AP HUG Unit 3

Cultural landscape

The visible features of an area resulting from human interaction with the environment, including architecture, land use, and cultural practices.

Natural landscape

A landscape primarily shaped by natural forces and processes, often featuring elements like mountains, rivers, and forests.

Toponyms

Place names that reflect cultural or geographic significance.

Descriptive toponym

A type of toponym that describes a geographical feature or characteristic, such as "Green River" or "Rocky Mountain."

Associative toponym

A type of toponym that references a particular association or characteristic related to a location, often derived from the history, culture, or notable events in that area.

Commemorative toponym

A type of toponym that commemorates a person, group, or event, often reflecting historical significance, such as "Washington, D.C." or "Lincoln Park."

Commendetory toponym

A type of toponym that commends a person’s actions and praises them, a person, group, or event, often reflecting historical significance, such as "Washington, D.C." or "Lincoln Park."

Invented toponym

A type of toponym that is created or coined, often for marketing, branding, or fictional purposes, rather than derived from historical or geographical roots.

Folk toponym

A type of toponym that originates from local folklore, traditions, or cultural anecdotes, often reflecting the history and identity of a community.

Relocation/shift toponym

A type of toponym that is transferred from one location to another, often reflecting historical migrations or the movement of people, as seen in place names adopted by settlers.

Religious toponym

A type of toponym derived from religious beliefs, figures, or events, often reflecting the significance of faith in shaping cultural landscapes.

Language family

A group of languages that share a common ancestor, reflecting similar characteristics and structures. Examples include Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan language families.

Indo-european

a large language family that includes many of the languages spoken in Europe and parts of Asia, such as English, Spanish, and Hindi. It is characterized by shared linguistic features and historical connections among its member languages.

Sino-tibetan

a major language family that includes languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tibetan, characterized by tonal distinctions and high levels of lexical diversity.

Dialects

variations of a language that are specific to particular regions or social groups, often differing in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

Lingua franca

a bridge language used for communication between speakers of different native languages, often arising in trade or multicultural contexts.

Pidgin

a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between speakers of different native languages, often for trade or work purposes.

Accent

a way of pronouncing words that is characteristic of a particular region or group, reflecting influences of language and culture.

Creole

a stable, fully developed language that arises from the mixing of two or more languages, typically in a colonial context, and is natively spoken by a community.

Monolingual

speaking or using only one language.

Multilingual

speaking or using multiple languages fluently, often reflecting cultural diversity and global communication.

Official language

a language that is given a special status in a particular country, region, or organization, often used in government, legal affairs, and education.

Diffusion of languages

the process through which languages spread and evolve, influenced by factors such as migration, trade, and cultural exchange.

Language groups

categories of languages that share a common ancestor and similar characteristics, often defined by linguistic features or geographical distribution.

Kurgan hearth

theory proposing that the Proto-Indo-European language originated in the steppes of Central Asia, spreading through migration.

Antolian hearth

theory suggesting that languages spread from Anatolia through agriculture to Europe.

Influence of power

refers to how political or military dominance can shape language use and spread among populations, often leading to shifts in linguistic characteristics.

Religion

A system of beliefs, practices, and values that often involves worship of a higher power or deity.

Material

aspects of religion that focus on physical objects or practices, such as rituals, symbols, and sacred spaces.

Non-material

aspects of religion that emphasize spiritual beliefs, ethics, and the experiences of individuals rather than physical objects or practices.

Universalizing religions

religions that seek to appeal to all people, regardless of culture or location, promoting a universal faith.

Ethnic religion

a religion that is closely tied to a specific ethnic group, culture, or nationality, often emphasizing heritage and traditions. It typically does not seek to convert outsiders.

Syncrenism

the blending of different religious traditions and beliefs, creating new cultural practices and spiritual philosophies.

Animism

the belief that objects, places, and creatures possess a spiritual essence, often rooted in nature and local traditions.

Christianity

a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasizing faith in Him as the Son of God and the Savior.

Islam

a monotheistic faith that originated in the 7th century CE based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, emphasizing submission to the will of Allah.

Buddhism

a spiritual tradition rooted in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, focusing on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to achieve enlightenment.

Sikhism

a monotheistic religion founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region of India, teaching devotion to one God and emphasizing equality and service to humanity.

Hinduism

a major world religion originating in India, characterized by a variety of beliefs, practices, and rituals, often centered around the concepts of karma, dharma, and moksha.

Judiasm

a monotheistic religion with a rich tradition based on the covenant between God and the Hebrew people, emphasizing ethical conduct and adherence to the Torah.

Hearth

The geographic origin of a particular religion or cultural practice, where its fundamental beliefs and practices first emerged.

Cultural diffusion

the process by which cultural beliefs and social activities are spread from one group to another, often resulting from trade, migration, or communication.

Historical diffusion

the spread of cultural beliefs or practices over time through various forms of interaction, including migration, trade, and colonization.

Trade

The exchange of goods and services between individuals or groups, which can facilitate cultural diffusion and economic interaction.

