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Exploring Culture and Its Impact

May 6, 2025

Unit 3 of AP Human Geography: Culture and Its Impact

Introduction

  • Focus on culture: its definition, spread, and impact on human environments.
  • Culture: Shared practices, technologies, attitudes, behaviors of a society.
  • Cultural Iceberg:
    • Above water: Observable traits like language, clothing, behavior.
    • Below water: Less visible traits like thought patterns, cultural rules.

Cultural Traits

  • Categories of Cultural Traits:
    • Food Preferences: Reflect societal history (e.g., Southern Chinese influence in Singapore).
    • Architecture: Reflects shared national or regional taste (e.g., Adobe homes in the American Southwest).
    • Land Use: Reflects cultural history (e.g., Grass lawns in Nevada).

Attitudes Toward Cultural Differences

  • Cultural Relativism: Evaluating a culture by its own standards.
  • Ethnocentrism: Judging another culture by one's own standards, often accompanied by xenophobia.

Cultural Landscapes

  • Definition: How people modify the landscape reflecting their culture.
  • Influences on Cultural Landscapes:
    • Agricultural and Industrial Practices: Unique practices leave cultural imprints.
    • Religion: Construction of sacred spaces (e.g., churches, mosques).
    • Linguistic Characteristics: Signs in multiple languages reflect cultural diversity.
    • Sequent Occupance: Layers of cultural history (e.g., Dome of the Rock).
    • Architecture: Traditional vs. postmodern architecture reflects cultural identity.

Sense of Place

  • Factors Contributing to Sense of Place:
    • Language: Dialects contribute to regional identity.
    • Religion: Religious buildings reflect cultural values.
    • Ethnicity: Cultural landmarks create a sense of community.

Forces Affecting Cultural Dynamics

  • Centripetal Forces: Unite people (e.g., common language, religion).
  • Centrifugal Forces: Divide people (e.g., religious sects, language barriers).

Cultural Diffusion

  • Definition: Spread of cultural traits from one place to another.
  • Types of Diffusion:
    • Relocation Diffusion: Cultural traits spread through migration.
    • Expansion Diffusion: Cultural traits spread while originating group stays put.
      • Contagious Diffusion: Rapid, widespread (e.g., slang).
      • Hierarchical Diffusion: Top-down spread (e.g., hip-hop music).
      • Stimulus Diffusion: Original trait inspires a new trait (e.g., McDonald's menu adaptations).

Historical Causes of Diffusion

  • Colonialism and Imperialism: Spread languages, religions, cultural traits.
    • Example: European languages in the Americas.
  • Trade: Exchange of cultural ideas along trade routes (e.g., Silk Roads).
  • Emergence of New Cultures: Through lingua franca and creolization.

Contemporary Causes of Diffusion

  • Globalization: Interdependence of global economies and cultures.
    • Influence of Technology: Internet and media spread cultural ideas (e.g., K-pop).
    • Urbanization: Cultural interactions heightened in cities.

Results of Diffusion

  • Cultural Convergence: Cultures becoming more similar.
  • Cultural Divergence: Cultures maintaining distinct identities despite interaction.

Diffusion of Language and Religion

  • Language Categorizations:

    • Language Family: Broadest category, shares a common ancestor.
    • Language Branch: More specific, similar grammar and syntax.
    • Individual Languages/Dialects: Varied within regions (e.g., Spanish dialects).
  • Religion: Spread through cultural hearts, affected by practices and beliefs.

    • Universalizing Religions: Appeal to multiple cultures (e.g., Christianity, Islam).
    • Ethnic Religions: Tied to specific ethnic groups and regions (e.g., Hinduism).

Outcomes of Cultural Interactions

  • Acculturation: Adoption of some traits while maintaining original culture.
  • Assimilation: Almost complete adoption of surrounding cultural traits.
    • Forced Assimilation: Imposed by policies.
    • Voluntary Assimilation: Choice to assimilate for acceptance.
  • Syncretism: Blending of cultural traits into new forms.
  • Multiculturalism: Maintenance of distinct cultural identities within a society.

Conclusion

  • Importance of understanding cultural dynamics and diffusion to succeed in AP Human Geography.
  • Availability of resources like review guides and practice exams to aid comprehension and exam preparation.