Geography: A Cultural Approach

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts discussed in the lecture on cultural geography, helping students to understand and memorize important terms.

Culture

The sum of a variety of human behavioral traits that are learned, influencing beliefs, practices, meanings, and values.

Human Geography

The study of the relationships between humans and the spaces they live in.

Cultural Geography

A branch of geography focused on cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, and practices across different spaces.

Formal Region

A geographical area inhabited by people who have one or more traits in common.

Functional Region

A geographic area organized to function politically, socially, or economically as one unit.

Vernacular Region

A region that is perceived to exist, recognized by popular consensus.

Geographical Distribution

The arrangement of various elements or phenomena across different areas.

Diffusion

The pattern by which a phenomenon spreads from a particular location through space and time.

Migration

The mass movement of people between different regions through specific routes.

Globalization

A process of economic, political, and social integration that creates interdependence among regions.

Cultural Landscape

The transformed landscape that reflects the culture of the inhabited area.

Material Culture

The visible objects related to culture, such as buildings, art, and clothing.

Nonmaterial Culture

The beliefs, values, and norms of a society passed through generations.

Folk Culture

Cultural practices associated with rural and traditional ways of life.

Indigenous Culture

Socially, culturally, and economically distinct groups identified based on their heritage.

Popular Culture

Modern practices linked to mass-produced goods and technological communications.

Placelessness

A lack of unique cultural identity in built environments, leading to standardization.

Cultural Enclave

A small area occupied by a particular culture within a larger cultural context.

Spatial Modeling

A method in geography that uses mathematical models to analyze space.

Humanistic Perspective

Focus on human experience, meaning-making, and emotional responses to places.

Social-Theoretical Perspective

Examines power dynamics and social inequalities as they relate to geography.

Geospatial Technology

Technologies such as GPS and GIS used to analyze spatial data.

Longitude

Nonparallel vertical lines that circle the Earth and measure east or west.

Latitude

Parallel lines measured north and south of the equator.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

Relocation Diffusion

Occurs when a group moves and brings their culture with them.

Expansion Diffusion

The snowballing process of spreading ideas through a growing population.

Hierarchical Diffusion

The spread of ideas from one important person or place to another.

Contagious Diffusion

Wavelike spread of ideas or practices throughout a population.

Stimulus Diffusion

Adoption of an underlying idea while rejecting specific traits.

Time-Distance Decay

Decline in acceptance of cultural innovation over distance and time.

Friction of Distance

The impact of distance on human interaction and cultural exchange.

Absorbing Barriers

Barriers that halt the diffusion process completely.

Permeable Barriers

Barriers that allow weak diffusion of innovations.

Forced Migration

Compelled movement of people due to adverse conditions.

Transnational Migration

People moving back and forth between their homeland and a new country.

Stepwise Migration

Migration in stages, progressing from country to city, then to city center.

Return Migration

Migrants returning to their place of origin after residing elsewhere.

Seasonal Migration

Movement based on the seasons, like agricultural laborers.

Colonialism

Historical context influencing cultural interdependence and globalization.

Interdependence

Mutual reliance between countries and cultures in global integration.

Cultural Ecology

Study of interactions between cultures and their environments.

Ecological Perspective

Focus on the relationship and impact between humans and their physical environment.

Environmental Determinism

View that physical environment shapes cultures.

Possibilism

Theory that recognizes multiple pathways for culture development influenced by the environment.

Nature-Culture Relationship

The interaction between societal values and the physical environment.

Rural Settlements

Patterns of living primarily related to agricultural and land use.

Urban Landscapes

Cultural transformation visibly represented in urban infrastructure.

Architectural Styles

Distinct building designs representing cultural or regional identity.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Sites recognized for their cultural significance to humanity.

Cultural Homogenization

The process of cultures becoming similar through globalization.

Local Identity

The unique characteristics and cultural traits of a specific place.

Anthropocene

The current geological epoch marked by human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.

Cultural Symbols

Objects, images, or concepts that represent particular cultural values or beliefs.

Cemeteries

Places that reflect cultural practices and historical narratives.

Neighborhoods

Community areas that reflect the social and cultural composition of inhabitants.

Sense of Place

The emotional and subjective dimension of a location based on individual experiences.

Spatial Arrangement

The organization and distribution of human activities or structures in space.

Land Use Patterns

The manner in which land is utilized within different cultural contexts.

Settlement Patterns

How human habitats are distributed in relation to one another.