Diffusion 101
The official geographic term for the spread of cultural beliefs, ideas, or products from one group of people to another.
Answer: What is cultural diffusion?
While millions of kids drink Boba (Bubble Tea) after school in the US, this sweet tea drink was invented in this East Asian island nation in the 1980s.
Answer: What is Taiwan?
K-Pop acts like BTS and BLACKPINK spread worldwide through social media, originating from this Asian nation.
Answer: What is South Korea?
Video game giant Nintendo started in 1889 as a playing card company in this country.
Answer: What is Japan?
Although chocolate treats like Hershey's and M&Ms are popular in the US, cocoa beans were first grown and consumed by ancient civilizations in this region.
Answer: What is Mesoamerica (or modern-day Mexico / Central America)?
This historical network of trade routes connected Asia, Europe, and Africa, allowing silk, spices, and paper making to spread across continents
Answer: What is the Silk Road?
The athletic shoe and clothing giant Adidas originated in this European country.
Answer: What is Germany?
Global superstar Bad Bunny helped bring Reggaeton to worldwide charts; this Caribbean island territory is his home.
Answer: What is Puerto Rico?
The viral video platform TikTok was created by ByteDance, a tech firm headquartered in this country.
Answer: What is China?
Tomatoes are central to Italian pasta sauce, but they were brought to Europe from this continent during the Columbian Exchange.
Answer: What is South America (or the Americas)?
Name TWO primary ways cultural diffusion happens between countries today.
Answer: What are trade, migration, Internet/social media, tourism, or war/conquest? (Accept any two)
LEGO building bricks, loved by millions worldwide, were created in this Nordic country in 1932.
Answer: What is Denmark?
Anime shows like Naruto, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia diffused across the globe from this island nation.
Answer: What is Japan?
Tech hardware manufacturer Samsung makes phones and TVs, operating out of this country.
Answer: What is South Korea?
The popular dish Tex-Mex (like fajitas and hard-shell tacos) is a blend of traditional Mexican food and the food culture of this US state.
Answer: What is Texas?
This type of diffusion occurs when people physically pack up and move to a new place, bringing their food, language, and religion with them.
Answer: What is relocation diffusion?
Fast-fashion retail giant Zara was founded and is headquartered in this southern European country.
Answer: What is Spain?
Pop star Rihanna moved to the US to start her music career, but she was born and raised on this Caribbean island nation.
Answer: What is Barbados?
Paper was invented over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty in this country before diffusing along trade routes.
Answer: What is China?
French Fries actually originated in this French-speaking European country, not in France.
Answer: What is Belgium?
This happens when an idea spreads to a new region, but people change or adapt it to fit their local culture (like a McDonald's in India serving vegetarian burgers).
Answer: What is stimulus diffusion (or cultural adaptation)?
Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform, was created in this Scandinavian country in 2006.
Answer: What is Sweden?
Global superstar Drake and pop icon Justin Bieber both originated from this northern neighbor of the United States.
Answer: What is Canada?
Modern paper currency (paper money) was first created in China, but Arabic numerals ($1, 2, 3$) used on money worldwide were developed in this country before spreading through the Middle East to Europe.
Answer: What is India?
Pineapple pizza (Hawaiian Pizza) was actually invented in 1962 by an immigrant cook living in this country.
Answer: What is Canada?