People and PlacesIs this culture?

Sections Covered:1 - The Elements of Culture2 - Population Geography3 - Political Geography4 - Urban Geography5 - Economic Geography

What is culture? The total of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors shared by and passed on by the members of a specific group.

Factors involved with culture:-food and shelter-religion-relationships to family-language-education-security/protection-political and social organization-creative expression

culture is a societyEthnic Group refers to a group that

shares a language, customs, and a common heritage

--Can you name some ethnic groups in the United States? In Europe? In Africa? In Asia?

--Are there any comforts in “labeling” ethnicities? Any discomforts?

Culture Change and ExchangeInnovation - taking existing technology and resources

and creating something new to meet a needExamples? Diffusion - spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of

behavior Where might diffusion explode? Where might it

happen less frequently?

-Acculturation - a society or individual changes because it accepts or adopts an innovation

Do innovations = acculturation? To what extent should acculturation occur?

1) Language-reflects all aspects of culture, including the physical

area-example: KORITE, a Senegalese term?-language helps establish a cultural identity; builds

group identity, sense of unity-3,000 to 6,500 languages spoken across world today-versions of a language are called dialects-language diffusion exists…Swahili - developed as

trade language between Arabic traders and Bantu-speaking African tribes…exists through migration - colonialism

LOOK at map and diagram on page 74Let’s check out this video on the San

2) Religion-consists of a belief in a supernatural power or powers

that are regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe…is this an adequate definition?-monotheistic: belief in one god-polytheistic: belief in many gods-animistic: belief in divine forces in nature-spread of religions: through converts, conquerors, none…

Let’s watch a video about Spain before 1492…

1) Judaism: concentrated in Israel, oldest of Southwest Asian religions, people called Jews, established 3,200 years ago, basic laws in TORAH, monotheistic Check out Matisyahu

2) Christianity: evolved 2,000 years ago from Judaism, monotheistic, based on teachings of Jesus Christ, teachings in BIBLE, recorded in Old and New testament, spread by Paul, three major groups: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox

3) Islam: based on teachings of Prophet Muhammad around 613 AD, people called Muslims, monotheistic, God called Allah, Qur’an, groups: Sunni, Shiite Let’s watch this video on Islam, Christianity, and Judaism

4) Hinduism: one of oldest religions, 5,000 years old, ethnic religion concentrated in India, generally polytheistic, one divine spirit - Brahman, caste system

5) Buddhism: offshoot of Hinduism, 563 BC in India near Nepal, founder - Siddhartha Gautama, rejects caste system, goal to reach nirvana or enlightened spiritual state, Asia, China, Japan, Korea, several branches - Theravada, Mahayana, Lamaism, Zen

6) Other Asian Practices: Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto

Use map on page 76, what patterns do we see?

Where are the largest areas of Traditional religions?

Where do most Hindus practice and live?

Is there a Jewish population in the Southern hemisphere?