Human Geography

1. Human Geography Culture

2. I. Elements of Culture • Culture- the knowledge, attitude, and behavior shared by and passed on by the members of a specific group. ---provides a foundation for how a group of people should belong to or fit into a group ---ties us to one group and separates us from other groups. • Society-group that shows a geographic region, a sense of identity • Ethnic Group- 1. specific group that shares same language, customs, and common heritage. 2. separate group of people within a region

3. II. Culture Change and Exchange • ---Change is always occurring within cultures and societies—comes from innovation and the spread of ideas. • A. Innovation 1. taking some type of existing technology and making it better. 2. takes place to meet needs.

4. B. Diffusion • Diffusion 1. Spread of different ideas/innovations, patterns of behavior, societies come into contact with each other. 2. Difficult to avoid contact with other societies 3. Cultural hearth- a site of innovation from where basic ideas, materials , and technology, diffuse to more cultures.

5. Cultural Convergence • The word convergence refers to the trend toward each other between any number of items. • Convergence is commonly used today for the integration of technologies, global standards, entertainment patterns, etc. • Cultural convergence – where different cultures become similar or even come together.

6. Convergence- Columbian Exchange • Brought new ideas and customs to the Native Americans. • Catholicism • Land holding • Spanish Language • Royal Government • Gave new ideas and traditions to the Europeans • Tobacco • Eating corn, tomatoes, chocolate, and squash. • Created a new Latin American culture.

7. Cultural Divergence • Cultural divergence – is when a culture separates or goes in a different direction. • Can happen when members of a culture move away from the core values of their culture • Usually because they have been exposed to new ideas. • Physical barriers • Mountains might separate people living in different parts of a cultural region. This may cause each group to develop differently.

8. Divergence- Roman Empire • . • Roman Empire • Giant empire that used to cover most of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. • Germanic tribes attacked the western part of the empire and they introduced new cultural elements. • Western Roman empire adopted the Germanic influence while the Eastern Roman empire fell under the influence of the Greek culture. • It caused the Roman Empire to fall apart.

9. C. Acculturation • 1. Where a society changes because it accepts or adopts an innovation. • 2. must be seen as useful • 3. sometimes it is forced on groups

10. III. Language • Allows people with a culture to communicate A. Language and identity 1. Establishes a cultural identity 2. Provides sense of identity B. Language Families 1. 3,000-6,500 languages spoken across the world 2. dialects- different versions of same language C. Language diffusion 1. Through trade routes 2. Through migration

12. IV. Religion • ---belief in a supernatural power or powers that are regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe. A. Types of Religions 1. Monotheism- belief in one God 2. Polytheism- belief in many Gods 3. Animistic- belief in divine forces of nature

13. B. Major Religions • Judaism • Christianity • Islam • Hinduism • Buddhism • Confucianism • Taoism • Shinto • Sikkism