AP Human Geography Unit 3 Review: Culture

Introduction

• Mr Sin Channel: Review major concepts of Unit 3 in AP Human Geography.
• Study Guide: Available in the ultimate review packet.
• Packet Includes: Unit reviews, practice quizzes, full practice exams, vocab lists, exclusive videos.

Understanding Culture

• Complex Nature: No perfect definition.
• Material vs Non-Material Culture
  • Material Culture: Physical objects, artifacts, items of significance.
  • Non-Material Culture: Ideas, beliefs, values, languages, customs.
  • Example: Japanese tea ceremony - material aspects include tea utensils; non-material aspects include rules and procedures.
• Subculture
  • Unique cultures within larger society (e.g., different grades in a school).
• Modern vs Folk Culture
  • Modern Culture: Originates in economically developed regions; spreads through hierarchical diffusion; emphasizes individualism.
  • Folk Culture: Homogeneous; spreads through relocation diffusion; emphasizes community.
• Indigenous Cultures: Often tied to specific regions; resist modern technology.

Cultural Perspectives

• Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures by one’s own standards.
• Cultural Relativism: Evaluating cultures by their own standards.

Cultural Landscape

• Definition: Human modifications to the environment.
  • Architecture Styles: Traditional, modern, post-modern.
  • Sequent Occupancy: Evidence of past cultures impacting a place.
• Human and Physical Characteristics
  • Human: Demographics, languages, religions.
  • Physical: Natural features, man-made structures.
• Sense of Place vs Placelessness: Emotional connection to a place vs lack of identity.

Cultural Diffusion

• Types of Diffusion
  • Relocation Diffusion: Physical movement of people/culture.
  • Expansion Diffusion: Cultural trait spreads outward from the hearth.
    • Contagious: Spreads in all directions.
    • Hierarchical: Spreads through a power structure.
    • Reverse Hierarchical: Spreads from bottom to top.
    • Stimulus: Idea spreads, but is adapted locally.
• Historical Causes
  • Colonialism and Imperialism: Spread through relocation and expansion diffusion.
  • Trade and Commerce: Colombian Exchange, Triangular Trade, Silk Road.
• Contemporary Causes
  • Technology and Globalization: Increased urbanization, internet, and social media.

Religion and Language

• Universalizing vs Ethnic Religions
  • Universalizing: Expands to all (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism).
  • Ethnic: Tied to specific groups (Hinduism, Judaism).
• Language Families, Branches, and Groups
  • Proto-Lingua: Early form of a language.
  • Language Family: Common ancestor (e.g., Indo-European).
  • Dialect: Regional variance of a language.

Effects of Diffusion

• Assimilation: Adoption of dominant culture at the expense of original identity.
• Acculturation: Adopts traits from another culture without losing original identity.
• Syncretism: Blending of two or more cultures into a new, distinct culture.
• Cultural Resistance: May arise from religious, linguistic, or cultural barriers.
• Multiculturalism: Coexistence of diverse cultures within a society.

Conclusion

• Resources: Use study guide and ultimate review packet for practice.
• Goal: Understand concepts to excel in class and on the AP exam.