Aphg study unit 4

Types of Diffusion

• Relocation Diffusion: Spread of cultural traits through the movement of people.

  • Example: Pizza or pasta from Italy to other regions.

• Expansion Diffusion: Spread of cultural traits through means other than movement.

  • Types of expansion diffusion:

    • Contagious Diffusion: Adjacent spread of ideas or traits.

      • Example: The cold virus spreading equally.

    • Hierarchical Diffusion: Spread from a position of power to others.

      • Example: Social media trends starting from influencers.

    • Reverse Hierarchy: Starts small and rural, then grows bigger.

      • Example: Walmart's expansion from local roots to global.

    • Stimulus Diffusion: Fundamental idea inspires innovation.

      • Example: Big Mac adapted as Chicken Mac in India.

Cultural Landscape

• Cultural Landscape: Natural landscape modified by humans, showing beliefs and values.

• Importance of comparing pop and local cultures:

  • Pop Culture: Makes diverse groups more alike, risks threatening local cultures.

  • Local Culture: Long-established behaviors passed down generations.

  • Example: The Amish community.

• Languages: Creation of Creole languages from different speakers.

  • Example: A Creole language combining English, Spanish, French, and African influences.

Evolution of English

• Diffusion: How English became a global lingua franca.

  1. British Empire's reach through hierarchical diffusion.

  2. American capitalism post-WW2 boosted growth.

Culture Interaction

• Assimilation: One culture adopts almost all traits of another.

• Acceleration: Adoption of some traits from another culture while retaining distinct elements.

• Acculturation: Interaction between cultures leading to blended traditions.

Religion Diffusion

• Major world religions and their diffusion:

  • Christianity:

    • Origin: West Bank and Israel.

    • Practiced: North America, South America, Europe.

    • Spread: Colonialism and hierarchical diffusion by Europeans.

  • Islam:

    • Origin: Mecca and Medina (7th century).

    • Practiced: Northern/Western Africa, parts of Asia.

    • Spread: Through conquests, trade, and missionaries.

  • Buddhism:

    • Origin: Northeastern India (6th-4th centuries BCE).

    • Practiced: East/Southeast Asia.

    • Spread: Trade and missionaries.

  • Hinduism:

    • Origin: South Asia (1500 BCE).

    • Practiced: Primarily in South Asia.

    • Spread: Relocation diffusion.

  • Judaism:

    • Origin: Present-day Israel among Hebrews.

    • Practiced: Israel.

    • Spread: Relocation diffusion.