Culture

Culture• Def. - Beliefs or actions that define a group of

people’s way of life.

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Cultural Change

• Cultures are changed by both internal and external influences.• Many cultural changes result from the invention of new items or new ways of

doing things.• Cultural convergence occurs when the skills, arts, ideas, habits, and

institutions of one culture come into contact with those of another culture.• Diffusion is the process by which a cultural element is transmitted from one

group to another.• Cultural divergence, or restriction from outside influences, occurs when

cultural contact is limited.

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Cultural Change

Cultural Hearth• Def. – a place where important ideas begin and

from which they spread to surrounding cultures.- Usually refers to areas in ancient times where major traits of

human culture first developed.

Examples: Southwest Asia – People first tamed and herded animals and grew crops from wild grasses.

Language FamiliesDef. -a group of languages related by descent from a common ancestor.

Examples – The English language is a part of the Germanic language family. Modern day German, East, and West Scandinavian languages are part of this language family.

Cultural Diffusion• Def. – process by which a cultural element is

transmitted and integrated from one group or individual to another.– Examples: McDonalds in China, The spread of

Christianity, Islam, Etc. Mexican food popularity in America, U.S. music gaining popularity around the world.

How Cultures Diffuse• Immigration – People who

move into a country or area from another country or area.

• Emigrants- People who leave a country or area to live in other places.– Are the two most common

ways of cultural diffusion.– Technology is rapidly

exposing people to other cultures around the world.

Settlement Patterns• Urbanization – The growth of

city populations.– The worlds urban centers are

becoming modern cultural hearths.• Example – New York City is 36%

foreign with over 170 languages spoken.

• Rural – Countryside populations.

• Culture spreads through settlement patterns.

Cultural Trait• Things that make you

unique to other cultures. Something that defines your culture from other cultures.

• Examples – Holidays, Food, Music, Clothing, Technology, Traditions, Religion, Entertainment, Architecture

Cultural Icon• "A very famous person or

thing considered as representing a set of beliefs or a way of life."

Examples: Tupac = Hip Hop/Rap, Hitler = Infamy/Evil, Michael Jordan = Basketball,