Understanding Global Cultures: Elements, Influence & Change

1. Chapter 2The Human World S.2 – Global Cultures

2. Culture • What do you think culture is? • The way of life of a group of people • Share similar beliefs and customs • Group of people with common characteristics

3. Elements of Culture • History • Language • Religion • Entertainment/Recreation • Cultural Expression • Social Classes • Social Groups • Economic Activities • Government • Culture Regions

4. 1. History • For the most part the majority of people within a specific cultural group share a common background

5. 2. Language • Strongest unifying force for culture • Through language people communicate information and experiences and pass on cultural values and traditions • Verbal and Non-verbal

6. 3. Religion • Provides a sense of identity • Provides structure for moral values, celebration of holidays and festivals, etc

7. World Religions

8. 4. Entertainment • What a cultural group does for fun

9. 5. Cultural Expressions • The way a cultural group expresses their ideas throughout the world • In forms of – • Paintings • Sculptures • Architecture • Music • Dance

10. 6. Social Classes • Ranking of groups of people based on factors such as: • Education • Ancestry • Wealth

11. 7. Social Groups • Family group – most important unit • A culture may include people who belong to different ethnic groups • Ethnic Groups – made up of people who share a common language, history, place of origin, or a combination of all these elements

12. 8. Economic Activities • The way people make a living

13. 9. Government • The type of government that exist within a cultural group influences ways of thought for that particular group

14. 10. Culture Regions • A region that includes many different countries that share similar characteristics such as: • Economic systems • Forms of govt • Social groups • Histories • Religions

15. World Culture Regions

16. Culture • We are very familiar with culture because we see it everyday

17. Cultural Change • Does culture stay the same? • Internal and external factors are always changing cultures • Internal: new ideas, lifestyles, & inventions • External: trade, migration, war • Cultural Diffusion!!! • The spread of ideas from one culture to another

18. Cultural Diffusion I. Agricultural Revolution – We used to be nomads (people that move from place to place) • The invention of farming allowed people to settle in one place creating CIVILIZATIONS

19. Cultural Diffusion • Cultural Hearths – centers of civilizations whose ideas and practices spread to surrounding areas • Most influential – • Egypt • Iraq • Pakistan • China • Mexico

20. World Culture Hearths

21. Cultural Diffusion • Trade – the development of civilizations allowed for the creation of technology • The invention of new technology gave way to long distance trade and the spread of ideas

22. Cultural Diffusion • Permanent Migration – the movement of people gives way to the movement of ideas • Migrants carry their cultures with them, and their ideas and practices often blend with those of the people already living in the migrant’s adopted country

23. Cultural Diffusion • Industrial & Informational Revolution • Industrial – the transformation of economies led to social changes • Informational – globalization!