinment

• Tripitaka(holy book)

Describe Christianity

• monotheistic

• most popular religion

• Jerusalem

• Cremate, burry

• Byzantium (arcetecture)

• Jesus

• universalizing

Describe Hinduism

• created in India

• 1B followers

• ethnic religion

• Ayodhya(major site)

• in India, Nepal, and SRI Lanka

• intricate designs, elaborate carvings, and symbolic representations of the cosmos

• no founder

• Polytheistic(Brahma)

• reincarnation and karma

• Vedas(holy book)

describe Islam

• monotheistic religion

• founder is Muhammad

• 2nd largest

• effected world boundaries

• universalizing

• Allah(god)

• The Kaaba(holy site)

• Quran(holy book)

Judaism

• ancient Hebrews

• one of the first monotheistic faiths

• many other religions were based of this

• ethnic

• founder patriarch Abraham

• Yahweh

• Israel

• Torah(holy book)

Describe Sikhism

• universalizing

• founder: Guru Nanak

• Waheguru(god)

• monotheistic

• everyone is =

• golden temple(Holy site)

• Guru Granth Sahib

• northern India

• minor religion

• mixes nature and spirit (architecture)

Describe Daoism

• universalizing

• founder: Lao-Tsu

• primeval lord of heaven

• balance

• monotheistic

• mount laojun

• Tao Te Ching(holy book)

• ancient china

Describe Shintaism

• ethnic

• no founder

• Kami(gods)

• worship ancestors

• the island of itsukushima

• Kojiki(holy book)

• japan

how did Shintoism diffuse

by relocation

how did Taoism diffuse

by contagious diffusion and some relocation

how did Sikhism diffuse

by relocation and missionary work close to its hearth

how did Judaism diffuse

by relocation and trade

how did Christianity diffuse

by missionary work, relocation diffusion, and hierarchical diffusion

how did Islam diffuse

by military conquest, trade, pilgrimage, and missionaries

how did Hinduism diffuse

by contagious diffusion

how did Buddhism diffuse

by trade on the silk road