Culture 101
Define culture
Shared beliefs, practices, behaviors
Visible imprint of culture on the natural landscape (often reflect history & cultural values)
Cultural Landscape
A language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different
Lingua Franca
Name one of the five major world religions.
Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam
Type of diffusion when people move from one place to another.
Relocation diffusion
When a minority culture's distinctive traits (like language, dress, customs) are lost as they adopt those of a dominant culture
Assimilation
The political authority of a state to govern itself.
Sovereignty
The purpose of this was to divide Africa among European powers (without regard to existing ethnic/cultural boundaries).
Berlin Conference
Boundaries that follow features like rivers, mountains, desert
Natural/Physical boundaries
Government type that utilizes shared power
Federal
An official population count conducted every 10 years, used for representation purposes
Census
Factors that divide a country or state, pushing people apart and weakening internal unity
Centrifugal Forces
Example of material culture.
Buildings, clothing, food
Layers of history reflected in the landscape
Sequent Occupancy
Creole
Type of religion that seeks converts globally; not tied to specific place
Universalizing Religion
Rapid person to person spread
Contagious
When a minority adopts traits of the majority but keeps their identity
Acculturation
A political entity that has a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states
State
When a more powerful country attempts to assert its power and influence over a weaker country
Colonialism
Colonization often leads to this type of boundary.
Superimposed
Government type that governs through one centralized power.
Unitary
The redistribution of legislative seats based on population changes.
Reapportionment
The systematic, forced removal or extermination of an ethnic, racial, or religious group from a specific area to create a ethnically homogenous region
Ethnic Cleansing
Identify an example of nonmaterial culture.
Beliefs, values, religions, etc.
The human-made spaces and structures (buildings, roads, parks, infrastructure) that form the physical landscape
Built landscape
A simplified communication system that develops between groups with no common language
Pidgin
Hinduism is considered what type of religion?
Ethnic
Ideas spread from a powerful entity/someone with influence to others in society.
Hierarchical Diffusion
The blending of two or more cultural traits or religious beliefs
Syncretism
A group of people bound together by some sense of a common culture, ethnicity, language, shared history (e.g., the French, Koreans, Mexicans)
Nation
Indirect control of a country through economic or political influence rather than direct rule
Neocolonialism
Boundaries drawn as straight lines using latitude, longitude, or surveyed coordinates
Geometric
Allows regional governments to address local needs
Federal government
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a political party or group
Gerrymandering
The transfer of power from a central government to a lower level of government, such as a regional or local government
Devolution
Type of culture that includes widespread ideas, trends, practices & is constantly evolving.
Popular (pop) Culture
The loss of uniqueness of place in a cultural landscape so that one places looks like the next
Placelessness
What is the most common lingua franca?
English
Mecca, Jerusalem, Vatican City are all examples of this.
Sacred Sites
When an idea spread but it adapts to fit a new culture/location
Stimulus
The belief that one's own culture is superior and the standard by which others should be judged
Kurds, Palestinians, and Basques are all examples of this.
Stateless nations
Extending a nation's power and influence over other territories through force, diplomacy, or economic control, often for resources, markets, or strategic advantage, leading to colonization, new political boundaries, cultural diffusion (and erosion)
Imperialism
A boundary that has ceased to function but whose impact remains visible (e.g., Berlin Wall, Hadrian's Wall)
Relic boundary
Promotes national uniformity and efficiency
Unitary
Which tactic describes splitting opposing voters across many districts?
Cracking
The fragmentation of a state into smaller, often hostile political units
Balkinization
A social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding certain behaviors, foods, etc.
What would be a way religion shapes cultural landscapes?
Sacred sites, religious architecture
A geographic boundary that separates different linguistic features, such as dialects or language variations, within a specific region
Isogloss
Islam is considered what type of religion?
Universalizing
Identify one cultural trait diffused through European colonialism
Language (English, Spanish, French), Religion (Christianity)
Which concept describes cultures becoming more alike over time as a result of globalization?
Culture convergence
Give an example of a multinational state.
United States, Russia, Nigeria, Canada, The UK
The principle that ethnic or national groups should govern themselves
Self-determination
A boundary indicated by physical markers like signs, fences, etc.
Demarcated
An area within a country with significant self-governance, managing its own local affairs (like education, culture) while remaining part of the larger state, often due to distinct ethnic/historical identities
Autonomous Region
3 requirements of a legitimate voting district
Equal population, contiguous, compact
A state’s claim to territory based on shared ethnic or cultural identity
Irredentism