APHuG 3.5-3.8

Diffusion

The spread of a cultural element, item, group of people, disease, or phenomenon from one place to another

Acculturation

When a culture adopts a different cultural traits of another culture

Assimilation

When a minority culture adopts a new culture, typically the dominant culture, resulting in a loss of the original culture

Creolization

The process of two cultures/languages coming together to create a new third culture/language/

Lingua Franca

A common language used by individuals whose native language is different

Diaspora

The dispersion of any people from their original homeland

Cultural Divergence

When individuals become separated from different aspects of their culture

Cultural Convergence

When different cultures merge together to form one mass culture

Protolanguage

Starting point of a language

• Often means looking back in time before written records

Language Family

Consists of a variety of different languages that have a common ancestry

Language Branch

A cluster of different languages that are a part of a language family and make up a subdivision of that family

Language group

Made up of different languages that are a part of a language branch

• Often have similar vocabulary and grammar

Dialects

A regional variance that occurs in the form of a language that is based on local culture

Isogloss

A distinct boundary defined by linguistic differences

Universalizing Religions

Religions that seek to expand and reach as many people as possible

• Often expand through expansion diffusion, but can also diffuse through relocation diffusion

Universalizing Religions Examples

Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism

Ethnic Religions

Often stay in one location and do not try and convert people

• Often diffuse through relocation diffusion and are often connected to a specific ethnic group

Ethnic Religions Examples

Hinduism and Judaism

Christianity

Hearth: Eastern Mediterranean

Monotheistic

Abrahamic Religion

Teachings: Jesus Christ

Believe Jesus was the son of god who was sent to Earth to save humanity and die for their sins

Religious Text: Bible and Ten Commandments

Diffused:

• Hierarchical: Due to missionaries and boarding schools that work to convert people; Colonialism and Imperialism would also spread the faith

• Relocation: Through migration of people

Islam

Hearth: Eastern Mediterranean

Monotheistic

Abrahamic Religion

Founder: Muhammad

• After Muhammad passed, the faith became split between the Shia and the Sunni

• Split occurred over who should lead the faith

Religious Text: Quran and Five Pillars of Islam

Diffused

• Hierarchical: Arab traders moved through the Middle East into Africa, bringing new goods and wealth. As traders moved through the area, they would explain to the people that it was Islam that allowed them to become so prosperous

• Relocation: Migration of people; Trade and War as Islamic empire grew and expanded

Shia Islams

Accept the descendants of Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali as the true rulers of Islam

Sunni Islam

Accept the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad and leaders of the faith

Buddhism

Does not have a set deity

Founder: Sumatra, aka the Buddha

Anyone can reach salvation by following the four noble truths and the middle path

• People can break free of their material needs and become free

Gained in popularity due to the belief that everyone could reach salvation

Diffusion

• Contagious: Hinduism was in the area previously and because of the caste system, not everyone could reach salvation. Since Buddhism preached everyone could, more people joined

• Relocation: Due to migration to other countries and also missionaries

Sikhism

Monotheistic

Hearth: Punjab region

Diffusion

• Relocation

• Was limited due to being located between Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism

Often confused as Muslim

They believe in 10 gurus who help guide Sikhs in their daily lives

• These gurus preach the word of God and helped create their holy book

Hinduism

Hearth: South Asia

One of the world’s oldest religions

Predominantly located in India

Believes in Karma and Dharma

Religious Text: The Vedas

Founder: Unknown

Diffusion

• Stimulus Diffusion: It would spread between different faiths and taking on some aspects of traditional face and eventually replacing them

• Relocation Diffusion: Due to migration to other countries

Judaism

Hearth: Eastern Mediterranean

Monotheistic

Three main branches

• Reform

• Orthodox

• Conservative

Abrahamic Religion

Teachings: Abraham

Diffusion

• Relocation: Mainly due to war and persecution

Considers Israel to be their homeland and a jewish state

Assimilation

When a minority culture adopts a new culture, typically the dominant culture, resulting in a loss of the original culture

Acculturation

When a culture adopts different cultural traits of another culture

Syncretism

When two or more cultures evolve or change over time in a similar manner but remain culturally distinct

Multiculturalism

When society has a large diversity of cultures that coexist within the society

Cultural Resistance

Chance that a society rejects or pushes back the diffusion of another culture