AP Human Geography Unit 3 Notes - Culture

Flashcards for AP Human Geography Unit 3 - Culture

Culture

The shared practices, technology, attitudes, and behaviors passed down by a society.

Cultural Traits

Noticeable features of culture such as language, clothing, land use, and behavior.

Cultural Relativism

The evaluation of another culture based on that culture's own standards; embracing different cultures without judgment.

Ethnocentrism

The evaluation of another culture based on the standards of one's own culture, often leading to a negative judgment.

Xenophobia

Fear or hatred of other cultures.

Cultural Landscape

How people modify a physical landscape in a way that reflects their culture.

Sequent Occupance

The cultural marks left on a landscape by different groups who have occupied a place over time.

Traditional Architecture

Architecture that uses local resources and reflects local needs.

Post-Modern Architecture

Architecture that prioritizes appearance over functionality.

Ethnicity

The cultural traits a group shares that distinguish them from other groups.

Placemaking

The process of people modifying the landscape to create a sense of belonging and identity.

Sense of Place

When people associate a place with meaning and significance.

Centripetal Forces

Forces that bring people together and promote unity within a culture.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide people and create disunity within a culture.

Cultural Diffusion

The process by which a cultural trait spreads from one place to another.

Cultural Hearth

The place where people of a particular ethnicity and cultural identity originate.

Imperialism

When a powerful state enacts policies to extend power over another territory or people.

Colonialism

When a powerful state establishes settlements in another place for economic or political gain.

Lingua Franca

A common language used for communication between people with different native languages, especially in trade or commerce.

Creolization

The blending of two or more languages to create a new language.

Socially Constructed

Ideas and practices that are created and shaped by a group of people.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of people around the world, economically, politically, and socially.

Urbanization

The movement of people from rural areas to cities.

Cultural Convergence

As two cultures interact, they adopt each other's cultural traits.

Cultural Divergence

Cultures become more distinct from each other.