Migration

the movement of people from one place to another, often resulting in the exchange of cultural practices and ideas.

Conquest

the act of acquiring territory or gaining control over a region through military force, often leading to significant cultural exchange and diffusion.

Colonization

the establishment of settlements in a new territory by a ruling power, often involving the control and exploitation of indigenous resources and peoples.

Cultural contact

the interaction and exchange between different cultures, often resulting from migration, trade, or colonization.

Columbian exchange

the widespread transfer of plants, animals, people, culture, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Silk road

a network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture between various civilizations.

Indian trade

a historical system of commerce that linked the Indian subcontinent with the Mediterranean and other regions, involving the exchange of spices, textiles, and cultural influences.

Trans-saharan trade

a network of trade routes across the Sahara Desert that connected West Africa to the Mediterranean, enabling the exchange of goods, including gold, salt, and textiles.

Mediterranean trade

a historical trade network that connected the cultures and economies of the Mediterranean region, involving the exchange of goods such as olive oil, wine, and grains.

Islamic caliphates

political and religious states ruled by a caliph, representing the political unity of the Muslim community and expanding Islam through conquest and trade.

Spanish and Portugese

Brought Catholicism to Latin America

Mercantalism

an economic theory and practice that emphasized the role of the state in managing trade and accumulating wealth through the establishment of colonies and a favorable balance of trade.

Imperialism

a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often leading to the domination of one nation over another.

Culture

The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize a group of people or society. It encompasses language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts. It evolves with humans, as countries evolve, so does its culture.

Folk culture

Cultural traditions and practices rooted in a specific community, often passed down through generations. It typically includes customs, crafts, music, and rituals unique to a particular group.

Pop culture

The set of ideas, practices, and phenomena that are prevalent in mainstream society at a given point in time, often influenced by mass media and consumerism.

Cultural relativism

The practice of understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment from outside perspectives. It suggests that one's beliefs and practices should be understood relative to their cultural context.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own culture, often leading to a dismissive or prejudiced view of other cultures. Ethnocentrism evaluates other cultures based on the standards of one's own.

Convergence

The process by which distinct cultures become increasingly similar, often due to globalization, technology, and communication.

Divergence

The process through which cultures become increasingly different over time, often as a response to varying social, economic, and environmental conditions.

Globalization

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, leading to increased cultural exchange and interdependence.

Contemporary diffusion

refers to the current patterns of cultural transfer and exchange that are shaped by modern technology, media, and global communication.

Diasporia

the dispersion of a group of people from their original homeland, often leading to cultural exchange and adaptation in new environments.

Early internet era

the period during the late 20th century when the internet became publicly accessible, transforming communication, information sharing, and cultural exchange globally.

Modern diffusion

describes the process by which cultural elements spread widely through global connections, technology, and social networks.

Political communication

refers to the ways in which information, opinions, and messages are transmitted between political entities, including government, media, and the public. It encompasses the strategies used in political discourse and the impact of digital media on political engagement.

Open society

A social system characterized by a free exchange of ideas, transparency in governance, and active participation of citizens in political processes.

Closed society

A social system that restricts or limits the exchange of ideas, often characterized by censorship, restricted political participation, and limited transparency in governance.

Memetic diffusion

the spread of memes and cultural ideas within a society, often facilitated by social media and other digital platforms.

Cultural humanization

the process by which different cultures become more similar or identical, often due to globalization and cultural exchange.

Syncretism

the blending of different religious or cultural beliefs and practices, creating a new, cohesive system that incorporates elements from both sources.

Glocalization

the adaptation of global ideas to fit local cultures, resulting in unique cultural expressions that reflect both global and local influences.

Cultural impearlism

the practice of promoting and imposing one culture over others, often resulting in the erosion of local cultures and identities.

Identity

How people identify themselves

Gender

the social and cultural roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with being male or female in a given society.

Ethnic groups

socially defined categories based on shared cultural characteristics, such as language, religion, and ancestry.

Race

a socially constructed concept that categorizes people based on physical characteristics, such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture.

Sex

the biological and physiological characteristics that define humans as female or male.

Centripetal forces

factors that unify people within a state, enhancing social cohesion and stability.

Centrifugal courses

factors that tend to destabilize or fragment a nation, leading to divisions among its people.

Redlining

the discriminatory practice of denying services or resources to residents of specific neighborhoods based on their race or ethnicity.

Brownfield

a previously developed land that is not currently in use and may be contaminated. Such sites often require remediation before new development can occur.

Gentrification

the process of renovating and improving urban neighborhoods, often leading to increased property values and displacement of lower-income residents.

Feminist geography

an approach in geography that examines the relationships between space, place, and gender, highlighting how gender inequalities shape social and spatial experiences.

Gender inequality index

a measure that captures gender disparities in areas such as education, labor force participation, and reproductive health, providing insights into overall gender equality within a society.

Assimilation

the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms of another group, often resulting in the loss of original cultural identity.

Acculturation

the process of cultural change and adaptation that occurs when different cultures come into contact, allowing for the exchange of cultural traits while retaining distinct cultural identities.