Unit 3 Chapters 1-3

Key Terms to Know

• Culture – Shared beliefs, practices, and material traits of a group.

• Cultural Landscape – Human-modified environments that reflect culture.

• Sequent Occupance – The layering of cultural influences over time.

• Cultural Diffusion – The spread of cultural traits.

• Culture Hearth – Origin of a cultural trait.

• Cultural Convergence – Cultures becoming more alike.

• Cultural Divergence – Cultures staying distinct due to isolation.

1. Introduction

A. Definition

• Culture: The shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors of a society.

• It includes language, religion, customs, traditions, food, art, and social structures.

B. Types

1. Material Culture – Tangible things (clothing, architecture, tools).

2. Non-Material Culture – Beliefs, traditions, values, language, and religion.

C. Components

• Language: Communication system that shapes identity.

• Religion: Belief systems that influence traditions.

• Customs & Traditions: Social practices passed down through generations.

• Social Organization: Family structures, government, education.

2. Cultural Landscapes

A. Definition of Cultural Landscape

• The visible imprint of human activity on the landscape.

• Coined by geographer Carl Sauer.

B. Components of Cultural Landscapes

1. Built Environment – Man-made structures (buildings, roads, monuments).

2. Agricultural Patterns – Farming techniques, types of crops.

3. Religious & Linguistic Expressions – Temples, churches, mosques, signage.

4. Economic & Industrial Development – Factories, trade centers, urbanization.

C. Types of Cultural Landscapes

1. Urban Landscapes – Skyscrapers, highways, public spaces (e.g., New York City).

2. Rural Landscapes – Farms, small villages, pastoral lands (e.g., Amish communities).

3. Sacred Landscapes – Religious or spiritual sites (e.g., Jerusalem, Mecca).

4. Industrial Landscapes – Factories, ports, commercial hubs (e.g., Detroit).

D. Sequent Occupance

• The idea that different cultures leave their mark on a place over time.

• Example: Rome has ruins from ancient times, medieval churches, and modern buildings.

3. Cultural Patterns

A. Definition of Cultural Patterns

• The spatial distribution of cultural traits across landscapes.

B. Cultural Diffusion

1. Relocation Diffusion – People physically move and bring culture (e.g., Spanish language in Latin America).

2. Expansion Diffusion – Culture spreads outward from a central point.

   • Hierarchical Diffusion – Spreads from elite or major cities (e.g., fashion from Paris).

   • Contagious Diffusion – Spreads rapidly, like a virus (e.g., TikTok trends).

   • Stimulus Diffusion – Cultural idea spreads but is adapted (e.g., McDonald's in India serves veggie burgers).

C. Cultural Realms & Regions

1. Culture Hearths – Where cultures originated (e.g., Mesopotamia, China, Egypt).

2. Cultural Regions:

   • Formal Region – Defined by shared cultural traits (e.g., Latin America).

   • Functional Region – Organized around a central point (e.g., New York’s subway system).

   • Vernacular Region – Perceived regions (e.g., "The South" in the U.S.).

D. Cultural Convergence vs. Cultural Divergence

• Cultural Convergence: Cultures become more alike due to globalization (e.g., English as a global language).

• Cultural Divergence: Cultures remain distinct due to isolation (e.g., Indigenous tribes in the Amazon).