Culture

The Elements of Culture

Culture Culture: The way of life of a group of

people who share similar beliefs and customs.

Elements of Culture

1.1. Social OrganizationSocial Organization

-When a culture organize its members into smaller groups

What might some smaller groups be in a culture? Families Religious groups Social classes

Occupation

Interest groups

These are things that all cultures have in common.These are things that all cultures have in common.

What might some of those things be?What might some of those things be?

1.1. Social OrganizationSocial Organization cont.

- family: the most importantmost important unit of social organization

Nuclear family- husband, wife, children Extended family- several generations in one household

- respect for elders is usually strong in extended fams.

Elements of Culture

1.1. Social OrganizationSocial Organization cont.

- social classes: a way to rank people in order of status

What can social class be based on? Money Occupation Education Race Etc.

Elements of Culture

Elements of Culture

1. Social Groups cont.Ethnic group- made up of people who share a

common language, history, place of origin, or a combination of these elements

Elements of Culture

2. Customs and TraditionsCustoms and Traditions

- rules of behavior (written and unwritten)

- Influenced by its history

3.3. LanguageLanguage Important for communication and passing on

traditions and beliefs One of the most unifying elements of a culture Dialects: Language Families:

Elements of Culture

4. The ArtsArts – Literature, Music, Architecture, – Literature, Music, Architecture, Paintings, Sculptures etc.Paintings, Sculptures etc.

- Teach about a culture’s values

- Promote cultural pride and unity

Elements of Culture

5.5. ReligionReligion Monotheism: belief in one god Polytheism: belief in more than one god

Major World Religions Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism

Elements of Culture

6. Forms of GovernmentForms of Government We have already talked about this…

remember the chart?

Elements of Culture

7.7. Economic SystemsEconomic Systems Four types

1. Traditional: people produce most of what they need to survive

2. Market: basic economic questions are answered by buying/selling goods and services

3. Command: government controls answers to economic questions

4. Mixed: individuals make some economic decisions, the government makes others

Elements of Culture

Elements of Culture

8. Other minor elements of culture: Food Clothing Mannerisms

Ways Cultures ChangeCultures are constantly changing!1. Technology

Cars, telephone, computers, fast food, etc.

2. Environment Changes3. New Ideas (like recycling)

4. Cultural Diffusion: movement of customs and ideas from one place to another

1. (can happen because of migration, war, trade, etc.)

Be Careful of…

Ethnocentrism: judging other cultures by the standards of your own

Racism: belief that one racial group is naturally superior to another

Agricultural Revolution About 10,000 yrs ago, people were

nomads who moved from place to place in search for food and grazing land

Eventually the earth’s climate warmed and they settled in river valleys (permanent villages) and began farming

The shift from gathering food to producing food is the Agricultural Revolution

Culture Hearths

Early centers of civilization whose ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas

Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, China, and Mexico

Industrial Revolution

1700s and 1800s: production methods change the way goods can be produced

People left farms to work in the cities in factories

Cities grew larger

Information Revolution

End of 1900s: computers make it possible to store information and send it all over the world in an instant

Links the cultures of the world more closely than ever before